Module 1.

3: A Chicken’s Digestive
System: The Journey From Feed
to Egg
A quick tour of the digestive system:
1) Mouth

It all starts here with a bit of saliva and
and digestive enzymes.
2) Esophagus (Gullet)

Transports food from the mouth to the
stomach.
3) Crop

An expandable pouch in the esophagus
located at the base of the neck
A quick tour of the digestive system:
Crop … Continuation

It is used to store food temporarily
for up to 12 hours before moving it
on to the stomach.
A quick tour of the digestive system:


The food trickles from the crop into
the bird’s stomach (proventriculus
or gizzard) where digestive
enzymes are added in order to mix
and physically grind the food.
A quick tour of the digestive system:
4) Stomach (Proventriculus/Gizzard)

The organ where food is broken into
smaller units.

It has two parts:

a) Proventriculus for storage, and

b) Gizzard

is a muscular part of the stomach
that uses grit to grind grains and
fiber into smaller particles.
A quick tour of the digestive system:
5) Small Intestine

Aids in digestion and nutrient
absorption which composed of:

a) duodenum

b) jejunum, and c) ileum
6) Liver

The largest glandular organ in the
body. Aids in the metabolism of
carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
A quick tour of the digestive system:

The residue then passes through the ceca
7) Ceca

A blind sack along the lower intestinal
tract, where bacteria help break down
undigested food.

From the ceca, food moves to the large
intestine, which absorbs water and dries
out indigestible foods and connects with
the cloaca.
A quick tour of the digestive system:
8) Large Intestine

Functions primarily to:
a) absorb water
b) dry out indigestible foods, and
c) eliminate waste products.
9) Cloaca

Where the digestive, urinary and
reproductive systems meet.
A quick tour of the digestive system:
10) Urinary System

Consists of

a) two kidneys and b

b) two ureters
The kidneys are located in the pelvic bones.

They filter waste from the blood and pass it

through the ureter to the outside via the
cloaca/vent.
A quick tour of the digestive system:

11) Vent

The external opening of the cloaca that
passes waste to the outside.



What To Feed Your Chickens
From Chicks To Egg-Laying Hens

Starter Feed For Baby Chicks: 0-8 Weeks Old
 Chickens rapidly change as they grow from chicks to pullets.
 Should be given with starter feed for the first 8 weeks of their
life until introduced to grower feed:
a) To establish, and
b) To support their bone health and immunity.
 Starter feed should be filled with complete proteins, amino
acids, vitamins, and minerals

Grower Feed For Pullets: 8-16 Weeks Old
 At about eight weeks, chicks are
now considered pullets and now
given with a grower feed
 At this stage, feeds should have a
slightly lower protein content and
calcium level (less than 1.25%), but
still include omega-3 and other
essential nutrients to support
digestion and health.

Layer Feed For Hens: 16+ Weeks


Once your pullets have started laying eggs, shift the diet now to a
Layer Pellets, Mash and Crumbles which are (higher-calcium and
protein-rich) feed for the hens to become strong with healthy eggs.

All hens lay eggs on their own schedule as early as 16 weeks or
some need as long as 32 weeks. You can switch to layer feed at
16 weeks, or wait until you find your first egg.

For meat type of chicken, give feed with a higher protein content to
help them develop strong muscles and keep up their energy.

What nutrients do your chickens need?

A complete diet ensures your chickens to
 have sufficient energy for laying eggs
 stay warm in cold climates, or
 cool off from the heat of the sun

A good quality feed for chickens has a protein content between 16-
20% and is enhanced with omega-3s.

Additional nutrients should include prebiotics, probiotics, calcium,
and magnesium.

Management tips for better poultry
performance potential

Critical areas are as follows:
1) Biosecurity
 Well-defined biosecurity practices throughout broiler
production (pre-, during and post-placement) are crucial to
successful poultry production.
 Effective biosecurity can help maintain the farm’s hygiene,
control of vermin and insect on-farm, and help to limit disease
transmission within and between barns.
2) Downtime between flocks
 Adequate downtime of at least 14 days with appropriate
cleaning and disinfection measures between flock
placements helps to reduce transmission of disease
between flocks and allows time to prepare for the next
flock.
3) Pre-placement preparation
 Pre-placement preparation is needed before the new
flock arrives to help prevent losses during brooding and
the rest of grow out.
 Equipment needed before the start of the next growing
period: heaters, floor temperature gadgets, temperature
and relative humidity probes, ventilators, drinkers,
feeders, etc.
4) Coccidiosis prevention
 Coccidiosis is a disease caused by a microscopic intestinal
parasite.
 This parasite can have an impact on intestinal integrity and
may predispose birds to other intestinal problems or gut health
challenges.
5) Brooding management
 With today’s improved genetic capabilities and the fast
growth of birds, more time is being spent during the
critical brooding phase. As a result, ensuring a good
start in poultry production can have a significant impact
on the future health and performance of the birds.
 The brooding period is an important time for intestinal
growth and the development of a balanced microflora.
6) Litter management
The litter in a poultry house acts as bedding for the birds. In addition to
standing and resting on the bedding, birds will naturally peck at the litter. Litter
condition and quality have an impact on broiler intestinal health and profitability,
starting from when the chicks are placed all the way through production.

Wet litter presents a vicious cycle for intestinal health. Without proper
management, even in patches, wet litter can serve as a breeding ground for
potential pathogens and may be a starting point for intestinal stress that
develops and leads to disease. As wet litter problems increase, ammonia levels
in the barn rise, which can be potentially detrimental to bird health. It is much
easier to prevent and manage litter moisture conditions before they start.
7. Water management
 Drinking water accounts for 70–80 percent of the bird’s
daily drinking needs.
 Poultry will generally consume more water than feed.
 As a result, water is the most critical nutrient for poultry.
 An abundance of clean water will reduce challenges
and maximize performance
8. Feed management
 Birds must have easy access to feed.
 Proper feeder line height corresponding to the height of the
birds helps to reduce feed wastage and mixing feed with
litter, and it ensures that all birds have access to feed.
 Adequate feed access is also achieved by following the
feed line manufacturer’s recommendations for the number
of birds per feed pan or line of trough feeder.
9) Stocking density
 A higher stocking density of poultry in addition to crowded
housing conditions shown to have a negative impact on
performance, causing stress both the birds and intestinal
microbiota.

10) Environmental management

 General environmental management of the barn includes
many components, such as temperature, relative humidity,
ventilation and lighting.
11) Monitoring during times of transition
 Frequency of visitation as well as examining the activity
of the flock in the poultry house, can help in early
disease detection.
 Daily monitoring of temperature, humidity and
ventilation inside the barn as well as outside
temperature is recommended.
 Monitoring feed and water consumption helps to
monitor the flocks’ progress.
12) Keeping an eye on equipment
 Inspecting and/or roving frequently inside the building will also help to ensure
equipment remains in working conditions.

13) Mortality checks

 Cull diseased birds as early as possible.

14) Flock health management

 Work with a veterinarian to design a health program for the flock’s
health.
15. Communication and teamwork
 Ensuring strong communication and coordination
between all those involved in helping the farm run
smoothly will ensure a stronger and more successful
gut health management program for your birds.