Is barley good for laying hens?

Good afternoon, experienced and novice poultry farmers! Can barley be fed to broilers, or is it only good for laying hens? Now let's put everything into pieces. The nutrition of broilers differs significantly from the nutrition of laying hens. But let’s say right away that laying hens and broilers can have a little barley, although they don’t like it very much. We train it from chicken age.

Laying hens need an increased amount of calcium in their feed to ensure strong egg shells, and a minimum of components that contribute to rapid weight gain. But broilers need calcium only for bone growth, and at the same time, their diet should contain many substances that are aimed at rapid weight gain.

The basis of any feed for broilers - factory-made or home-made - consists of grain crops, making up more than 65% of their composition. Many poultry farmers are interested in whether it is worth including barley in the feed and whether it is harmful to the health of broilers. In this article we will look at the benefits of this type of grain for chickens, how and when to give barley to broilers.

Grain consumption standards

The beneficial characteristics and side effects of oats depend on the method of preparation and the volume of cereal that the bird receives. Unprocessed, hulled grains contain more fiber than refined grains. Therefore, it is worth using grain without shells. This will help reduce the amount of fiber and make the oats easier to digest.

Before feeding grains to chickens, it is recommended to separate or germinate them. It is also permissible to steam the grains.

In the warm season, the chicken is free-range and obtains its own food. During this period, the volume of oats should not be more than 20%. It should be used alone or combined with other grains. A combination of the product with vegetables or herbs is acceptable.

During the cold season, birds need oatmeal. It is given in sprouted form. Cereals are also allowed to be steamed. Thanks to this, it is possible to facilitate absorption by the digestive organs.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the Chinchilla became lethargic

A chicken should receive 120 grams of cereals per day. Of this amount, 30 grams should be oats. This product is especially important during molting or drop in egg production.

For meat breeds

Sprouted barley is an ideal way to diversify the diet of chickens

If dry grain should be added to the feed in limited quantities, then when barley germinates, a large amount of vitamins and nutrients is formed in it, so this option will only benefit the bird.

Germination of barley is carried out in several stages:

The grain is poured into a wide bowl with small sides, after which the grain layer is filled with water.
The dishes are placed in a warm place - this is required for faster swelling of the barley.
The next day, excess water is drained. Next, the grain is washed and again poured into a bowl with water.
The next morning the procedure is repeated, with the grain only half immersed in water.
The container with barley should be kept in a warm room; the grain should be periodically sprinkled with water to keep it moist on top.
After sprouts appear, food can be given to chickens. It is desirable that the sprouts are about 3 cm long - in this case the grain will be as beneficial as possible for the bird.

Is it possible for chickens to feed barley?

Important: feeding chickens with barley sprouts should be in the proportion of 250 g of barley per 10 chickens.

A balanced feed from cereal crops will not only help increase the productivity of chickens, but will also saturate the bird with health and energy, which is very important in the spring, when many poultry farmers begin to collect eggs for incubation.

Secrets of adding grain to the menu

The first and basic rule for adding a product to the menu of feathered workers is the correct dosage.

If you are using industrial feed that already contains 10-20% oats, then there is no point in feeding this grain separately if it is summer and your chickens do not molt.

Here are some recommendations for adding this product to the menu of feathered workers.

Give it to chicks during the seasonal molting period. No other grain can stimulate feather growth like this, so such food can speed up the restoration of “fur coats”. In addition, during the molting period, it is recommended to shorten the daylight hours in the poultry house so that its residents can quickly go through this difficult stage of their lives.
During the growth period, young chicks are also recommended to consume this type of grain, in addition to the norm that they receive from combined feed. The younger generation can serve it in the form of flakes or ground. This supplement is useful 2-3 times a week.
And of course, sprouted grains will help your herd survive the winter. The deficiency of green food is partially compensated with the help of grass and pine flour, and partly with the help of sprouted grain. It is very simple to prepare such a healthy delicacy. Many people practice germination in baking sheets or plastic containers. The grain is kept warm on a damp cloth (but not in the heat - it may spoil).

Read also: Do broiler chickens lay eggs at home?

How and how much barley to feed broilers

This grain should be given to chickens from the first days. But barley grains are covered with a hard shell, which is too heavy for the chicks’ body and may not be digested in the esophagus, blocking it and leading to the death of the young. Therefore, until about one month of age, barley is peeled from the shells and ground into coarse flour.

And only adults can sometimes be given whole barley, but in small quantities, birds can stuff their tongues with such grain. Therefore, it is better to feed barley in ground or sprouted form. By the way, sprouted barley replaces green grass for broilers in winter.

All poultry farmers should be able to germinate barley. This is done in almost the same way as we talked about a pie or cake made from sprouted grains. Place a thin layer of barley grains on a baking sheet and add water so that the layer is 1.5 cm thick.

Then the baking sheet is left in a warm place for 12 hours so that the grains swell. Water that is not absorbed is drained. The barley is washed and filled with water so that it covers the grains by about half. This is for the roots that will hatch.

The baking sheet is placed next to the heating device, and the top is covered with a damp cloth, which must be regularly sprayed with water. After the shoots appear, the grains can be introduced into the chicken diet. For a dozen birds, a handful of sprouted barley is enough.

After about a week, the sprouts of the sprouted barley will already be quite large, so they are carefully cut off, crushed and added to the chicken mash. They are chopped up because the chickens are unable to peck at the overgrown greens.

By the way, good barley grains can be immediately distinguished from bad ones. Good barley for laying hens and broilers has a yellowish color with a whitish tint and a pleasant smell.

But chickens do not eat this type of grain very willingly, so young animals are fed it “from childhood” in order to accustom them to this healthy product in time.

In short, this type of grain must be included in the diet of any group of chickens from infancy. But in moderation! And only when combined with other grains and feed components.

Good luck!

Subscribe to site updates and our channel “Chicken” in Yandex.

See you later, colleagues! In the meantime, we will prepare new and interesting information for you!

Did you like our tips? Share with friends on social media. networks!

Basics of a natural chicken diet

After observing a chicken in natural conditions, it becomes clear what is inherent in the needs of this poultry and whether it is possible to feed it certain foods. After all, on independent “grazing” she looks for the food that is inherent to her. These include various blades of grass, leaves and berries, vegetables and fruits, small insects and grains. The diet of chickens in natural conditions is very varied.

Is it possible to feed chickens with leftover food from the owner's table? The answer, of course, is yes. But at the same time, you should remember about products that have a negative impact on the health of the bird. Among them there are those that are strictly forbidden to feed chickens.

What grain to feed laying hens

Feeding laying hens must be balanced so that they produce not only high-quality, but also tasty eggs. The basis of the diet, or at least a significant part of it, as a rule, is grain. What grain to feed laying hens so that they lay eggs well and are provided with all nutritional components will be described below in the article. Recommendations on mixing grains and feeding birds in different seasons will also be given.

What kind of grain do laying hens need?

On small farms or private farmsteads, breeders rarely feed laying hens with compound feed or similar store-bought mash; usually they use mixtures of grains of different types. And rightly so, because varied, high-quality food for poultry is considered the best option. But what grain should you feed laying hens to help them lay eggs better?

Diet for laying hens weighing 1.8 kg (grams per day)

Oats contain an abundance of fiber - 9.9% and vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, K, PP.
Wheat is extremely necessary for birds to increase egg production due to the mass of vitamins, minerals and easily digestible protein.
Barley is the best grain for chickens, according to most experts, as it has an ideal ratio of nutrients.
Rye is very healthy and contains a lot of protein - 12.7%, as well as protein - 11.9%.
Corn is given primarily because it is an essential source of carbohydrates. It contains 4.7% fat, so it is irreplaceable in winter.

How to make a cereal mixture?

Although the grains listed above are indeed beneficial for chickens, they should be given in limited quantities, since the abundance of a particular product will lead to negative consequences. So, what are the norms for adding certain grains to the mixture for laying hens?

