In the successful maintenance of poultry, an important role is played by its full, proper nutrition. One of the main components of the daily diet of chickens are considered to be special dietary supplements - premixes, which accelerate the growth of birds and positively affect their harmonious development. How to apply and select premixes - let's see.
What are premixes?
Poultry, like any other animal, for full development and growth requires a balanced diet, enriched with essential minerals and vitamins. To supply the body of the chicken with the necessary active substances, special additives have been developed - premixes.
Learn more about premixes and how to apply them.
Premix is a special complex consisting of vitamins, micro and macronutrients, minerals, amino acids and antimicrobial agents, which is used as an additive to the main diet.
Additives are a homogeneous mass of biologically active substances and excipients. At home cooking, bran, crushed wheat, and fodder yeast are used as the latter.
Did you know? Premix (from the Latin "prae" - pre, and "misceo" - mix) - this is a special concept of technology, essentially meaning the mixing of various dry ingredients, which are dosed in trace amounts. For the first time such additives appeared in the 50s of the last century. They consisted of vitamin complexes, salts of trace elements, as well as antibiotics, enzymes, various stimulants.
What are they needed for
Premixes have a wide range of functions that positively affect bird health. They:
- enrich the body of chickens with vitamins, minerals and other useful elements;
- prevent the development of beriberi;
- increase laying eggs;
- strengthen the immune system, increase the protective functions;
- increase the resistance of birds to various kinds of ailments;
- minimize the risk of developing diseases associated with the legs and joints;
- strengthen the skeleton, prevent the development of obesity;
- make the shell more durable;
- increase the nutritional value of eggs.
Regular consumption of premixes contributes to better poultry growth, rapid weight gain, if it is a meat breed, and increased egg production, if it is a hen.
Did you know? It turns out that in the body of the chicken chemical processes take place concerning the transformation of one element into another. So, getting together with the food a different set of vitamin-mineral substances, the bird, by means of ongoing metabolic processes, is able to produce the calcium it needs, which subsequently goes to shell formation.
Types of additives
All premixes are primarily designed to take into account the breed of birds: for layers and for breeds of meat. On the modern market there are several types of additives:
- vitamin - are a mixture of biologically active substances and fillers;
- mineral - they contain various micro, macronutrients and fillers;
- complex - properly balanced mixtures consisting of a group of vitamins, minerals, beneficial elements and special fillings;
- proteinaceous - means, the main of which is the protein concentrate used for mixing in carbohydrate feed;
- healing - special personnel, which includes various therapeutic drugs used in the treatment and prevention of various diseases.
Thanks to such additives, it is possible to improve the poultry's digestive system, reduce the risk of developing various pathologies of internal organs, avoid problems with plumage, soreness, normalize the condition of the poultry farmer and thereby increase egg production.
How to choose when buying
Today to buy premix will not be very difficult. However, before you go shopping, you should know what must be present in high-quality additives and what to look for when choosing.
Making up the diet of chickens, the question arises whether to include the following products: buckwheat and rice, eggshells, beans, peas, cabbage, fish, beets, potatoes, salt, garlic, herbs.
What should be in the composition
To assess the effectiveness and quality of the premix can be on its composition. Such products should contain vitamins A, D, K, H, E and group B. Vitamin A responsible for the normal growth and development of chicks, E - participates in protein synthesis, makes it possible to improve the performance indicators.
Vitamin D promotes proper formation of the skeleton, bone tissue, and also prevents the loss of feathers. Vitamin B Group It has a positive effect on the nervous system, gives strength, improves the functioning of the digestive system, promotes good metabolism.
Trace elements:
- manganese - serves to prevent diseases of the feet and joints, takes part in lipid metabolism;
- iodine - positively affects the functioning of the thyroid gland, the production of hormones;
- zinc - improves the cardiovascular system, strengthens the walls of blood vessels and bone tissue;
- selenium - favorably affects the sexual function of birds;
- copper - is responsible for the proper development and formation of the chicken in the egg;
- iron - prevents anemia, takes an active part in blood formation.
