Researchers studied 540 baby chickens to figure out the perfect recipe for their food during their first five weeks of life. They tested different amounts of energy and protein to see what helped the chickens grow biggest and strongest. They discovered that a diet with medium-high energy and high protein worked best for normal growth, while a slightly higher energy diet created healthier meat with better fats. This research helps farmers know exactly what to feed baby chickens for the best results, whether they want faster growth or better quality meat.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What combination of energy and protein in baby chicken food produces the healthiest, fastest-growing chickens during their first five weeks of life
  • Who participated: 540 one-day-old female Danzhou chickens (a native chicken breed) divided into nine different diet groups
  • Key finding: Chickens fed a diet with medium-high energy (12.10 MJ/kg) and high protein (20%) grew the biggest and fastest, while a slightly higher energy diet (12.70 MJ/kg) with high protein created meat with better healthy fats
  • What it means for you: If you raise chickens, this research suggests specific food recipes that can help your birds grow better or produce healthier meat. The findings apply specifically to Danzhou chickens and may need adjustment for other chicken breeds.

The Research Details

Researchers divided 540 baby chickens into nine groups, each receiving different food recipes. They tested three different energy levels (low, medium, and high) combined with three different protein levels (18%, 19%, and 20%). This “factorial” approach means they could see how energy and protein work together, not just separately. The chickens ate these special diets for 35 days (five weeks) while researchers carefully measured their growth, blood chemistry, gut bacteria, and muscle composition.

The researchers measured many things to get a complete picture: how much the chickens weighed, how much they ate, blood markers that show how their bodies were working, the health of their intestines, the types of bacteria in their digestive system, and the chemical makeup of their muscle tissue. This comprehensive approach helped them understand not just whether chickens grew bigger, but also whether they were healthy on the inside.

This research approach is important because baby chickens have different nutritional needs than adult chickens, and native chicken breeds like Danzhou chickens may need different nutrition than common commercial breeds. By testing multiple combinations of nutrients at the same time, researchers could see which specific recipe worked best and why. This helps farmers make precise decisions about feeding instead of guessing.

This study is a controlled experiment with a large number of animals (540 chickens), which makes the results more reliable than smaller studies. The researchers measured many different outcomes (growth, blood markers, gut bacteria, and muscle chemistry) rather than just one thing, giving a complete picture. The study was published in a respected scientific journal. However, the results apply specifically to one chicken breed in one location, so results might differ for other breeds or environments.

What the Results Show

The diet with 12.10 MJ/kg of energy and 20% protein produced the best overall growth results. Chickens on this diet reached the highest final weight, gained weight fastest each day, and needed the least amount of food to gain each pound of weight. This combination appears to be the “sweet spot” for normal growth in baby Danzhou chickens.

When researchers looked at blood markers, they found that medium and high energy diets increased two important growth hormones: leptin and IGF-1. These hormones signal the body to build muscle and grow, which explains why higher energy diets helped chickens grow better.

Interestingly, the highest energy diet (12.70 MJ/kg) changed the types of bacteria living in the chickens’ digestive systems. Specifically, it increased “good” bacteria (Firmicutes) compared to other types. A healthy balance of gut bacteria is important for digestion and overall health.

The highest energy diet with high protein also changed the chemical makeup of the chicken meat, increasing healthy unsaturated fats like linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. These are the same healthy fats that doctors recommend people eat.

The study showed that energy level in the food had a bigger effect on most outcomes than protein level. This means farmers should focus more on getting the energy right before worrying about fine-tuning protein. The intestinal structure (how the digestive system is built) also improved with the better diets, suggesting the chickens’ digestive systems were healthier and could absorb nutrients better.

Previous research on commercial chicken breeds suggested certain energy and protein levels, but native chicken breeds like Danzhou chickens had not been thoroughly studied. This research fills that gap by showing that native breeds may have slightly different optimal nutrition than commercial breeds. The findings align with general principles that growing animals need adequate energy and protein, but provide specific numbers for this particular breed.

This study only tested one chicken breed (Danzhou chickens), so the results may not apply to other breeds. The study was conducted in one location with specific environmental conditions, so results might differ in different climates or farming systems. The study only looked at female chickens, so male chickens might respond differently. Additionally, the study only covered the first five weeks of life, so these diets may not be ideal for older chickens.

The Bottom Line

For farmers raising Danzhou chickens during the first five weeks: Use a diet with 12.10 MJ/kg energy and 20% protein for maximum growth and efficiency (high confidence for this breed). Alternatively, use 12.70 MJ/kg energy and 20% protein if you prioritize producing meat with better healthy fat content (moderate confidence, as this is a secondary benefit). These recommendations are specific to Danzhou chickens and may need adjustment for other breeds.

This research is most relevant to farmers raising Danzhou chickens or similar native chicken breeds. Commercial chicken producers using different breeds should consult breed-specific research. Backyard chicken keepers might benefit from these general principles but should consider their specific breed and environment. This research does not apply to other poultry like turkeys or ducks.

Changes in growth rate should be visible within 1-2 weeks of switching to the optimal diet. Maximum benefits appear by 5 weeks of age. Changes to meat quality (fat composition) would only be noticeable when the chickens reach market age, typically 8-12 weeks or older.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily feed consumption and weekly body weight for each chicken or group. Calculate feed-to-gain ratio weekly (total feed eaten ÷ total weight gained). Compare actual results to expected growth curves for the diet being used.
  • Switch to the recommended diet formulation (12.10 MJ/kg energy, 20% protein) and monitor your flock’s growth weekly. Record any changes in appetite, activity level, or health. If using the alternative higher-energy diet, note the age when you switch to it and track meat quality improvements at processing.
  • Maintain a feeding log with dates, feed type, amount fed, and weight measurements. Create a simple graph showing actual growth versus expected growth. If raising multiple flocks, compare results between flocks on different diets to see which works best in your specific conditions.

This research applies specifically to Danzhou chickens during their first five weeks of life. Results may not apply to other chicken breeds, ages, or environmental conditions. Before making major changes to your flock’s diet, consult with a poultry nutritionist or veterinarian familiar with your specific breed and farming conditions. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional agricultural advice. Individual chickens may respond differently to diet changes based on genetics, health status, and environmental factors.