0.8–1.0 T/H Chicken Feed Milling Machine in Czech Republic

Why the Farm Upgraded Its Grain Grinding Equipment

The main concern was not simply how quickly grain could be crushed. Particle consistency also affected the next stages of feed preparation. When coarse and fine particles varied considerably between batches, mixing became less predictable, and the existing feed pellet machine did not always produce the same finished-feed texture.

The farm needed a machine that could handle its principal cereal ingredients while allowing the operator to adjust the grinding fineness for different feed formulations. Purchasing a complete automated plant would have introduced additional equipment costs and installation work before the farm had fully established its in-house production schedule.

A standalone chicken feed milling machine provided a more manageable investment. The SFSP56*40 was selected to replace the improvised grinding method while retaining the mixer and pellet mill already available on-site.

SFSP56*40 Hammer Mill: Machine Specifications

The selected water-drop-type hammer mill uses a high-speed rotor and replaceable hammers to reduce cereal grains to the required particle size. Its configuration was intended for the farm's grain preparation needs rather than continuous operation at the maximum rated output.

Actual throughput depends on grain type, incoming moisture, screen aperture, required fineness and the condition of the wearing parts. The farm therefore needed to evaluate the machine against its own recipes rather than assume that every raw material would reach the same output rate.

Processing Corn, Wheat and Barley for Poultry Diets

The Czech Republic has an established grain-growing sector, giving poultry producers access to wheat, barley and corn through local farms, grain merchants and agricultural cooperatives. For this project, these cereals formed the main grinding workload, while protein ingredients and premixes were handled separately.

• Wheat: Used as an energy ingredient in broiler and layer feed, with grinding requirements determined by the complete formula.
• Barley: Processed to improve its incorporation into compound feed, with particular attention to its fiber content and the required particle distribution.
• Corn: Ground to provide a consistent energy ingredient for poultry diets and subsequent pellet production.

The farm did not need to grind every ingredient. Soybean meal, sunflower meal, premixes and other formulated components could be purchased in a suitable processed form or handled according to their individual requirements. This kept the new machine focused on the materials for which on-site grinding offered the greatest practical benefit.

Particle Size Control for Broilers and Laying Hens

Different poultry diets do not necessarily require identical grinding settings. Very fine grinding can improve uniformity in some starter formulations, but excessive fines may increase dust and affect feed handling. Coarser particles may be suitable for other products, depending on bird age, feed form and formulation.

For this farm, the operator planned to use interchangeable screens to establish separate settings for different batches. A fine-grinding setting could be tested for starter formulations, while a moderately coarser setting could be evaluated for grower, finisher or layer feed. As a practical starting point, cereal grinding around 0.8–1.2 mm may suit some finely ground poultry formulations, while other diets may require a broader or coarser particle distribution.

These values are not universal specifications. The appropriate screen depends on the actual diet, the bird's age and whether the ground material will be used in mash feed or passed through a pellet mill. The operator must assess the resulting particle-size distribution and finished-feed quality before fixing the production settings.

Connecting the Grinder to Existing Feed Equipment

The SFSP56*40 was purchased as a single machine, but its value depended on how well it worked with the farm's existing equipment. The planned material route was straightforward:

1. Stored whole grain was transferred to the grinding area in manageable batches.
2. The hammer mill reduced the grain to the selected particle-size range.
3. Ground material was transferred to the existing mixer for combination with protein ingredients, oils and premixes.
4. The prepared mash could be directed to the existing pellet mill when a pelleted product was required.
5. Finished pellets were cooled before storage or bagging, where the downstream equipment configuration allowed.

This arrangement avoided unnecessary replacement of machinery that remained serviceable. It also allowed the farm to introduce mechanical grinding before deciding whether additional conveying, storage or automation would be justified.

Because the grinder was being integrated into an existing facility, installation planning focused on the machine foundation, motor connection, inlet and discharge arrangements, dust extraction and safe access for maintenance. The electrical system also needed to accommodate the 37 kW motor and its starting requirements.

Operating Considerations for a Farm-Based Grinding System

Although the hammer mill simplified grain preparation, consistent operation still depended on raw-material management. Grain with excessive moisture can reduce grinding efficiency and contribute to handling problems. Foreign objects can damage hammers, screens or other internal components, making incoming-material inspection important even when grain is purchased from established local suppliers.

The farm also needed to monitor the condition of its screens and hammers. Worn components can alter particle-size distribution and increase the time required to achieve the desired fineness. Periodic checks of motor current, bearing temperature, vibration and unusual noise provide practical indicators of developing problems.

Dust control was another consideration. Fine cereal particles can accumulate around transfer points and electrical equipment. Appropriate extraction, housekeeping, grounding and protection against combustible dust hazards are important parts of a safe grinding installation. The final arrangement should follow the applicable Czech and European safety requirements.

For a farm producing feed in batches, recording the material processed, screen configuration, operating time and maintenance performed can help identify which settings provide the best balance between throughput and grinding quality. These records also provide a useful basis for deciding whether the existing machine has sufficient capacity as feed demand changes.

Delivery to the Czech Republic and Installation Support

The feed crusher machine was shipped from China through the Port of Hamburg, Germany, before continuing by road to the customer's facility in eastern Czech Republic. This route provided a practical logistics option for the landlocked destination.

RICHI supplied equipment documentation and installation guidance to support integration with the farm's existing feed preparation system. The customer could use this information to coordinate the machine foundation, electrical connection and material-transfer arrangements before commissioning.

Technical support also covered screen selection, operating procedures and routine inspection of wearing parts. For a single-machine purchase, this preparation mattered because the grinder had to fit an established workflow rather than operate as part of a newly engineered production line.

Results and the Next Stage of Feed Production

With a dedicated hammer mill available, the farm gained a more controlled method of preparing cereal ingredients. Instead of relying on manual crushing or the availability of pre-ground grain, the operator could schedule grinding according to feed requirements and select settings for different formulations.

The existing mixer machine and feed pellet mill remained in service, allowing the farm to introduce the new equipment without committing to a full factory reconstruction. This staged approach also gave the owner a clearer basis for assessing future investment priorities, including whether additional material-handling equipment or a mixer upgrade would be worthwhile.

The farm's experience illustrates an important consideration for poultry producers: mechanization does not always require a complete new line. When grinding is the main constraint, upgrading that stage can be a practical first step toward more consistent feed preparation.

A Practical Grinding Upgrade for Czech Poultry Producers

The SFSP56*40 was selected for this project because its grinding function, motor rating and indicative output were better aligned with the farm's planned batch-based operation than a larger industrial mill. Its role was specific: prepare cereal ingredients for the existing mixing and pelleting process, rather than replace the entire feed manufacturing system.

For poultry farms and small feed producers in the Czech Republic considering a similar investment, the right chicken feed milling machine depends on annual feed demand, daily operating hours, the range of grains processed and the required particle size. Equipment selection should account for the complete material route, including dust collection, mixing, pelleting and finished-feed handling.

RICHI Machinery supplies feed hammer mills and other feed processing equipment for farms and commercial manufacturers. By matching machine capacity and configuration to the customer's actual raw materials and production requirements, a single grinding-machine investment can provide a practical foundation for improving feed preparation without unnecessary capital expenditure.