Important! The fresher the premixes, the greater the effect they have. It is strictly forbidden to use products that have expired. It is proved that vitamins and minerals not only lose their useful qualities, but also can cause various problems with the digestive tract, and cause severe allergic reactions.
In addition, a quality product must have in its composition amino acids - lysine and methionine, and antioxidantsdesigned to prevent the oxidation of vitamins. Less commonly, premix producers can add phosphorus and calcium. However, experts recommend instead to enrich the main feed with bone meal, chalk, and shell rock.
Manufacturers and brands
On the market today you can find a huge selection of premixes made by foreign and domestic manufacturers. Moreover, the products of the latter are in particular demand from consumers, as it was developed taking into account the application in the climatic conditions of our state.
For industrial use, premixes of such brands as Rovimiks, Provimi, TekhKorm, Megamix are in the greatest demand. For use in private grounds, products of TM "Ryabushka", "Start", "Miracle", "Purina" deserve special attention.
Important! Before choosing a suitable product, you should carefully read its instruction, purpose and use. Otherwise, choosing the wrong mixture, instead of positive results, you can get a number of problems associated with the development of serious diseases in broilers and even the loss of livestock.
How to give premixes to broilers
At each stage of its development, broiler chickens need different types of feed additives, so it is not surprising that the premix used will be different. 
Recommended dosages of vitamins and microelements for broilers per 1 kg of dry feed
Start
Starting options are applied at the initial stages of feeding the young, that is, from the first to the fourth week of the bird's life. At the same time in the first days it is desirable to use the so-called "pre-feed", with sufficient nutrient content, ensuring the rapid development of the chicken's digestive system.
In the following weeks, standard mixes can be used, designed to increase growth. The dosage and characteristics of the use of such additives depend on the manufacturer and the specific composition.
Learn how to feed broiler feed.
The most popular varieties include:
- Special additives of the trade mark "PROVITAN" (Provitan Standard and Provitan Professional). The composition of the premix includes vitamins and salts of macronutrients, antioxidants. In this case, 10 g of the premix is added per 1 kg of the main feed.
- Premix Start "Missy" (designed for use from the first to the twenty-first day of life of the chickens). The product improves the digestive processes, increases the body's defenses and promotes more active growth of chickens. The rate of issue of premix - 4% of the total amount of feed.
- "Miracle" from the trademark "O.L.KAR". Used for feeding broiler chickens from first to fourth week of life. It improves immunity, saves feed and accelerates the growth of poultry. The consumption rate is 1% of the total amount of feed (1 g per 100 g of the main food).
Grower
Groer Premixes are an intermediate option between "baby" and "adult" broiler supplements.
Learn how to raise broiler chickens at home.
The following products can be used in this transitional phase:
- "Shenkon" - designed to supplement the diet from the 11th day of rearing. Its use involves mixing with the main feed in the amount of 2.5% of the total food volume.
- Premix "AGROCENTRUM" - consists of natural components, among which are essential for muscle growth amino acids. The composition is added to the feed at the rate of 10 g per 1 kg of feed (when mixed, all ingredients must be carefully combined with each other).
The finish
Finishing premixes are aimed at accelerating growth and increasing the weight of the bird before slaughter. They are introduced into the diet of chickens, starting from the fifth week of life and continue to use until the eighth.
Learn how to feed broiler chickens with antibiotics and vitamins.
Among the most popular options for this type of product are:
- Premix "AGROCENTRUM" - consists of natural components, among which are essential for muscle growth amino acids. The composition is added to the feed at the rate of 5 g per 100-150 g of feed (when mixed, all ingredients must be carefully moved).
- Premixes "Purina" is useful to introduce into the diet of chickens 7-10 days before slaughter, thereby contributing to an optimal weight gain scheme. The recommended rate is 5 g of the additive per 100 g of feed, the ideal ingredients of which are corn, wheat, sunflower meal, oil, soy cakes.
Important! Any types of premixes should not be mixed with mixed fodder enriched with vitamin and mineral substances.
When growing broilers, a properly formulated, balanced for vitamins and minerals daily menu is of particular importance. High-quality premix will always give a visible effect, so if you have not tried this product yet - it's time to start, especially since the choice of additives in the modern market is quite wide and multifaceted.
