The rural type chicks need balanced feed during the initial 6 weeks of age under nursery rearing/brooding. In
the nurseries, the chicks are reared on standard chick starter ration.
For the Grower birds in the second phase, besides the feed material available in the free range, natural
food/greens like waste grains, germinated seeds, mulberry leaves, azolla, drumstick leaves and subabul leaves
(high protein sources) may be provided.
The need for extra feed depends on the free range available, intensity of vegetation, availability of waste
grains, insects etc.
Under free-range conditions, the birds meet their protein requirement through scavenging, but the risk of
energy deficiency is common. Therefore, feeding the birds with some locally available cereals (like maize,
bajra, jowar, broken rice, with equal parts of rice polish or rice bran) is essential. However, the nutrient
intake of scavenging birds varies from place to place according to the seasons, the crops grown and the natural
vegetation available.
Feed restriction should be followed during 6 months of age (age of sexual maturity in layers) to restrict the
weight of the birds.
During the rainy season and harvest time, there will be plenty of food in the form of worms, insects and
post-harvest leftovers, but the scarcity of resources prevails during the dry season. Feed supplements,
including household waste (kitchen leftovers) and oilseed cakes, have a positive effect on egg production and
body weight of scavenging birds and hence, a handful of grains or kitchen waste, in the morning and evening can
be given to supplement scavenging.
The scavenging feed base is very important for propagation of backyard birds. Soil type, cropping systems and
cropping intensity dominated by wheat, maize, rice, sugarcane and finger millets are related to supplementary
feed base.
Supplemental calcium sources like lime stone powder, stone grit, shell grit at 4 to 5 gms/bird/day especially
during the laying phase yields successful results with high rate of survivability and good egg production.
Any feed of grain or household scraps that is offered should be given inside the shelter. If this is regularly
provided in the evening, it will help to train the birds to willingly enter the enclosure before nightfall.
In simple, a locally available feed formulation includes:
