Hatch a Diet Plan - Any delay in the supply of feed and water to the newly hatched chick can have significant long-term consequences. Baby Chick Crumbs and clean fresh water must be provided, as birds that do not eat well during the first few days may never reach their full potential.

Baby Chick Crumbs are higher in protein to support early-stage muscle and skeletal growth, and the ingredients are easily digestible to take into account the relatively under-developed gut at this stage of development. Turkey starter crumbs may be beneficial for the larger breeds.

At about 5-8 weeks, the chicks should gradually be introduced to Poultry Grower/Finisher pellets by mixing them with the chick crumbs over the space of a few days. By this stage, feed intake will have increased so they no longer need the higher concentration of protein in the feed to support muscle growth. Commercial broilers are usually fed high-energy diets in order to produce a low feed conversion rate, but in less intensive or free range conditions, lower energy diets are more suitable. In general, poultry will regulate their own feed intake.

When the birds reach about 18 weeks they can be changed gradually to Natural Free Range Layers feed which can be fed either as pellets or meal. Changing birds onto Specialist Poultry Breeder pellet 4-6 weeks before breeding starts can significantly improve fertility, hatchability and chick survival rates, if combined with good management and incubation techniques. The high-energy Specialist Poultry Breeder Pellets have higher levels of protein to support egg production, and to satisfy the link between nutrient requirements and feed intake.

Because breeding and laying birds are effectively adults, they have a well-established digestive system and good, constant feed intake. The main nutritional demand is to support egg production. Eggs require fats for the yolk and protein for the white, but also calcium for the shell. Specialist Poultry Breeder pellets and Natural Free Range Layers pellets and meal contain an increased level of calcium to support this extra demand.

Mechanics of the Poultry Diet Feed is taken into the mouth via the beak and swallowed whole, with a little saliva added. It then passes down the oesophagus (gullet) until it reaches the crop, a small area that you can usually feel in the breast area of a bird that has just eaten. It is because the crop is small in relation to the rest of the system that poultry can only eat small amounts of feed at a time and are best suited to pecking at feed 'little and often'. This is also why it is important not to overfeed scraps and corn, as the bird will fill its crop with these, at the expense of a nutritionally balanced pellet. This can lead to problems of malnutrition, particularly in laying birds that require the additional protein, vitamins and minerals (particularly calcium) which have carefully been provided in a balanced feed.

The food will then pass on into the proventriculus where gastric juices and enzymes begin the process of breaking the food down, and then on to the gizzard. Strong muscular contractions of the gut wall continue to break the food down and digest it. Small pieces of grit picked up by the chicken will help this physical grinding process, acting almost like millstones to grind the grain. This is why even poultry on a balanced feed such as layers pellets will need access to grit.

Breeders and Layers The main difference between Breeders and Layers diets is that the layers pellets will be optimised to produce an egg of good quality for eating, including the inclusion of omega 3 oils. The breeder pellets on the other hand also have to support fertility, hatchability, survivability and the development of the embryo in the egg and of the newly hatched chicks. This difference is shown particularly in the vitamin content of each feed: birds producing eggs for eating require vitamin levels closer to a maintenance requirement; whereas breeding birds producing hatching eggs need a more concentrated and comprehensive vitamin specification. Vitamin D3 for bone strength, B vitamins for breeding, and vitamin C and E for fertility and immunity are of particular significance.

Light breeds start to lay at about five months and the heavier breeds at about six months. Large fowl will eat about 4-6oz (110g-170g) per day, bantams need around 2-3oz (50g-85g), according to size, though it is best to give birds constant access to feed so they can help themselves as they need. If you do feed a scratch feed - like wheat and maize - the best way to do so is to give small amounts in the afternoon after they have already had a chance to 'fill-up' on pellets. You do not want to jeopardise the protein level and mineral content of the diet, as reductions here can make birds slow to come into lay, or result in soft-shelled eggs.

Laying birds require a complete balanced feed (either Natural Free Range or Organic Layers Pellets or Layers Meal) to sustain maximum egg production over time. Improper nutrition can occasionally cause hens to stop laying. Inadequate levels of energy, protein or calcium can also cause a production decrease. This is why it is so important to supply your laying hens with a constant supply of nutritionally balanced layers food with a protein level of about 16%.

A common misconception is that there is no need to feed layer's pellets or meal to hens that have gone off lay due to moult, or to pullets before they come into lay. In fact, if adequate protein is not ensured at this time, then future laying periods and performance may be affected.

The choice between pellets, meal or mash is a personal one, and people tend to have their own preferences. Nutritionally, the different forms perform the same role. With pellets there tends to be less wastage, and they make it harder for the birds to pick out certain ingredients and leave others (possibly resulting in a less balanced diet). Some people prefer meal, however, as the birds are occupied longer in the process of eating it.

For more information on poultry nutrition, and feed from the Smallholder range, please contact: Norfolk Mill, Shipdham, Thetford, Norfolk, IP25 7SD. Tel: 01362 822902 or fax: 01362 822910. www.smallholderfeed.co.uk or Email : helpline@smallholderfeed.co.uk