The current increase in prices of maize which is a major component of poultry feed has increased the cost of poultry feed,leading to more farmers looking for alternatives without dropping egg production.A 100kg bag of maize, which used to cost about N6, 000 in is now being sold for about N12, 000 and the cost of fish meal which is another important ingredient in poultry feeds, has increased by 60 per cent.
A kilogramme of fish meal that used to sell for N500 now costs about N900.
How to Feed chicken with watermelon and banana peels. The high cost of feed has led to reduced production in some farms as some farmers are giving reduced rations to their birds which invariably reduces egg production .
Farmers seeking alternative sources of feed with intention to boost production and profit can adopt any of these proven methods. Watermelon is a popular fruit in the country and many people have switched to this fruit because of the profit potential in the cultivation and also because of its health benefits.
Poultry birds can also be given cuts of watermelon fruit as a replacement feed. The ration of the birds can be supplemented by up to 30%, this will reduce the cost of feed and number of the feed the farmer procures.
AGRIBUSINESS: How to Feed chicken with watermelon and banana peels. Researchers at UP Los Baños have gone a step further with the watermelon by using the rind. The team fed watermelon rind to chickens for 6 months and compared the weight and production to chicken given ordinary commercial feed.
The result showed that the commercial feeds can be replaced with watermelon rind up to 20%. The method of use was as follows
1) wash the rind.
2) boil the rind.
3) dry the rind in the sun .
4) grind and mix with the commercial feed .
Researchers in Southern Mindanao Agricultural Research in Kabacan, North Cotabato have used banana peels in broilers.
The Broilers fed with 5% chopped banana leaves gained weight of 1-1/2 kilos more than those fed with commercial starter mash ration or with 10% added banana leaves.
The method of use is as follows 1.) Wash and Chop fine raw banana peels.
2.) Boil for one hour, drain and allow to cool.
3) Dry the banana peel.
The peels were incorporated to feed as follows ; for every kilo of the dried peel add 1) 150 gms dried chicken manure.
2) 100 gms rice bran.
3) Mix thoroughly and allow to dry in the sun.
4) blend the mixture to about 1 mm size.
This can be mixed up to 15% commercial broiler starter mash and finisher mash as follows
1)850 gm commercial mash then
add 2) 150 gm banana peel mixture.
For broiler feed, ration diet is starter mash from day 1 to day 42, and finisher mash from 42-49 days. Chickens fed 25% with this in 56 days had same weight with those fed with 100% corn.
