Providing a nutritional balance that best satisfies the animals’ demands for growth, preservation, egg production, and other functions is the science of nutrition. Poultry nutrition is the guide to knowing what nutrition is necessary for the chickens to grow and lay healthy eggs. We should also know the precise amount of nutrition the poultry requires for constant growth. 

Poultry care plays a huge role in the egg industry, where millions of eggs are consumed daily. Improper nutrition to the chicken in the poultry could disrupt this flow and make severe impacts. 

In the following part, we’ll discuss the major components of Poultry Nutrition.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates (compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) are a source of energy for animals. They also account for the majority of the calories consumed by fowl. Most carbohydrates are consumed in starch, glucose, cellulose, and several other non-starch molecules, among other forms. 

Poultry is notoriously bad at digesting cellulose and other non-starch substances, referred to as crude fibre. The majority of carbohydrates and sugars, on the other hand, are readily used by fowl. Corn, wheat, barley, and other grains are all essential sources of carbohydrates in poultry diets, as are legumes and fruits.

Proteins and Amino Acids 

Proteins, and more specifically, the amino acids present in dietary protein, contribute to the formation of the skin, feathers, bones, and ligaments of chickens and other birds. They also contribute to the formation of organs and muscles, critical in the proper functioning of chickens. Note that achieving the proper balance of proteins and amino acids is more complex than it appears at first glance. 

The quantity required relies on the bird’s type, the bird’s size, of the bird, as well as the purpose of the bird (for instance, a mature rooster needs fewer amino acids than a laying hen). In this case, conducting a thorough study on the unique requirements of your breed would be beneficial.

Fats

For meat-type poultry in general, fat is given to the diet to raise total energy concentration. It boosts productivity as well as feed efficiency. Grease from restaurants, rendered animal carcasses, and waste from vegetable oil refining are common sources of feed-grade fat, but they can also originate from various sources.

Nonetheless, all feed fats must be stabilised with an antioxidant to preserve unsaturated fatty acids. Then when animal fat is introduced to feed at such a low level, it may be nutritionally helpful to combine it with a small quantity of vegetable oil to increase the poultry nutritional value. It is because the metabolic efficiency of a fat mix is higher than that of a single fat addition.

Vitamins

Vitamins are chemical substances that chickens require in modest amounts to be healthy and productive. Despite their low dietary requirements, vitamins are necessary for the proper functioning of the body and development and reproduction. A vitamin shortage can result in various disorders or syndromes depending on which vitamins are lacking. Vitamin A is the most important of poultry. Vitamin A is essential for the steady growth and development of epithelial tissue and the process of reproduction. 

Vitamin D3 is necessary for the proper growth and development of the bones and the generation of eggshells. Vitamin K is indispensable for the production of blood clots.

Minerals

However, minerals are required for several other critical processes, including the production of blood cells, blood pressure regulation, enzyme activation, energy metabolism, and normal muscle function. Minerals are also required for bone development.

Minerals are often divided into two categories: macrominerals and microminerals. A higher concentration of macrominerals and a lower concentration of microminerals are required in the diet of poultry. Copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, & zinc are some of the microminerals found in soil.

Even though poultry has reduced needs for microminerals, these minerals serve critical functions in the body’s metabolism and are thus important. Iodine, for instance, is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which are responsible for the regulation of energy metabolism. In a similar vein, zinc is engaged in various enzyme-based activities in the body, while iron helps to carry oxygen throughout the body.

Water

Water is a crucial part of their daily lives for all poultry and livestock. Any period of water restriction lasting longer than twelve hours will have a negative impact on the growth of chickens and the egg production of layers. Water deprivation that lasts longer than 24 – 36 hours will almost always end in death.

It is especially crucial to consider water availability when it comes to chicks. The young chick is around 79% water, and because it cannot consume large amounts of water at once, it must drink often.

Conclusion

Poultry nutrition helps ensure that all the chickens are getting enough nutrition in terms of all the major components to be healthy and immune to any potential disease. The chickens could be very delegated to handle as a small deficiency in their nutrition could lead to a loss in laying eggs, and it could make a huge impact on the whole egg business. So, poultry nutrition should be taken seriously to keep the lively stock healthy and productive.