Providing proper nutrition is one of the most important aspects of raising healthy and productive broiler chickens.
The feed broilers consume has a huge impact on their growth rate, meat yield, feed efficiency and overall health.
This comprehensive feeding guide covers everything producers need to know about how to feed broilers for fast growth that will support the efficient production of top-quality broiler chickens.
Importance of Balanced Nutrition for Broilers
Today’s commercial broiler chickens have been selectively bred for rapid growth and efficient feed conversion to maximize meat production.
As a result, broilers have very high nutritional requirements to support their extremely fast growth rates.
These birds have the potential to reach market weights upwards of 5-6 pounds in just 5-7 weeks.
However, this rapid growth and lean tissue accretion places substantial demands on the broiler’s skeletal structure and metabolism.
Without properly balanced nutrition matching their needs at each stage of growth, broilers will fail to achieve their genetic growth potential and are susceptible to numerous health issues including:
– Reduced growth rates
– Decreased meat yield
– Higher mortality rates
– Metabolic disorders like ascites and sudden death syndrome
– Skeletal abnormalities like lameness and bone deformities
Broiler rations must contain the appropriate balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals needed to support optimal muscle growth and health. A deficiency or excess of any nutrient can be detrimental to performance.
Feeding broilers well-formulated, quality diets tailored to their nutritional requirements has been shown to:
Maximize growth rates and meat production
Improve feed efficiency and reduce feed costs
Promote uniformity of growth
Reduce leg abnormalities and other issues
Strengthen immunity
Increase livability and bird health
The bottom line is that balancing broiler rations for optimal nutrition has a huge impact on overall performance and profitability.
It is one of the most important aspects of broiler production that producers need to get right.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Broilers
In addition to meeting the bird’s needs for macronutrients like proteins, carbohydrates and fats, broiler diets must also contain adequate levels of essential vitamins and trace minerals.
Some of the most important vitamins and minerals include:
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium and phosphorus are required in the correct ratio for proper structural bone growth and development.
The optimal calcium to phosphorus ratio is around 2:1.
Deficiencies or imbalances of these minerals negatively impact growth rate, bone integrity, and leg health.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus for bone mineralization.
Broilers obtain vitamin D3 through their feed or by exposure to direct sunlight/ultraviolet light.
Without adequate vitamin D activity, broilers can suffer from nutritional rickets.
Manganese, Zinc, and Copper
Manganese, zinc, and copper serve as enzyme cofactors and support immune function and growth.
Deficiencies of these trace minerals can reduce growth rate and feed intake.
Vitamin E and Selenium
Vitamin E and selenium work synergistically as antioxidants to relieve oxidative stress.
These nutrients boost immunity, promote heart and liver health, and support overall well-being.
B-Complex Vitamins
Thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, niacin and other B-vitamins play essential roles in energy metabolism, enzyme functions, and nutrient utilization.
Deficiencies can negatively impact growth, health, and feed efficiency.
With the diversity of critical functions these and other micronutrients perform, it is essential broiler diets contain sufficient levels of all key vitamins and minerals. Nutrient requirements vary by the broiler’s age and production objectives.
A qualified poultry nutritionist can help formulate well-balanced diets optimized to promote broiler performance and health.
Tailoring Nutrition to Broiler Growth Stages
One of the keys to effective broiler nutrition is adjusting the diet formulation to match the bird’s changing needs as it rapidly grows from chick to market weight. Broiler nutritional demands and growth patterns can be divided into three main production phases:
Starter Phase (0-3 weeks)
– Goal is rapid growth of muscles and organs.
– Requires diets with 22% or greater crude protein levels.
– Nutrients focused on tissue growth and immune function.
– Highly digestible ingredients preferred.
Grower Phase (3-5 weeks)
– Growth rate begins to slow as bird matures.
– Crude protein can be reduced to 20-21% as demand decreases.
– Increase caloric density of feed to continue weight gain.
– Support skeletal integrity and prevent leg problems.
Finisher Phase (5-7 weeks)
– Focus shifts to depositing fat and finishing the broiler.
– Hold protein at 20% while further increasing energy content.
– Add supplemental fats, oils or other energy sources.
– Promote feed efficiency and profitable meat yield.
Within each phase, nutritional specifications should match target market weights and production objectives.
Fast-growing broiler strains have differing feed needs than slower-growing, more robust breeds raised to heavier weights for further processing.
Working with a qualified poultry nutritionist to formulate diets tailored to growth stages and performance goals is key to cost-effectively supplying nutrients when the birds need them most. This precision nutrition approach maximizes growth, livability and profit potential.
Choosing the Right Feed Form for Broilers
Broiler chicken feed comes in three main physical forms:
Mash Feed
– Consists of finely ground ingredients blended together into a loose crumble.
