CHICKEN LAYER FEED FORMULATION GUIDE
Formula for 100kg of Layers' Chick Mash (1-4 Weeks)
Since the chicks are growing, chicks require feed with Digestible Crude Protein (DCP)
of between 18 to 20%.
Amino acids are important nutrients in all feeds in order to make a complete feed for all
animals. For hybrid chickens, the addition of amino acids is very important to maintain a
balanced diet for fast growth.
The following ingredients can be used to make a 100kg bag of layer chick mash:
46kg of whole maize
13kg of wheat bran,
10kg of wheat pollard,
25kg of sunflower meal, linseed meal, beniseed meal or groundnut cake
2.6 kg of fishmeal
2.5 kg of lime
70g of salt
40g of premix
Amino acids to be added
140g of tryptophan
20g of lysine
20g of methionine
140 g of threonine
100g of enzymes or growth enhancers
120g of coccidiostat
100g of toxin binder
Formula for 100kg of Layers' Grower Mash (4-18weeks)
It is very necessary that pullets should be provided with a feed having a protein content
of between 16 and 18%. Such feed makes the pullet to grow fast and prepare for egg
laying.
14.3kg of whole maize
24.3kg of maize germ
18.6kg of wheat pollar
14.3kg of wheat bran
15.7kg of sunflower cake, groundnut cake or beniseed meal.
4.9kg of soya meal or soya cake
2.9kg of lime
1kg of bone meal
4.3kg of fishmeal
40g of salt
5g of coccidiostat
30g of Pre-mix
5g of zinc bacitracin
10g of toxin binder.
Formula for 100kg of Layers' Mash (18weeks and Above)
Note: Layers’ feed should never be fed to chickens younger than 18 weeks as it
contains high calcium content that can damage their kidneys (they can develop kidney
stones), which interfere with egg production and also shorten their lifespan.
Alternatively, you can start feeding your birds with layers mash when they start laying
5% of their total number.
The following ingredients can be used to make 100kg bag of layer mash
OPTION 1
48.5kg of whole maize
17kg of Soya
11kg of fishmeal
14kg of maize bran, rice germ or wheat bran
9.5kg of lime
200g premix or growth or egg production enhancers
Amino acids to be added
100g lysine
50g methionine
100kg threonine
50g tryptophan
75g toxin binder
OPTION 2
59kg Maize grains
20kg Soybean meal
6Kg Groundnut cake
4kg Rice Bran or wheat offals
5kg Bone meal
5kg Limestone
200g of Methionine
200g of Lysine
200g of Vitamin and mineral Premix
200g of Salt
100g of Toxin binder
100g of Layers mix
You may choose to add other additives for a better result if you want (like coccidiostat
and other drug feed additives) but if you administer drugs you may not need to add.
Note: Layer feed should contain a Digestible Crude Protein (DCP) content of between
16-18%.
Calcium is important for the formation of eggshells (Laying hens that do not get enough
calcium will use the calcium stored in their own bone tissue to produce eggshells which
will lead to lameness). Layer feed should be introduced at 18 weeks.
Important Tips On Feed Preparation
When making homemade feed rations, it is important to do experimental trials.
Isolate a number of chickens, feed them and observe their performance. If the feed
rations are right, the broilers will grow fast and the layers will increase egg
production (at least 1 egg after every 27 hours).
Farmers should be very careful with the quality of feed ingredients or raw
materials. Poultry, especially chickens are very sensitive to feeds that contain
mycotoxins which are present in most of the raw materials. Never use rotten
maize to make chicken feed.
Buy quality fishmeal from reputable companies. If local fish meal is used, you must
be sure of its quality.
It is very important to mix all the micronutrients (amino acids) and premix first
before mixing with the rest of the feed.
For mixing, farmers are advised to use a feed mixer. It is not advisable to use a
shovel to mix feed because the ingredients may be unevenly distributed if you
didn't mix properly. Use a feed mixer instead.
Never use rotten ingredients to make feed. Rotten materials might contain
mycotoxins which are harmful to poultry health.
