How to Breed Aquarium Fish for Poultry Feed

Choose a small breed of fish that is low cost, easy to maintain and ideally easy to breed. Chickens are not picky eaters when it comes to fish and are known to feed on millions of tons of wild-caught fish such as anchovies, sardines, mackerel and herring all around the world. Choosing a freshwater type of fish like minnows, tetras or bass will be easier to maintain because you will not have to worry about purchasing salt for saltwater fish and maintaining appropriate salt levels.

Set up three large tanks. Typically 30-gallon tanks work best, but you can decide based on the amount of space you have. One tank will be for breeding, the second tank will be for raising newborn fish and the third tank will be for adult fish. Decorate the tanks by laying 1 inch to 2 inches of gravel on the bottom and placing rocks and plants within the tanks to replicate a natural habitat for the fish.

Fill the tanks with one part distilled water and one part tap water to establish appropriate acid and mineral levels. The temperature of the water you need will depend on the species of fish you are breeding. Consult with the fish store/breeder where you purchase the fish.

Install air pumps and filters in each of the three tanks for oxygen flow. The type of filter you need will depend on the size of your tanks. You can find specially designed pumps and filters at most local pet stores.

Purchase fish from another fish breeder to put in your tanks. Set up the appropriate breeding environment in your breeding tank to encourage breeding between males and females according to your research. It is important to replicate the water temperature of the tanks where the fish you are buying came from to reduce the risk of shock when placing them into your tanks.

Feed the fish a variety of food two to four times per day. You can feed them live or frozen adult brine shrimp, high-protein flakes or frozen daphnia. Monitor the chemical levels with a pH tester to maintain a pH level of about 6.6-6.8, and the temperature of the water with a thermometer to maintain it at around 64 degrees to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Allow the male and female the time they need to perform their mating rituals. Depending on the species of fish, they may need one to six months or longer to mate where the breeding process will most likely be characterized by body flapping and wagging tails. Enlarged bellies on the females will signify pregnant fish for about a four-week-long period, when they will then lay their eggs in the gravel, around rocks or in crevices.

Remove the parents once you notice the tiny fish have hatched, and leave newly hatched fish in the breeding tank for three to four weeks. Put the parent fish back into the adult fish tank to ensure that they do not eat their newborn fish. Move the young fish to the newborn tank using a large tub or bowl after they are three to four weeks old.

Move the newborn fish over to the adult tank once they reach the approximate size of their parents. You can then remove these adult fish as needed and grind them up as poultry food to feed to your birds.