– Provides complete balanced nutrition in each bite.
– Easy for young chicks to consume and digest.
– Higher wasted feed as birds pick through mash.
Pelleted Feed
– Mash feed pressed into hard pellets through steam and mechanical pressure.
– Improves feed conversion ratio and growth rate.
– Reduces selective feeding and wasted feed.
– Provides balanced nutrition in each pellet.
Crumbled Feed
– Pelleted feed that is roller-milled into smaller crumbles.
– Benefits younger birds transitioning from mash to pellets.
– Combination of mash digestibility and low waste of pellets.
Many broiler producers start chicks on crumbled rations for the first week or two before transitioning to pelleted feed for the grower and finisher phases. The uniform nature of pelleted feed promotes balanced nutrient intake and consistent growth.
When introducing pelleted feed, transition the birds slowly over 5-7 days by progressively increasing the percentage of pellets mixed with the mash or crumbles. Monitor feed intake and behavior closely when changing feed forms to ensure the flock adapts well.
Feed Management Tips for Broilers
Follow these feed management practices to help ensure broilers receive the optimal nutrition they need:
– Conduct feed testing – Routine testing of feed samples is important to validate nutritional content and quality match diet formulations. Screen for potential contaminants.
– Follow proper feed storage procedures – Store feed in clean, dry facilities. Minimize temperature fluctuations and avoid direct sunlight. Rotate stock and follow first-in, first-out. These practices reduce risk of mold, caking, and nutrient degradation.
– Provide adequate feeder space – Allow all broilers sufficient access to feed simultaneously without competition. Target a minimum of 1 inch of feeder space per bird.
– Perform routine feeder maintenance – Regularly check for and remove any accumulated, rotten or moldy feed. Clean and sanitize feeders between flocks to prevent contamination.
– Monitor feed intake and bird weights – Watching feed usage and growth rate allows timely diet or feed adjustments if needed. Weigh sample birds weekly to track performance.
– Ensure unlimited access to clean water – Fresh, clean water should always be freely available to complement feed intake. Monitor water availability and flow rate.
– Work with a qualified nutritionist – A poultry nutrition specialist can help formulate optimal diets for each stage and offer advice to maximize nutrition and performance.
Common Broiler Feeding Myths and Mistakes
Despite the wealth of research on broiler nutrition, misconceptions still exist among some producers.
Here are some common broiler feeding myths and facts:
Myth: Feeding broilers a layer ration promotes increased muscle growth.
Fact: Formulations differ significantly, and layer feed is deficient in protein and nutrients broilers need for growth.
Myth: Broilers will over consume feed and get fat if given free-choice access.
Fact: Broilers are effective at self-regulating intake based on energy needs if high-quality feed is provided.
Myth: Limit feeding or skip-a-day feeding saves money on feed costs.
Fact: Restricting feed risks nutrient deficiencies and actually reduces growth rate and profitability.
Myth: Withdrawing feed from broilers before processing yields better grades.
Fact: Feed withdrawal causes weight loss and does not improve carcass grade or quality. It only reduces digestive tract contents.
Other common broiler feeding mistakes include not adjusting rations based on performance, inadequate feeder space, infrequent feed changes, improper feed storage, and lack of routine feed testing.
Avoiding these myths and missteps helps ensure optimal nutrition.
Sample Feeding Program for Broilers 0-42 Days
Here is an example of a complete feeding program for broiler chickens from placement as chicks to market weight:
Day 0-10: Feed 22% protein crumble starter diet ad libitum with free-choice access. Focus on highly digestible ingredients and balanced nutrition to support early rapid growth.
Day 11-24: Transition birds stepwise to 22% protein pellet grower ration over 5-7 days. Continue ad libitum feeding with free access to feed.
Day 25-35: Switch to 20% protein pellet grower diet. Begin gradually restricting feed access to 8-10 hours per day to control body weight gain.
Day 36-42: Move birds to 20% protein, high-calorie/fat finisher diet for the last week before processing. Limit feed access to 8 hours per day. Withdraw feed 8-12 hours before transport to reduce fecal contamination.
During the entire program, closely monitor feed intake, growth rate and bird health.
Make adjustments as needed to ensure birds stay on target growth curves.
Follow biosecurity protocols and maintain optimal housing conditions throughout.
Conclusion
Proper broiler chicken nutrition has a tremendous impact on performance, health, and profitability.
It requires balancing rations to meet the bird’s needs at each phase of rapid growth.
Following scientifically-proven recommendations for diet formulation, feed forms, feeding practices, and routine management will go a long way in supporting the optimal nutrition essential for efficient broiler production.
Consult with qualified poultry nutrition to craft feeding regimens tailored to your specific operation.
Proper broiler feeding takes dedication and vigilance, but the rewards of healthy, productive flocks are well worth the efforts.
