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Publication #SSPSE6

Poultry Diets for Small Flocks1

B.L. Damron and D.R. Sloan2

The feed formulations in Tables 1a and 1b are designed for the flock owner who may wish to home-mix feeds or have them custom-blended for their birds. They also allow the incorporation of corn from sustainable agriculture or organic programs. These formulations are based on nutrient requirement recommendations and ingredient nutrient analyses of the National Research Council. (National Research Council, 1994. Nutrient Requirements of Poultry 9th Rev. Ed. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 156 pp.) These diets are designed to be fed in mash form, and they meet all the nutritional needs of the various species of birds. It is not necessary to provide any supplements, such as oyster shell or grit. The feed should not be diluted with scratch feed or other grains.

No duck or turkey breeder feeds are shown because their nutritional requirements are very similar to those of the laying chicken. Therefore, it is recommended that the chicken layer formulation be employed for these birds. A continuous supply of feed and fresh, clean water should be available to the birds at all times.

In order to accommodate different mixing capabilities, formulations with and without vegetable oil (such as peanut or corn oil) used as an energy source are included.

The use of the lower energy diets will result in a somewhat longer growing period and reduced feed efficiency. We also recommend that a feed additive to prevent coccidiosis (caused by a protozoan parasite that invades the walls of the intestine) be added to feeds for starting and growing chickens and turkeys. Since quail also have a problem with ulcerative enteritis, an inflammation of the intestine sometimes resulting in high mortality, a feed additive to control this condition is also recommended. A small portion of the corn can be removed to accommodate medication addition. As with any medication, directions concerning approved bird age, dosage concentration, duration of feeding, and withdrawal time should be carefully studied and followed.

Supplemental vitamin and trace mineral activities for the microingredient mix are also recommended in the footnotes of each table.

For further information on poultry, contact your local county extension agent.

Tables

Table 1. 
Table 1a. Feed formulas for small poultry flocks.

Pullet

Starter

(chicken)

Pullet

Grower

(chicken)

Pullet

Developer

(chicken)

Egg

Layer

(chicken)

Broiler

Starter

with oil

Broiler

Starter

without oil

Broiler

Gro-Fin

with oil

Broiler

Gro-Fin

without oil
Age in Weeks 0-6 7-12 13-18 Mature 0-4 0-4 5-8 5-8
INGREDIENTS PERCENT
Yellow corn 71.61 77.10 79.71 71.40 52.81 58.75 65.83 69.44
Soybean meal (48.5%) 24.55 19.48 16.96 18.33 37.95 36.91 27.58 26.95
Ground limestone 1.24 1.26 1.42 8.00 1.32 1.46 1.33 1.60
Dicalcium P04 (18% P-22% Ca) 1.77 1.33 1.08 1.10 1.75 1.74 1.17 1.16
Microingredients1 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Salt 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.60 0.46 0.46 0.31 0.31
DL-Methionine ------ ------ ------ 0.07 0.18 0.18 0.05 0.05
Vegetable oil ------ ------ ------ ------ 5.03 ------ 3.23 ------
L-Lysine ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
CALCULATED ANALYSIS
Protein 18.00 16.00 15.00 15.00 23.00 23.00 19.00 19.00
Calcium 0.94 0.84 0.84 3.35 1.00 1.05 0.85 0.95
Nonphytate phosphorus2 0.44 0.35 0.30 0.30 0.45 0.45 0.33 0.33
Methionine 0.31 0.27 0.26 0.32 0.53 0.53 0.35 0.35
Methionine plus cystine 0.61 0.55 0.52 0.58 0.90 0.90 0.67 0.67
Lysine 0.91 0.78 0.71 0.73 1.26 1.25 0.99 0.98
Tryptophan 0.22 0.19 0.17 0.18 0.31 0.31 0.24 0.24
Metabolizable energy (Kcal/lb) 1362 1389 1401 1291 1454 1306 1454 1356
Sodium 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.25 0.20 0.20 0.14 0.14
Chloride 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.39 0.32 0.32 0.23 0.23

1

Suggested vitamin and mineral activities per pound of finished feed: vitamin A, 3,000 IU; vitamin D

3

, 1,000 ICU; vitamin E, 5 IU; menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, 1 mg; riboflavin, 2 mg; pantothenic acid, 6 mg; niacin, 27.1 mg; choline chloride, 454 mg; vitamin B

12

, 1.1 mcg; biotin, 0.05 mg; ethoxyquin, 0.0125%; manganese, 27.3 mg; iron, 22.7 mg; copper, 2.7 mg; cobalt, 0.09 mg; iodine, 0.5 mg; zinc, 27.3 mg.

