CHICKEN FEEDS FORMULATION
Guide: How to Formulate Chicken Feed
- Understand Chicken Nutritional Needs
Different chickens (broilers, layers, breeders) and different life stages (starter, grower, finisher) need different nutrients:
- Key Ingredients and Their Roles
- Sample Feed Formulas
(For 100kg total feed)
a) Broiler Starter Feed (0–4 weeks)
Maize – 55 kg
Soybean Meal – 28 kg
Fish Meal – 5 kg
Wheat Bran – 5 kg
Bone Meal – 2 kg
Limestone – 1 kg
Vitamin + Mineral Premix – 0.5 kg
Salt – 0.5 kg
Protein: ~22%
Energy: ~3000 kcal/kg
b) Layer Feed (18+ weeks)
Maize – 50 kg
Soybean Meal – 20 kg
Wheat Bran – 15 kg
Sunflower Cake – 10 kg
Bone Meal – 2 kg
Limestone – 2.5 kg
Premix – 0.5 kg
Protein: ~16-17%
High Calcium for eggshell strength.
- Steps to Formulate Your Own Feed
- Know your chicken’s age, breed, and purpose.
- Select available ingredients (consider cost and availability).
- Use a feed formulation calculator (software like WinFeed, FeedMix, or manual spreadsheet).
- Balance nutrients:
Protein first (mainly from soybean/fish meal).
Then energy (corn, wheat).
Finally, vitamins/minerals (premix, bone meal, limestone).
- Do a trial batch and observe:
Growth rate
Egg production
Health
- Adjust formulation if needed.
- Tips for Best Results
Grind ingredients properly for better digestibility.
Mix thoroughly to ensure each portion is uniform.
Store feed in a dry, cool place to prevent mold.
Don’t overuse salt or fishmeal (can cause kidney problems).
Use fresh ingredients; rancid fats lower feed quality.
Introduce feed changes gradually to avoid stress.
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using too much energy and too little protein → Fat chickens but poor performance.
No premix → Vitamin/mineral deficiencies → Illness.
Moldy feeds → Aflatoxin poisoning.
Ignoring stage-specific needs → Slow growth or poor egg production.
- Useful Tools
WinFeed Software (feed formulation tool)
FeedXL (online tool for animal feed)
Spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets for balancing rations)
Final Word:
Good feed = Healthy birds = Good profits!
Test your feed regularly, observe your flock, and tweak as needed. Formulating your own feed can save money and give better results if done carefully.
BUY HERE CHICKEN FEEDS FORMULATION