Wheat can make up 70-100% of the total feed mass, at least in the summer. In winter you can give 40% wheat.
Oats should be no more than 10%. The fact is that it is characterized by an abundance of fiber, and therefore chickens spend too much energy on digesting it, which negatively affects egg production. But it cannot be completely excluded!
Rye can be produced up to 30%, but given its cost, breeders limit themselves to a modest 5-10%. This, however, is quite enough for the bird.
Barley usually makes up up to 40% of the feed. But there is one important nuance. Due to the sharp tips of the grain, birds will not peck it in its pure form. Therefore, it is always mixed with other grains or, even better, crushed.
Birds should not have too much corn - it leads to obesity. In winter it is worth giving up to 30%; nevertheless, a little fat will not hurt the bird during the cold period, but in summer the norm is reduced to 10-20%. Before giving corn, it is thoroughly crushed, since it is both too hard and too large for birds.

Feeding chickens with grain in winter and summer

Feeding chickens in summer and winter is slightly different. Then what kind of grain should I feed laying hens in cold and hot seasons so that they can lay eggs well?

In principle, you can always give one mixture to avoid confusion. But in the summer, breeders usually save money. Since the bird finds protein and vitamins in abundance on the street, it can not be given corn and barley and, moreover, it can be completely switched to wheat, without adding other cereals.

Winter diet for cage-laying hens of the White Russian breed of chickens

In winter, birds need more energy, they must gain a little fat so as not to die from the cold - this is the natural protection of any bird and animal. Therefore, in winter, it is worth feeding laying hens a mixture of all of the above grains, including expensive rye, if possible. A typical winter grain mixture contains: 40% wheat, 20% barley, 20% corn, 10% rye and 10% oats.

What to give to laying hens?

The chicken should eat 120 g of feed per day. This portion is divided into morning and evening feeding. In the morning, an hour after waking up, the mash is prepared. Wet food stimulates egg production. The mash consists of cereals, vegetables, herbs, and mineral fillers. In the evening they give grain: a mixture of crushed and whole.

Wheat and barley are useful cereals for birds. Rye is rich in protein, but not much is given to birds.
Carrots are a useful vegetable. It is ground on a grater. It contains carotene, which improves reproductive function. Cabbage is rich in fiber. It contains many vitamins and mineral salts. The birds are given zucchini, pumpkin, and boiled potatoes.
Chickens need grass. This is a source of vitamins. Green onions, dill, and parsley are added to the mixture. Nettle, dandelions, clover, and alfalfa are useful.
Shell rock is installed in the chicken coop as mineral fillers. The food is mixed with eggshells and crushed shells. A little table salt is given, no more than 1 g per individual per day. It can provoke intoxication of the body.
It is worth taking care of animal products. They are administered in the form of bone or meat meal, but not more than 5 g per day. Larger amounts of the additive cause aggression in chickens and can provoke pecking.
Laying hens benefit from fish and fish oil. The fat is usually mixed with the feed. The fish is served as minced meat.
For better grinding of food, birds need small pebbles. It is purchased from the manufacturer. The diameter of the stones is no more than 4 mm.

When creating a diet and amount of food, it is necessary to take into account the egg production of birds. If a laying hen has just started laying eggs, then a forecast is made depending on the breed of bird. On average, an egg-producing hen can produce more than 300 eggs per year. This means that in addition to the norm, 120 g, she should receive an additional 30 g of food.

Crushed and whole grains form the basis of the diet. It is given in 100 g. Crushed pieces are 10% more. It is part of the mash.
The chicken receives fresh greens in summer, spring and autumn, but not more than 30 g per day. Otherwise, she may develop gastrointestinal upset. In winter, give silage or grass flour: 5 g of flour.
In autumn and spring, birds are given carrots and pumpkin. The amount of feed is 20 g/head. In summer, the individual receives all its vitamins from green grass. Carrots can be excluded from the diet. The volume of the root crop increases in winter to 40 g.
In winter, sunflower cake or soybean pulp, 12 g, is added to food. In summer, protein supplements are introduced if egg production decreases.
Feed yeast is useful. For 1 head 4 g.
More bran is given up to 10 g/bird.
Meat and bone meal should be 5 g, but it can be replaced with minced fish, no more than 15 g/bird.
If a shell rock is not installed in the chicken coop, then an additive containing calcium is added to the mash, at least 5 g. In the summer - 7 g/bird.
Mashboards are made using fermented milk products, 30 g.
Jackdaws are prescribed 1 g every 10 days.

All food must be of high quality, not rotten. Wash the grass and vegetables well. The mash is prepared before serving. They don’t make it in advance and don’t store it in the refrigerator. The feeder must be washed and any residues removed.

