What is Chicken Feed Made From?? | MD F&H

Summary

This video explores the meticulous process of raising chickens at David Denny's farm, where Perdue provides the feed for his birds. The process begins with growing and harvesting corn, which is delivered to Perdue's feed mill. At the mill, various ingredients are mixed and pelletized to create a nutritionally balanced feed tailored to each stage of chicken growth. The feed is then delivered to the farm, where it's automatically dispensed to the chickens. David takes pride in growing his own corn for the feed, ensuring the birds get high-quality nutrition.

Takeaways

• 😀 Farmer David Denny raises approximately 120,000 chickens across four houses on his farm.
• 🌽 Raising chickens requires a lot of feed, with nutrition being critical for the birds' growth.
• 🐔 Perdue, the company David grows chickens for, uses precise calculations to ensure optimal bird growth in 56 days.
• 🌾 The process of creating the chickens' feed starts with growing and harvesting corn, some of which David produces himself.
• 🏭 The feed mill in Bridgeville, Delaware, processes grains and ingredients from local farmers, including David's corn.
• 🥚 The feed for the chickens consists of corn, soybean meal, vegetable oils, vitamins, minerals, and other key ingredients.
• 🍽 Perdue ensures the feed contains no antibiotics and uses a veggie-based diet for the chickens.
• 🔄 The feed is ground, mixed, and shaped into pellets, which helps the chickens consume more feed more efficiently.
• 🔥 Steam and heat are added during the pelletizing process to bind the ingredients together.
• 🚚 The finished feed is delivered to farms based on a precise schedule, ensuring chickens get the correct amount at the right time.
• 🐓 The automated feeding system on David’s farm ensures that the chickens always have access to feed, with sensors monitoring feed levels in the bins.

Q & A

How many chickens are raised on David Denny's farm?

David Denny raises approximately 120,000 birds across four chicken houses on his farm.

What is the significance of the feed for the chickens?

The feed is crucial for the chickens to reach the proper size and weight for market. It is carefully formulated to meet the birds' nutritional requirements at each stage of their growth.

How long does it take for the chickens to grow to market weight?

It takes about 56 days for the chickens to grow to a weight of nine pounds.

What role does Perdue play in the feeding process?

Perdue provides the formulated feed for the chickens and ensures that the feed is tailored to the birds' needs at each stage of growth. They also coordinate the delivery of feed to farmers like David Denny.

What ingredients are included in the chicken feed?

The chicken feed is made from corn, soybean meal, vegetable oils, minerals, vitamins, and other ingredients necessary for the chickens' nutrition.

What is the advantage of using pelletized feed?

Pelletized feed is denser, allowing chickens to consume more feed in less time. It also makes transportation easier and helps bind the ingredients together more effectively.

How is the feed produced at the mill?

At the mill, ingredients are ground, mixed according to a precise formulation, shaped into pellets, and then dried and cooled. The final feed is stored in bins and sent to farms for delivery.

How does the automated feeding system work at David Denny's farm?

The automated system uses an auger to deliver feed to bins inside the chicken houses. Sensors monitor the feed levels, triggering the auger to deliver more feed as needed, ensuring the chickens always have enough food.

What makes David Denny feel good about the feed his chickens receive?

David feels good knowing that the corn he grows for the feed is of high quality and that he is contributing to the creation of the feed. He values knowing where his feed comes from and that it comes from good farmers.

What are the different types of feed produced at the Perdue mill?

The Perdue mill produces five types of feed to support three different phases of chicken growth: the starter phase for chicks, the grower phase, and the finisher phase.