Nutrition and Feeding

Modern manufacturers of animal feed have to meet stringent safety and quality requirements. This is very much the case with poultry feed since high-quality, safe feed is essential for the health of flocks and the quality of the poultry products produced. Penn State Extension contains a wide array of information on poultry nutrition, types of chicken feed, and ways to estimate the nutritional and water needs of flocks of laying chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.

Chicken Feed Production

Introduced in 2011, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires processors and handlers of animal feed to undergo training, check-ups, and different certifications. This process aims to ensure the high quality and safety of the produced animal feed. Chicken growers can assess their suppliers by asking them whether their poultry feed complies with FSMA requirements. Additional questions can be posed about the existence of a written food safety plan, the biosecurity practices for deliveries, and the procedures to trace the quality of sourced ingredients.

Mill industry professionals who are interested in a more in-depth look at the subject of FSMA requirements have the option of attending the Preventive Controls for Animal Food workshop which will equip them with all the tools to achieve regulation compliance, as well providing up-to-date knowledge on implementing modern systems of food safety and risk-based preventive controls.

Pastured Poultry

Pasture-raised chicken is becoming a popular niche market in recent years as customers look for more sustainable food choices.

Proponents of this way of raising chicken, turkey and other types of poultry claim that this system is better for the animals’ welfare, compared to more traditional methods. With proper management, pastured poultry has benefits for soil health, too. However, growers need to be aware of risks like possible increased exposure to predators and environmental pathogens.

Pastured poultry could be a particularly good choice for small-scale growers. Those who have only just started as well as growers with small operations can learn more about budgeting, biosecurity, food safety, animal welfare and other aspects about raising a small flock of poultry by signing up for a specially-designed workshop.

Chicken Starter Feed

For the first six weeks of their lives, chicks can be fed starter feed, which is higher in protein content and helps support strong growth. The best chicken starter feed must also provide enough energy, as well as fiber and important vitamins and minerals.

In general, different types of chicken food are given, depending on the age of the birds, as well as the purpose for which they are grown. In general, pellets meet all the nutrient requirements of poultry, providing a safe, calorie-rich and nutrient-dense food source.

Turkey, Ducks, Geese and other Fowl Feeds

Turkeys, ducks, and geese are omnivorous and do eat animal protein in the wild. While it may be tempting to give chicken feed to other types of foul, the best approach is to consider these birds’ specific dietary requirements.

Turkeys usually eat a balanced mix of grains and seeds with a small percentage of bone meal or another type of animal protein. Ducks require a higher amount of niacin, a form of vitamin B3, in their diets. Geese, on the other hand, love grass and green vegetables such as cabbage and lettuce.

Chicken Water Needs

Chicken need an adequate water supply for proper digestion, to lay eggs, and to maintain good health in general. Their water needs vary depending on their age and the climate if they are being raised outdoors. Birds raised in temperate climates usually need to drink between 1.5 times and twice as much water than feed, in terms of volume. Stagnant water may become breeding grounds for pathogens; therefore it is important that watering containers are kept clean and the water in them is fresh.