2Nonplant sources of phosphorus.
Table 2. 
Table 1b. Feed formulas for small poultry flocks. -- continued

Turkey

Starter

with oil

Turkey

Starter

without oil

Turkey

Grower

with oil

Turkey

Grower

without oil

Turkey

Finisher

with oil

Turkey

Finisher

without oil

Quail

Starter

Quail

Gro-Fin

Quail

Breeder

Duck

Starter

Duck

Grower
Age in Weeks 0-7 0-7 8-14 8-14 15-market 15-market 0-6 7-market Mature 0-3 4-8
INGREDIENTS PERCENT
Yellow corn 48.09 46.91 64.43 64.66 78.69 80.17 52.42 64.69 59.95 62.28 77.52
Soybean meal (48.5%) 46.94 48.24 31.85 31.81 17.14 16.88 44.17 29.24 30.73 34.38 19.38
Ground limestone 1.10 1.36 0.97 1.10 0.79 1.06 0.70 1.15 6.24 0.97 1.18
Dicalcium P04 (18% P-22% Ca) 2.48 2.47 1.50 1.50 1.08 1.06 1.68 0.98 2.25 1.48 1.05
Microingredients1 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Salt 0.36 0.36 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33
DL-Methionine 0.18 0.16 0.05 0.05 ------ ------ 0.20 0.11 ---- 0.06 0.04
Vegetable oil 0.30 ------ 0.32 0.05 1.47 ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
L-Lysine 0.05 ------ 0.05 ------ ------ ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
CALCULATED ANALYSIS
Protein 27.00 27.48 21.00 21.00 15.00 15.00 26.00 20.00 20.00 22.0 16.00
Calcium 1.10 1.20 0.80 0.85 0.60 0.70 0.77 0.75 2.96 0.80 0.75
Nonphytate phosphorus2 0.60 0.60 0.40 0.40 0.30 0.30 0.45 0.30 0.53 0.40 0.30
Methionine 0.58 0.57 0.38 0.38 0.26 0.26 0.59 0.42 0.31 0.40 0.30
Methionine plus cystine 1.00 1.00 0.76 0.73 0.52 0.52 1.00 0.75 0.64 0.76 0.58
Lysine 1.55 1.55 1.15 1.15 0.71 0.71 1.44 1.04 1.06 1.18 0.77
Tryptophan 0.37 0.39 0.27 0.27 0.17 0.17 0.36 0.26 0.26 0.29 0.19
Metabolizable energy (Kcal/lb) 1270 1251 1350 1338 1454 1407 1292 1357 1285 1330 1395
Sodium 0.16 0.16 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15
Chloride 0.26 0.26 0.25 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.24

1

Suggested vitamin and mineral activities per pound of finished feed: vitamin A, 3,000 IU: vitamin D3, 1,000 ICU: vitamin E, 5 IU; menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, 1 mg; riboflavin, 2 mg; pantothenic acid, 6 mg; niacin, 27.1 mg; choline chloride, 454 mg; vitamin B

12

, 1.1 mcg; biotin, 0.05 mg; ethoxyquin, 0.0125%; manganese, 27.3 mg; iron, 22.7 mg; copper, 2.7 mg; cobalt, 0.09 mg; iodine, 0.5 mg; zinc, 27.3 mg.

2Nonplant sources of phosphorus.

Footnotes

1.

This document is SSPSE6, one of a series of the Animal Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date April 1, 1995. Reviewed June 1, 2003. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

B.L. Damron, professor; D.R. Sloan, associate professor, Department of Dairy and Poultry Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.