Growing broiler chickens: content and feeding characteristics

The rapid development of modern poultry technology allows us to fill the global market with high-quality, useful and relatively inexpensive products. Breeders are constantly working on growing new hybrids with the best characteristics in comparison with purebred chickens. To determine the productivity of poultry, the ratio of the feed spent for growing one kilogram of meat is calculated. And in this respect, the broiler chickens retain unqualified leadership.

Features of the content of broilers: how to create a comfortable environment for the bird

Depending on available facilities and conditions for the content of broilers choose intensive or extensive method.

At extensive method One batch of broiler chickens is purchased in spring or summer, and their maintenance and feeding is carried out before the onset of autumn. Intensive method involves the purchase of small batches of young animals every 3-4 months.

Suitable for broiler chickens two types of conditions: in a cage or on a deep bedding.

If preference is given to litter, then it must necessarily consist of a friable, dry mass that is able to absorb moisture and various harmful gases. Ordinary dry sawdust is best suited. The thickness of the layer of litter should not exceed 10 centimeters. When growing broilers at home, the floor is covered with sawdust, based on the rate of 0.5-1.0 kg per square meter.

The room where day-old chickens are raised must be illuminated around the clock. On a square meter area should not contain more than 18 birds. The room should be well ventilated. At the initial stage of growing broilers, the air temperature should be 26-33 degrees of heat. On the fourth week, it should be gradually reduced to the level of 18-19 degrees. Lower temperature conditions can lead to growth inhibition of chickens and the death of weakened birds.

In order to heat the room where broilers are grown, you can use one or more household electric heaters. The main advantage of such heaters is the ability to adjust the temperature. In case the chickens are crowded around the heater, this indicates a lack of heat. If they unfold the wings and pull the heads, then the temperature should be lowered.

When grown in cages, the temperature regime for broilers should be slightly higher than with the outdoor method of cultivation. In a cage, chickens are limited in the choice of a warm place; to create comfortable conditions, the temperature of the upper tiers should not fall below 34 ° C.

How to care for broilers at home

Before the advent of chickens, it is necessary to carry out a little preparatory work in order to create the most comfortable conditions for them. It must be possible to ventilate the room, but at the same time it is necessary to protect against any drafts.

Broiler Sheet at home requires special attention in the issue of poultry care. So, the most suitable would be a wooden floor, on top of which a layer of straw or sawdust is carpeted.With a small herd, you can use cloth.

If you grow broilers in small quantities, solely to provide meat for your family, then day-old chicks can be placed in cardboard boxes or wooden boxes. When you reach the age of weeks, they can be released on the floor, pre-fence off this area.

Breeding broilers at home is unthinkable without security for birds. Broilers are very shy, at danger they get together in a flock, thereby injuring themselves, and in some cases even die. Completely exclude the possible penetration of dogs, cats, mice and rats into the territory.

Poultry Feed Composition

In the preparation of feed for broilers, you need to use the products that are part of the feed. To correctly calculate the ingredients, you can use a percentage. To determine how much you need to cook food, you should build on the number of birds. No need to cook large amounts of feed at one time.Before you feed broiler chickens at home, you need to make a stock of food for 1-2 days.

The composition of the diet of day-old chicks includes:

• 8% chopped barley;
• 12% fermented milk product (kefir, whey, yogurt);
• 14% oilcake;
• 16% crushed wheat;
• 50% crushed corn kernels.

This compound is suitable for chicks up to two weeks old. You can also add chalk and vitamins to food.

During this period, the daily intake of feed is 10-25 g per chicken.

After broilers have reached the age of two weeks to one month, the composition of the feed changes. At this stage, the question of how to raise broilers at home, focuses on the saturation of the body with all the necessary components that contribute to the active growth of poultry. At this age, the daily volume of feed for one broiler increases to 120 g. The main component of the feed remains the same, the proportions change, and several new products are introduced into the diet.

The diet of fattening broilers under the age of one month includes:

• 1% feed fat;
• 3% dry milk;
• 3% green;
• 5% feed yeast;
• 7% fish or bone meal;
• 13% crushed wheat;
• 19% of the meal or cakes;
• 48% crushed corn.

In the case when the mixture is prepared not for one complementary feed, but with a margin of a few days, then the greens should be added before the feeding itself. Broilers eat moist mixes well, especially when they are prepared with yogurt or fresh milk.

After broilers reach the age of one month, it is necessary to change the proportions of the composition of the mixture for fattening. At this time there is a maximum set of weight and taste characteristics of broilers, which is especially important when chicken broilers are raised for meat. Now each bird needs 140-150 g of feed per day.

The composition of the finishing diet includes:

• 1% greenery;
• 3% fat;
• 5% yeast;
• 8% barley;
• 8% fish or bone meal;
• 9% makuhi;
• 13% wheat;
• 45% crushed corn.

