How to make high-quality chicken feed pellet at home

As the cost of large-scale farming continues to rise, homemade pellet feed has become an effective way to reduce feeding costs and improve poultry production performance. From the perspective of nutritional principles and mechanical engineering, this article will systematically explain how to prepare complete feed pellets that meet NRC standards through scientific formulas and the rational use of chicken feed pellet machine, providing small and medium-sized farm owners with a technical solution that is both economical and practical.

Why make homemade chicken feed pellet?

Pellet feed has shown significant technical advantages in the field of poultry and livestock farming. From the perspective of microbial safety, high-temperature extrusion technology can effectively inactivate pathogenic microorganisms such as Salmonella, and its sterilization effect can reach more than 99.7% after laboratory testing. In terms of feeding efficiency, the physical properties of pellets feed reduce the feed waste rate by 18.5% compared with powder feed (experimental data from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2023), which is especially suitable for poultry with strong pecking habits.

Nutritional studies have shown that the amino acid balance of pellet feed designed by a computer formula system can be increased by 23%, which is particularly important for chicks in a rapid growth period and hens in the peak egg-laying period. It is worth noting that when small and medium-sized farms use pellet machines to prepare their own ingredients, they can optimize regional formulas based on local agricultural and sideline product resources (such as rapeseed meal, distiller’s grains, etc.) to achieve cost reduction and efficiency improvement.

How to make high-quality chicken feed pellet

The formula design of pellets feed must follow the scientific principle of nutritional ratio. After experimental verification, it is recommended to adopt the following basic formula structure: corn flour as the main energy source accounts for 55%, soybean meal provides high-quality plant protein accounts for 25%, wheat bran as a fiber source accounts for 10%, fish meal as an animal protein supplement accounts for 5%, stone powder is used for calcium supplementation accounts for 3%, salt addition is 0.5%, and premix accounts for 1.5% to ensure trace element supply.

In view of seasonal demand changes, it is recommended to add 2% mint leaf powder in summer to assist heat dissipation and 1% ginger powder in winter to improve blood circulation. The key points of raw material quality control include: strictly control the moisture content (≤13%), ensure that the protein content meets the standard, and eliminate the use of moldy raw materials. Special note: If alternative raw materials such as rapeseed meal are used, they must be used after a standardized detoxification process.

Steps to make chicken feed pellet

Pretreatment stage

Filter all dry materials through a 40-mesh screen, remove impurities, and mix in a vertical mixer for 15 minutes. The humidity should be controlled at 12%-14%, and it is best if the pellets fall apart when held in the hand.

Tempering and maturation

Send the mixture into a steam generator for tempering at about 80°C. This process can increase the gelatinization degree of starch and make subsequent molding more compact.

Extrusion molding

Use a household chicken feed pellet machine (it is recommended to choose a flat die model with a die hole diameter of 3-5mm) for pressing. Pay attention to the ammeter when working, and the normal load should be stable at about 85% of the rated power.

Cooling and dehumidification

The temperature of the pellets just produced is about 60°C. They need to be cooled to room temperature with a vibrating screen to avoid caking and mildew. Professional users can configure a countercurrent cooling tower to improve efficiency.

Grading and packaging

Use a grading screen to separate the crushed powder, which can be returned to the machine for recycling. The qualified pellets are packed into woven bags and sealed. It is recommended to add a food-grade deoxidizer to extend the shelf life.

Key points to improve the quality of chicken feed pellet

Binder selection

Adding 1%-2% bentonite or lignin sulfonate can significantly improve the durability of pellets. After testing, it can reduce the powdering rate from 8% to below 3%

Moisture control

The moisture content of the finished product should be controlled at 12.5%±0.5%. Exceeding the range will easily lead to storage deterioration. Simple detection method: put the pellets into a sealed can and shake them to see if there are no water droplets on the wall

Nutrition enhancement

Spraying probiotic solution (such as Bacillus subtilis) on the surface of the pellets can improve intestinal health. The recommended spraying amount is 500ml of bacterial solution per ton of feed

Equipment maintenance

Lubricate and maintain the rollers of the chicken feed pellets machine every month. When the die hole wear exceeds 0.2mm, it should be replaced in time. This is the key to ensure the pellet forming rate

Solutions to common problems

When cracks appear on the surface of the pellets, it is usually due to insufficient tempering temperature. Another common cause is excessive raw material fiber. You can try to increase the steam pressure by 0.1MPa; if the output drops suddenly, you need to check whether the mold compression ratio matches the current raw material (a compression ratio of 1:8 or more should be used when the crude fiber is greater than 8%). For home users, it is recommended to choose a multi-functional chicken feed pellet machine. This type of equipment usually comes with a crushing function. It can directly process whole grain raw materials such as corn.