How to Make Your Own Poultry Nutri-Balancer – A Complete DIY Guide

As a backyard chicken owner, ensuring your flock gets proper nutrition is one of the most important things you can do. Commercial feeds often lack essential vitamins and minerals chickens need to stay healthy This is where a nutri-balancer comes in.

A nutri-balancer is a supplement containing a blend of grains, seeds, and other ingredients designed to fill the nutritional gaps in regular feed. Buying a pre-made balancer can get expensive. Luckily, with some simple ingredients and steps, you can easily make your own nutri-balancer at home for a fraction of the cost.

In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make a balanced, nutritious diy poultry nutri-balancer. Let’s get started!

What is a Poultry Nutri-Balancer?

A poultry nutri-balancer is a supplement containing a blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients chickens need for optimal health and performance. It’s designed to balance out and enhance the nutrition in standard feed rations.

Nutri-balancers provide benefits like

• Increased egg production and quality
• Improved weight gain and feed conversion
• Stronger immune systems and disease resistance
• Better feathering and bone strength
• Reduced mortality rates

By filling in nutritional gaps, a nutri-balancer helps backyard chickens thrive. Commercial options can be expensive, leading many owners to make their own.

Benefits of a Homemade Poultry Nutri-Balancer

There are several advantages to making your own nutri-balancer rather than buying one:

• Cost savings – Purchased nutri-balancers can be pricey. Making your own allows you to control the ingredients and save significantly.

• Customization – You can tweak your recipe to meet the specific needs of your flock.

• Control over quality – You choose high quality ingredients tailored to your chickens’ health.

• Avoiding fillers – Many commercial balancers contain cheap fillers. A homemade one uses only beneficial nutrients.

• Easy to make – With some simple ingredients and steps, anyone can whip up a batch easily!

As long as you follow a balanced recipe, a homemade nutri-balancer can be just as effective as a store-bought one.

Ingredients for Poultry Nutri-Balancer

Here are the main ingredients you’ll need for a complete, balanced homemade poultry nutri-balancer:

• Whole grains – Oats, wheat, barley, and rye provide carbs, protein, and amino acids.

• Seeds – Flax, sesame, and sunflower seeds add healthy fats, fiber, and minerals.

• Legumes – Peas and lentils boost protein.

• Yeast – Nutritional yeast adds B vitamins.

• Algae – Spirulina and kelp supply vitamins and minerals.

• Oyster shell – Provides calcium for strong bones and eggshells.

• Grit – Essential for digestion.

• Oil – A small amount of olive or coconut oil for a shiny coat.

The exact amounts of each ingredient depends on your flock’s size and needs. Follow a trusted recipe to get the perfect nutrient balance.

How to Make a Homemade Poultry Nutri-Balancer – Step-by-Step

Ready to start making your own custom nutri-balancer? Follow these simple steps:

1. Choose Your Ingredients

Select high quality, fresh ingredients tailored to your flock’s diet. Refer to a balanced recipe and adjust as needed.

2. Measure and Mix Dry Ingredients

Measure out all dry ingredients like grains, seeds, yeast, algae, and oyster shell according to the recipe. Mix thoroughly in a large bowl or bucket.

3. Add Liquid Ingredients

Measure any liquid components like oil and mix in well until the dry ingredients are evenly coated.

4. Allow Absorption

Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes so the dry ingredients can absorb the liquids. Then mix again.

5. Store Properly

Transfer your finished nutri-balancer to an airtight container. Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

6. Mix with Feed

When ready to use, mix a small amount (typically 1-2%) in with your flock’s normal feed ration.

And that’s it! With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can whip up a batch of nutritious diy poultry balancer in no time.

Tips for Making the Perfect Homemade Nutri-Balancer

Follow these tips to ensure your homemade nutri-balancer provides maximum nutrition for your flock:

• Use fresh, high quality ingredients – old or stale ingredients won’t be as effective.

• Buy from trusted sources – this ensures you get nutrient-dense grains and seeds.

• Tailor to your flock’s needs – meat birds have different needs than layers, for example.

• Follow exact measurements – winging amounts can throw off the nutrient balance.

• Store properly to maintain freshness – airtight container, cool environment.

• Mix thoroughly before use – ensures even nutrient distribution when added to feed.

• Introduce slowly – mix a small amount at first to allow adjustment.

• Provide free choice oyster shell and grit.

By keeping these tips in mind, your nutri-balancer will be nutritionally complete for optimal chicken health.

Storing Your Homemade Poultry Nutri-Balancer

Proper storage is key to preserving the nutritional value of your balancer. Here are some storage tips:

• Store in an airtight container – This prevents moisture and air exposure which degrades nutrients.

• Keep in a cool, dry place – Heat and humidity causes ingredients to spoil faster.

• No direct sunlight – Light damages vitamins over time. Store in a pantry or cupboard.

• Use within 3 months for best quality – Mark date on container and use within this window.

• Check for signs of spoilage – Discard if you see mold, clumping, or rancid smell.

Following these guidelines will maintain freshness and nutrient content so your chickens get the full benefits.

FAQs About Making Poultry Nutri-Balancer

How often should I feed the nutri-balancer?

Most owners mix 1-2% of the balancer into their flock’s feed ration continuously. This provides a steady supply of supplemental nutrients.

What are signs my chickens need a nutri-balancer?

Decreased egg production, poor feathering, low weight gain, weakness, and high mortality can indicate a need for nutritional supplementation.

Is a homemade balancer safe for baby chicks?

Yes, but reduce the amount to just 0.5-1% of feed for the first 4-6 weeks. Slowly increase over time as they mature.

How do I know if my recipe is nutritionally complete?

Consult with a poultry nutritionist or veterinarian to review your recipe and ensure the right nutrient balance.

Can I use the same recipe for chickens and ducks?

Ducks have some different nutritional needs, so get duck-specific guidance before using your chicken balancer.

Conclusion

Adding a nutritionally balanced supplement to your flock’s diet is crucial for health. A homemade poultry nutri-balancer made with quality ingredients provides the same benefits as commercial options at a fraction of the cost. Follow the simple steps in this guide for making your own complete balancer. Your chickens will reap the benefits with better overall performance and vitality.