How to feed broilers

Chickens broilers, and especially chickens, require more attentive care compared to other types of chickens. In order to organize proper nutrition for broilers, it is necessary to study in detail. features of each period of development of this bird.

• Age - day. At this age, the content of broilers at home begins with the control of temperature and lighting.Before reaching the age of two weeks, the place near the feeder should be lit around the clock, as the birds are not able to eat in the dark. Up to five days, chickens are fed with a special starter feed, or a mixture of wheat cereal, crushed corn and millet. In addition, each chicken should receive a dose of "Trivitamin" (a multivitamin preparation for poultry). And in order for the putrefactive bacteria to develop in the stomach, it is necessary to add glucose (diluted in a ratio of 50 g per liter) and ascorbic acid (2 g per liter) to the drinker. Such vitamins for broilers have a positive effect on the full development of the bird.
• Age - week. Starting from the age of five days, chickens can be gradually fed up with wet mash and food waste. At this age, broilers can be fed compound feed marked "Growth". Also as an additive, chickens can be given feed protein origin: yogurt, cottage cheese, boiled fish waste.
• Age - month. At this age, grown-up broilers are accustomed to whole grains. Gourds, cabbage leaves, beet tops - this is what you can feed broilers at home. Yeast is also added to the mash (for about 10 kg, about 200 g of yeast).Remember that broilers can not be fed with all new feed at once, all products must be given gradually and alternately. You can also brew wheat cereal in bone or meat broth, and then add the beets and potatoes.

Adding vitamins to the diet

The question of how to grow broilers at home, directly depends on getting all the necessary vitamins. When the chickens reach the age of five days, various vitamins, mostly water soluble ("Vitvod", "Chiktonik", "Vitamix 1" and others). If broilers are kept indoors, then they should definitely add vitamin D to their food (Tetrag, Vittri, Tetrawit, Trivit, fish oil).

All these drugs can be easily purchased at any veterinary pharmacy. Drugs are added to the drinker with drinking water for 2-3 days per week. Microscopic doses allow you to "stretch" the use of the drug, so that even a small vial will be consumed long enough.Adding vitamin D to broiler feed avoids the appearance of various diseases of the feet of the bird.

Arrangement of a chicken coop for broilers

For those who grow broilers, especially for beginning farmers, the question of proper arrangement of the chicken coop is quite acute. It is possible to build a chicken coop where broilers will be grown using various materials.

Such materials as a cinder block, a brick or a tree (a log or a bar) are suitable for building a house for a bird. Wall cladding is carried out using plywood sheets or metal sheets, as well as any composite materials such as plastic. The walls must be laid out very carefully so that no gaps are formed in the joints. The height of the walls should be 2 meters so that the person entering the chicken coop does not have to bend down. When forcing the walls, you must immediately mark the space for doors, windows and ventilation.

Broilers with content and feeding in rooms with thin walls due to large fluctuations in daily temperatures will experience heat during the day and cold at night.In turn, this negatively affects the health of birds and leads to a decrease in the rate of weight gain.

The walls of the foundation must be raised 30-40 centimeters above the ground. This will be a barrier for rodents and other unwanted guests. In addition, in a chicken coop with such a foundation will always be dry and warm. Then the floor of the chicken coop is poured with a solution of cement or laid out a brick, and then a screed is made. Around the chicken coop is necessary to equip a small utility room, where the inventory and food will be stored.

To reduce the cost of the roof can be made shed. First you need to put logs or timber. Before laying, they can be treated with a special compound that protects against the bark beetle (the Clipper insecticide). You can use metal sheets, slate, or any other impermeable material as a material for roof decking. Since there is a large amount of ammonia in the chicken litter, it is necessary to equip the chicken coop. In the summer, in order to air the room, the windows and doors must be left open. In order to prevent cats and dogs from entering the hen house, special frames made of fine mesh should be inserted into the doors and windows.

Features when growing broiler chickens at home

Growing broilers also has a number of features:

• The coop must be well ventilated. The constant influx of fresh air and the possibility of its regulation will save chickens from the emergence of health problems.

• The drinker can not be put on the litter, as this can lead to water spilling. Damp litter is the perfect place to grow molds, fungi and bacteria. If the bedding is wet or dirty, it should be immediately replaced with a fresh one.
• Regularly ensure that chickens carry eggs only to the nests, and not to the floor. By the way, for those who want to use broiler chickens for the production of meat and eggs and wonders if they carry eggs or not, you should know that they give only 2-3 large eggs per week.
• The diet should be varied and as balanced as possible. At home, feed for broilers should always be given at the same time.
• Compliance with sanitary rules, such as regular disinfection and cleaning of the chicken coop and equipment, is a guarantee of maintaining a healthy population of broilers.
• Before laying, it is necessary to vaccinate chickens to protect against infectious diseases.

When all requirements are met, growing broilers is not very difficult. Feed them all the necessary products, carry out regular cleaning of the chicken coop, and then you will certainly get a positive result.