Is it possible to give oats to chickens, germination rules and how to introduce it into the diet
The use of oats for chickens is quite common. This product has a high nutritional value and allows you to supply birds with the necessary substances - vitamins and microelements. In order for the food to bring only benefits to the birds, it is worth considering a number of features. First of all, you need to take into account the age category and body weight.
Is it possible for chickens to oats
Chickens eat oats well. This cereal contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals. They are required by birds for full development and maintenance of high productivity.
The use of oats for feeding birds helps to achieve the following results:
- replenish the body with vitamins and minerals;
- form and strengthen the immune system;
- improve the work of the musculoskeletal system;
- to accelerate the recovery from molting and to activate the development of feathers;
- increase productivity;
- improve the development of young animals.
Nutritional value
Cereals are high in carbohydrates and proteins. Oats contain 8% fat and fiber. The cereal has a high nutritional value. Chickens eat these grains with pleasure. Birds can absorb oatmeal in its pure form. It is also often included in the composition of the combined feed..
Oats contain the following components:
- 65% carbohydrates;
- 12-15% fat;
- 10-12% proteins.
In addition, other important substances are present in cereals. These include sodium, magnesium, calcium. Includes potassium and iron oats. The composition contains leucine, arginine, tyrosine. In addition, the composition includes glycine, valine, lysine and many other components.
The parameters of energy value are influenced by the presence of husks. In its natural form, the calorie content of cereals is 257 kilocalories. At the same time, 100 grams of peeled oats contains 295 kilocalories.
Pros and cons
Oats are considered a healthy cereal that has many advantages:
- high content of vitamins and minerals;
- high nutritional value;
- beneficial effect on the development of chickens;
- maintaining high productivity of birds;
- affordable cost.
Moreover, the cereal has certain disadvantages. Studies have shown that the digestive organs of chickens have a hard time digesting fiber, which is abundant in oatmeal. Therefore, the amount of this component in industrial compound feeds is minimized.
Difficulty digesting food provokes health problems. Birds cannot absorb other nutritional ingredients.
Therefore, when using oats for feeding birds, it is important to remember the sense of proportion.
How to soak and germinate?
Germinating grain is a simple process. To germinate a cereal, it is worth following a certain sequence of actions:
- Take a plastic container and place pure natural material in it.
- Moisten the cloth and place the grains on it.
- Cover with a damp cloth.
- Place the container in a warm and well-lit place.
- The seeds should be moistened as needed. This is done before sprouting.
- When roots and green shoots appear, feed can be given to chickens.
There is also a method for steaming the beans. To do this, follow these steps:
- bring water to a boil;
- put a maximum of 5 grams of salt in it;
- pour boiling water over the cereal;
- boil for 10 minutes;
- drain the water;
- dry the grains.
Consumption rate
The beneficial characteristics and side effects of oats depend on the cooking method and the amount of cereal the bird receives. Unprocessed hulled grains contain more fiber than refined grains. Therefore, it is worth using grain without shells. This will help reduce fiber and make oats easier to digest.
Before giving cereals to chickens, it is recommended to grind or sprout them. It is also permissible to steam the grains.
Summer
In the warm season, the chicken is free-range and independently obtains its own food. During this period, the volume of oats should not exceed 20%. It should be used alone or combined with other cereals. The combination of the product with vegetables or herbs is acceptable.
In winter
During the cold season, birds need oatmeal. It is given in a germinated form. Also, the cereal is allowed to be steamed. Thanks to this, it is possible to facilitate the assimilation of the digestive organs.
The chicken should receive 120 grams of cereals per day. Of this amount, 30 grams should be oats. This product is especially important during moulting or falling egg production.
How to prepare compound feed with oats
To make a combined feed with the addition of oatmeal, it is worth considering the age of the birds.
For chickens
For chicks that have recently hatched, oats should be given chopped up. It can be included in mash or dry mixes. To prepare 1 kilogram of compound feed, you will need the following components:
- 500 grams of chopped corn;
- 150 grams of wheat or barley flour;
- 150 grams of sunflower meal;
- 80 grams of chopped barley;
- 2/3 cup of kefir 1% or milk whey;
- 3 grams of salt.
The fermented milk product is preheated to 30-35 degrees. This will help to fully saturate all the ingredients of the composition.
To avoid vitamin deficiency and the development of diseases, it is permissible to put premixes for chicks in mixed feed. Such substances contain many vitamins and minerals. In the morning, the composition is added to the main diet. It is important to adhere to the dosage.
For hens
Mature hens should make feed based on wheat, yellow and red millet. These components are mixed in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. This composition should account for half of the mixture. To it you need to add 25% corn, 15% oats, 8% millet and 2% shell rock.
To provide the birds with vitamins, a premix for layers is used. Thanks to this, they will systematically produce eggs. Such funds allow you to avoid the development of diseases of the eyes and joints. For 1 kilogram of the feed mixture, there should be 10 grams of the substance.
For broilers
The diet of these birds should be aimed at rapid weight gain. For this, the feed must contain 10% oats, 5% fish or meat and bone meal, 20% corn. The rest comes from wheat and bran. These components are taken in equal proportions.
Broilers need special premixes. They are made with the metabolic processes in mind in meat breeds of chickens in mind and help promote weight gain at low feeding costs. This substance avoids the development of anemia and rickets, diseases of the thyroid gland and eyes.For 1 individual take 1 gram of the substance.
Possible problems from feeding oats
The digestive organs of chickens have a hard time digesting fiber, which is present in large quantities in oatmeal. Therefore, birds should not be given a lot of grain.
Also, oats are not given to birds that tend to gain weight. This product promotes the development of adipose tissue. As a result, chickens do not fly well and become more susceptible to infections..
Oats are a popular food that contains many vitamins and minerals.
It is often used in the preparation of a diet for chickens. To achieve good results and not harm the birds, it is worth strictly observing the norms of this product.
