Poultry Your Way - Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems ...

MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
POULTRY BASICS
Feed. Poultry require fresh water and nutritionally balanced feed. Grit
is also necessary if you feed whole grains or pasture your birds. Poultry
digestion is highly dependent on water, which softens food in the gizzard.
Consequently, birds’ water intake is almost double the volume of food intake.
Diets that lack adequate water and nutrition can slow growth, reduce egg
and eggshell quality, limit feed efficiency, and inhibit a flock’s immune system.
The nutritional needs of poultry are complex and vary with the species,
breed, age, and sex (Damron and Sloan, 1998). Nutritional needs also
vary with management practice. Many of today’s poultry producers use
“complete” feeds. These are grain-based, species-specific feeds that contain
all the nutrients necessary in the poultry diet (proteins, carbohydrates, fats,
vitamins, and minerals). Commercial, premixed complete feeds are usually
labeled for rate of gain or stage of production. Hatchlings, for instance,
usually are fed a “starter” ration that contains the highest level protein that
birds receive in a lifetime. Once birds begin to mature, they are switched
over to “grower,” “finisher,” or “layer” diets depending on the birds’ age and
ultimate use.
Layers at feeders.
Almost all starter, developer, and finisher diets are available “medicated,” “nonmedicated,” “natural,” and “organic.”
Low-level antibiotics and coccidiostats are added to medicated feed to prevent common poultry diseases for all
birds with the exception of waterfowl. Dr. Jacqueline Jacob, University of Minnesota Extension poultry specialist,
warns that waterfowl should never be fed medicated feed, as antibiotics can cause lameness and/or death in this
species. The “natural” label typically means that antibiotics have not been added, while “organic” ensures that the
feed has been grown and certified without the use of synthetic chemicals and that it does not contain animal byproducts.
Most complete feeds are available from a local supplier or feed mill. If you are lucky enough to live near a mill,
bulk feed is usually discounted and sometimes delivered. If you are having trouble locating feed or have questions
regarding its contents and recommended feeding schedule, see Resources under Feed and Diet and Suppliers. If
you prefer to mix your own feed or supplement with pasturage, consult with an extension poultry specialist or
refer to one of the many publications on poultry nutrition listed in Resources under Feed and Diet. Of special
interest is an article from the Manitoba Department of Agriculture and Food titled Increasing Omega-3 Fatty Acids
in Eggs from Small Chicken Flocks. If your market research suggests your buyers are willing to pay more for
Omega-3 enriched eggs, you’ll want to explore feed and management alternatives that aid in Omega-3 fatty acid
production.
Health and Welfare. Flock health and welfare are critical management issues. Health is fairly straightforward
and depends on how well you are able to control both infectious and noninfectious diseases. Welfare is another
matter and concerns the well-being of your flock. In livestock housing author Carol Ekarius’ words, welfare is
violated when birds are abused or neglected and/or bored and confined to restrictive environments (Ekarius,
2004). A number of poultry growers, among them Michigan growers Frank and Kay Jones, argue that birds’
welfare or well-being depends on their ability to practice natural behaviors such as scratching (see Farm Profile:
Day-range—Earth Shine Farm).
Poultry Your Way 41
MANAGEMENT
ALTERNATIVES