Farm Guides

How to measure and reduce feed waste

An empty feeder measures disappearance, not appetite. Some feed may be eaten, some spilled, some taken by rodents and some spoiled. You need a small measurement trial before deciding that...

Shell grit and insoluble grit do different jobs

The word grit can hide two different products. Soluble shell material supplies calcium. Hard insoluble grit helps grind coarse food in the gizzard. They should not be treated as interchangeable.

Why mixing extra grains into complete feed chan...

Replacing part of a complete ration changes every nutrient concentration, even if the bucket looks fuller. Grain can be useful in a professionally formulated diet, but adding it does not...

How to read a chicken feed bag

The most useful words on a feed bag may be complete feed or concentrate. A complete ration is designed to supply the intended bird's needs when fed as directed. A...

Feeding retired hens and nonlayers

A hen that has permanently stopped laying has different calcium demands from an actively laying hen. Age alone does not tell you whether she is retired: some older hens still...

Feeding breeders: support fertility without ove...

Breeder nutrition aims to maintain condition and support viable eggs and chicks. More feed or more supplements does not automatically mean better fertility. Both inadequate intake and excess body condition...