How to Make Your Own Quality Chicken Feed at Home to Cut Costs

Making your own chicken feed can significantly reduce expenses while ensuring that your poultry receives high-quality nutrition. With the right ingredients and formulations, you can create balanced feed for different growth stages, from chicks to layers and broilers. This guide outlines how to make various chicken feeds at home, emphasizing cost-effectiveness without compromising quality.

Benefits of Homemade Chicken Feed

1. Cost Savings: By sourcing ingredients in bulk and preparing feed at home, you can reduce feed costs significantly.
2. Quality Control: You can select fresh and high-quality ingredients, ensuring your chickens get the best nutrition.
3. Customization: Tailor the feed to meet the specific needs of your flock based on their age and health.

Basic Ingredients for Chicken Feed

Common Ingredients

• Whole Maize: A primary energy source.
• Soya Bean Meal: Provides protein.
• Wheat Bran: A good source of fiber.
• Fishmeal: Rich in protein and essential fatty acids.
• Sunflower Cake: Contains protein and healthy fats.
• Lime: Provides calcium for eggshell formation.
• Salt: Essential for electrolyte balance.

Additional Nutrients

• Premix Vitamins and Minerals: To ensure overall health.
• Amino Acids: For muscle development and growth.
• Enzymes and Probiotics: To enhance digestion.

Formulations for Homemade Chicken Feed

1. Chick Mash (1-4 Weeks)

Growing chicks require a high protein content of 18-20%. Here’s a formulation for a 70 kg bag:

Ingredients:

• 31.5 kg of whole maize
• 9.1 kg of wheat bran
• 7.0 kg of wheat pollard
• 16.8 kg of sunflower or linseed
• 1.5 kg of fishmeal
• 1.75 kg of lime
• 30 g of salt
• 20 g of premix
• Amino Acids:
  • 70 g of tryptophan
  • 3.0 g of lysine
  • 10 g of methionine
  • 70 g of threonine

2. Growers Mash (4-8 Weeks)

For pullets or young layers, aim for a protein content of 16-18%:

Ingredients:

• 10 kg of whole maize
• 17 kg of maize germ
• 13 kg of wheat pollard
• 10 kg of wheat bran
• 6 kg of cottonseed cake
• 5 kg of sunflower cake
• 3.4 kg of soya meal
• 2.07 kg of lime
• 700 g of bone meal
• 3 kg of fishmeal

Additives:

• 14 g of salt
• 18 g of premix
• 7 g of mycotoxin binder

3. Layers Mash (8 Weeks & Above)

Layer feeds should contain 16-18% protein and adequate calcium:

Ingredients:

• 34 kg of whole maize
• 12 kg of soya
• 8 kg of fishmeal
• 10 kg of maize bran, rice germ, or wheat bran
• 6 kg of lime

Additives:

• 175 g of premix
• 70 g of lysine
• 35 g of methionine
• 50 g of toxin binder

4. Broiler Feed

Broilers have different nutritional needs based on their growth stages. For starters, feed should contain 22-24% DCP.

Ingredients for Broiler Starter (1-4 Weeks):

• 40 kg of whole maize
• 12 kg of fishmeal (or Omena)
• 14 kg of soya bean meal
• 4 kg of lime
• 70 g of premix

Kienyenji/Indigenous Chicken Feed

For indigenous chickens, use the following formulation:

Ingredients:

• 34 kg of whole maize
• 12 kg of soya bean
• 8 kg of omena
• 10 kg of maize or wheat bran
• 6 kg of lime

Tips for Making Quality Chicken Feed

1. Source Ingredients Locally: Purchase grains and seeds from local farmers or suppliers to save on transportation costs.
2. Mix in Bulk: If you have a large flock, consider preparing larger batches (e.g., 1 tonne) to save time and effort.
3. Store Properly: Keep the feed in a cool, dry place to prevent spoilage and maintain quality.
4. Monitor Feed Freshness: Use feed within a month to ensure it remains fresh and nutritious.

Substituting Ingredients

If maize prices rise, consider substituting it with other grains like wheat or sorghum, which can provide similar energy levels. Adjust your formulations as necessary to maintain nutritional balance.

By making your own chicken feed at home, you can provide high-quality nutrition for your poultry while reducing costs. Tailor the formulations based on your flock’s specific needs, and enjoy the benefits of healthier, more productive chickens.

Here's the cost-saving analysis for making your own chicken feed in Kenyan Shillings (Ksh):

Estimated Costs for Homemade Feed Ingredients

Let's use the 70 kg Growers Mash example again and assume the following ingredient prices in Ksh:

• Whole Maize: Ksh 50/kg
• Maize Germ: Ksh 40/kg
• Wheat Pollard: Ksh 45/kg
• Wheat Bran: Ksh 30/kg
• Cotton Seed Cake: Ksh 60/kg
• Sunflower Cake: Ksh 70/kg
• Soya Meal: Ksh 80/kg
• Lime: Ksh 20/kg
• Bone Meal: Ksh 100/kg
• Fishmeal: Ksh 90/kg

Total Cost of Homemade Feed

Commercial Feed Cost

• Let’s say the cost of commercial growers mash feed is around Ksh 5,000 for a 70 kg bag.

Potential Savings Calculation

• Cost of Homemade Feed: Ksh 3,575.40
• Cost of Commercial Feed: Ksh 5,000
• Savings per Bag: Ksh 5,000 - Ksh 3,575.40 = Ksh 1,424.60

Summary of Savings

If you produce 10 bags of homemade feed, your total savings would be:

• Total Savings for 10 Bags: Ksh 1,424.60 × 10 = Ksh 14,246.00

Conclusion

By making your own chicken feed, you could potentially save around Ksh 1,424.60 per 70 kg bag. Over time and with larger quantities, these savings can significantly impact your overall poultry farming costs. Be sure to adjust the ingredient prices based on your local market for the most accurate calculations.