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12-14 Poultry Science CH 12]

Table 12.8 Recommended Minimum Density, Feeder, and Drinker Space for Pullets.

Density Feeder Space Drinker Space
Age sq.ft. linear inches linear inches
(weeks) per pullet per pullet) per pullet

0 to 6 0 to 0.5 1 0.50
6 to 12 1 to 2 3 1.00
12 to 20+ 2 to 3 3 2.0
Range pens
8 to 10 wks+ 400-500 birds/acre 3 2.0

Pullets in a brooder house needs 2.5-3.5 sq.ft. per bird.

Feed consumption: Over the course of 20 weeks, toms will consume approximately 100 pounds
of feed each, while hens will consume approximately 64 pounds.

Feeding and Watering

More than half of commercial feeds in the U.S. are fed to poultry. Of these 67% are a complete feed
ration and 33% are supplements. The poultryman has several options for purchasing and preparing feeds:

1. Purchase a commercially prepared, balanced feed ration.
2. Purchase a commercially prepared protein supplement, reinforced with
vitamins and minerals that are added to local and home prepared feedstuffs.

3. Purchase a commercially prepared vitamin-mineral premix which may be
mixed with an oil meal, and then added to the local or home prepared
feedstuff.
4. Purchase all individual ingredients and mix the feed to meet the nutritional
requirements of the birds.

Before anyone can intelligently formulate a poultry ration, it is necessary to know (1) the nutrient
requirements of the particular birds to be fed; (2) the availability, nutrient content, and cost of feedstuffs;
(3) the palatability and physical condition of feedstuffs; and (4) the presence of substances harmful to
product quality. These concepts apply to all farm animals and livestock.
Through experimentation, the requirements of most nutrients needed by poultry have been established.
These requirements differ according to the type and age of poultry being fed, as well as the purpose for
which they are being fed. The National Research Council compiles and publishes these nutritive
requirements and nutritional value of the various feedstuffs.

Feed recommendations for chickens: Feed a completely balanced ration. For fryers and broilers,
feed a starter mash or crumble pellets containing 20-23% protein until slaughtered. For roasters, feed a
20% protein starter for the first 6 weeks then switch to a 18% protein grower feed. Many people just
"dilute" the starter by feeding 90% starter mash with 10% corn from 6 to 10 weeks and feeding 80% starter
mash and 20% corn after 10 weeks of age.

Turkey Feeding. Feed and water should be available to the growing turkeys at all times. Some flocks
seem to have trouble finding the feed early, resulting in death loss from "starve outs." Some producers put
marbles or aluminum foil balls in drinkers and feeders for the first two weeks to attract the turkey poults
and start them on feed and water. Adequate feeder and drinker space ensures that all birds in the flock have
an opportunity to eat and drink. Refer to Table 12.9 for feeder and drinker spacing recommendations for
Turkeys.

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