The use of unconventional feed additives in feeding chickens for egg production (R. of Moldova)

Abstract

This study was conducted to observe the effect on 1-day-old chicks which were weighed and distributed into three groups having 28000 birds in each. The evaluation was done on the effect of supplementing a corn-soybean meal-based diet with feather meal or with peat additive on growth performance of Silver Adler chickens. All the birds were vaccinated following standard protocols. Feed intake and body weight gain (BWG) were recorded weekly. Average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed efficiency (FE) were calculated over the range of 45 day feeding period. The results indicate that the diet with feather meal and peat additive slightly increased chickens body weight (BW), ADG for the 45 day period, and feed conversion ratio compared with birds fed the corn-soybean meal-based diet. This indicates that the use of unconventional feed additives in feeding chickens for egg production might be effective and improve growth performance.