Feed Grinders & Parts

Feed Grinders & Parts

As America’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, we know a thing or two about how to help chickens, waterfowl and gamebirds thrive. One of the best ways is to balance their dietary needs, which are often unique and call for a custom blend of foods. That’s where a feed grinder can come in handy – learn more about what one can do for your flock at Tractor Supply.

More Consistent Nutrition in Every Grind

Feed grinders are machines with attachments designed to process food down to a smaller size, creating a mix birds can more easily eat and digest. Many can grind corn, wheat and other grains, plus oilseed meal, dried fish and more, into mash, pellets, crumbles and other forms of feed. Common types include:

• Hammer mills: Designed for high-volume feed production, these use rotors with striking mechanisms that rapidly revolve to crush ingredients and force them through a screen, pelletizing them in the process.
• Roller mills: These feature two or more cylinders that turn in opposite directions at high speeds, pulverizing feed between them. They can be adjusted, letting you customize how thick the feed ends up. Some have corrugated surfaces that can grind ingredients more finely.
• Grinder-mixers: Ideal for both milling different feeds and blending them into complete formulas, these incorporate either hammer or roller mills and let you add nutrients separately.

FAQs About Our Poultry Feed Grinders

What are the benefits of using a feed grinder?

Grinding increases the surface area of a feed, making it easier for avian digestive enzymes to break it down into absorbable nutrients. As a result, your birds can get a stronger balance of the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals they need, whether for weight gain, egg production or overall health.

Which grinder is right for me?

That depends on how much feed you need to make, what you’ll be grinding and how big it is. Most grinders can process corn, wheat, barley, oats and other grains, plus soybeans and other oilseeds, but if you plan to grind certain food scraps, you may need to use a food recycler. If you need a grinder that can handle a wider range of ingredients, you may prefer a hammer mill, but if you need to control feed size precisely, a roller mill may be a better choice.

How do I use my grinder effectively?

First, prepare feed ingredients properly, making sure they're clean and contaminant-free. Secondly, use the right settings for how fine you want the feed to be ground relative to your birds' needs. Set the screen size and hammer distance on a hammer mill or the roller gap on a roller mill accordingly, and check the feed for consistency as you grind, adjusting any settings you need to. Finally, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s advice on maintenance to help the grinder last longer.

Shop Grinders and Parts for Poultry Feed at Tractor Supply

See why professional and backyard poultry farmers alike prefer our selection when it comes to taking care of their birds. Shop our feed grinders in-store at your local Tractor Supply today, or order what you need online.