If there is no time to prepare a diet for poultry, then purchase a combined feed. For laying hens, PC1, PC2 are shown. It is given in dry form or wet food is prepared using skim milk. If necessary, vitamin fillers “for laying hens” are added to the food. Pebbles are a must-have product for chickens: they are their “teeth.” Compound feed is administered at the same rate as other food. For chickens producing eggs and meat, the amount of feed is increased by 30%.

More on the topic: Is it harmful if chickens eat polystyrene foam?

Features of barley and how to add it to feed

Barley is a cereal crop, and therefore it is used to feed farm animals and poultry. Flour and cereals are made from barley, the waste is used to make concentrated feed: the grain contains a large amount of protein, which is vital for all types of poultry.

Barley contains:

Amino acids that have a beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the bird’s body.
Mineral elements - the grain contains a lot of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and manganese, which are especially important for young animals.
B vitamins, biotin and tocopherol.

However, there is a small nuance here: barley grain has a film that prevents the absorption of fiber. When barley is crushed, the film is destroyed, so this food becomes easier to digest. However, it is still not worth feeding chickens with barley alone, because such feed often leads to a decrease in egg production or its complete cessation, so the introduction of barley into the feed is allowed only together with wheat, oats and other grain crops. You should refrain from feeding birds barley during the molting period. In addition, it is not recommended to feed barley grain in winter because it is quite difficult for birds to digest.

What are the benefits of sprouted grains?

Often, young breeders, trying to figure out what grain to feed laying hens, receive advice that sprouted grain is the best for chickens. It should be said right away that it is very useful for birds of different ages. Birds are usually “treated” to it in winter, since in summer there is already a lot of greenery and fresh grains. Grains for birds are sprouted by soaking them in water and keeping them in a dark, cool room.

The benefits of sprouted grains

The most useful are sprouts up to 3 mm - they contain an abundance of nutrients that laying hens lack in their feed in winter. Give in mash, grain mixtures or separately, an hour before bedtime.

Well, the last thing worth noting is the quality of grain for feeding laying hens. You should not buy a product at reduced prices if it is of poor quality. There may be pebbles, dirt, etc. in the grain. This can significantly spoil the health and appetites of the bird.

Recommended quantity

Grain feeds make up up to 70% of the poultry diet. The amount of barley in the grain mixture should not exceed 30%. Optimal grain moisture content is up to 16%.

Barley grain is suitable for feeding chickens and laying hens. Until 4 weeks of age, chickens are fed barley (barley groats). This product is made from whole grains, without fruit shells or flower membranes. They are crushed to obtain small yellowish or whitish granules of irregular shape. Untreated testicles can cause chick death due to blockage of the stomach muscle. As the bird grows, the proportion increases, but the scales continue to be removed.

In what cases is it better not to give barley?

It is not recommended to feed grain to hens that are molting or during the colder months.

The rest of the time, grain crops will only benefit the birds’ bodies provided they are fed moderately and balanced.

Can barley be given to chickens?

Grain is the main source of nutrition for poultry. Chickens eat it most readily. Of the grain mass suitable for feeding birds, a considerable percentage is barley. It has a positive effect on the physical condition and productivity of chickens .

However, it is not worth basing the grain part of the diet on barley alone. In addition to barley grains, chickens need to be given wheat and oat grains. Also in the bird's diet should be liquid mash, bone meal, fresh green mass, crushed shell rock and other sources of nutrients and minerals.

A mono-diet based only on barley leads to a deterioration in the well-being of birds and a cessation of laying eggs.

It is necessary to give chickens only high-quality and fresh product. The quality of barley is determined by the typical cereal smell and the even light yellow color of the grain shell.

The volume of grain food in the chicken diet should be about 70%. If you give birds a grain mixture in this volume every day, then the bird’s body will be supplied with the proteins necessary for the development of muscle tissue and the formation of eggs will be 50%. The remaining percentage of protein enters the birds' bodies from other food sources. Chickens can be given grain whose moisture content does not exceed 16%.

Of all the types of grain crops, chickens eat barley the least willingly because it has a specific taste. Therefore, farmers try to accustom their chicks to the product from the first days of life. And, as an adult, the bird eats grain without problems.