Broiler Production techniques

As many farmers and other interested parties are now turning to raising broiler birds commercially in poultry houses. Most urban ‘farmers’ have turned their backyards into poultry houses. These farmers are gradually getting acquainted with appropriate production techniques. We are taking a look in this article at appropriate production approaches for the benefit of other farmers. The entry point is that chicken houses consisting of open sheds with walls up to 600mm, gum poles and wire mesh must be erected. Each bird should be provided with 900cm2(1 square foot) floor space. The fattening period can last up to 10 weeks but 6-8 weeks is more acceptable. Birds are purchased as mixed-sex day old chicks and usually reared intensively on litter. During brooding (while the chick is down it is replaced by feathers). The birds are very susceptible to cold and brooding. Arrangements are required with a source of heat (often electric infra red lights). The litter may be chopped dry grass, wheat straw, sunflower seed hulls and wood shavings or, sometimes, milled maize cobs. Care should be exercised when using wood shavings as certain species of timber may cause development of male characteristics in young female chicks and depress growth. Average live mass at the slaughter should be 2.5kg. The average dressed mass is plus or minus 75% of live mass or 1.8 -1.9 kg. Acceptable mortality rate over the 10 weeks is 2 to 5%.

Feeding

From 0 to 5 weeks, each bird will require 2 kg of broiler starter, which, if a purchased concentrate is used, will comprise 60 % maize. From 6 to 10 weeks, 4 kg of broiler finisher is required of which 66.6 % will be maize.

Egg production (layers)

Birds can be purchased as mixed day old chicks, sexed day old pullets, or growing pullets at various ages. Point of lay pullets should be purchased at 2 to 4 weeks before they start laying (16 to 18 weeks old). During rearing and brooding, the pullets are generally housed on deep litter. During laying the birds may remain on deep litter and lay their eggs in laying boxes. More, often, they are housed in individual or multiple laying cages (battery cages).

Feeding

From 0 to 8 weeks, 2kg of chick mash are required per bird. From 9-18 weeks, 7kg of growers mash are required. From 18 weeks until the end of the lay, each bird will eat about 45 kg layers mash. At all stages, 60 % of the ration is usually made up of maize. Hybrid layers are expected to start laying at about 20-22 weeks old and should continue laying for twelve months. During the 12 month laying period, each hybrid bird will lay 220 -250 eggs or more. Normally, mortality rate is about 10 % up to 20 weeks and during laying about 1 % of the population die each month. Cull hens, those finished laying, are sold at the same price per kg as broilers. In addition to the sell of eggs and meat, chicken manure is also saleable because it can be used as protein substitute by ruminant animals. The amount of manure produced varies according to the type of bird and the system of production. Broilers produce 1.7 kg per bird, Growers 3.5 kg per bird and Layers 16.7 kg per bird over 12 months.

Diseases

For birds reared in poultry houses, internal parasites such as tape worm are rarely a problem, but for free-range fowls, these can be severe. Newcastle Disease is a major problem and is a notifiable disease in terms of the law. Because of its severity, the farm and the area is quarantined until certified clear. This is an acute, rapidly spreading virus disease of domestic poultry and other birds in which respiratory symptoms (coughing and sneezing) are often accompanied or followed by nervous disorders. Incubation period is from 3 -10 days. Death may follow within two days of the onset of symptoms but may be delayed for several days. Signs include dullness, depression, loss of appetite with copious drinking and watery yellowish- green diarrhea. Egg production falls;

From 0 to 5 weeks, each bird will require 2 kg of broiler starter, which, if a purchased concentrate is used, will comprise 60 % maize. From 6 to 10 weeks, 4 kg of broiler finisher is required of which 66.6 % will be maize.

Egg production (layers)

Birds can be purchased as mixed day old chicks, sexed day old pullets, or growing pullets at various ages. Point of lay pullets should be purchased at 2 to 4 weeks before they start laying (16 to 18 weeks old). During rearing and brooding, the pullets are generally housed on deep litter. During laying the birds may remain on deep litter and lay their eggs in laying boxes. More, often, they are housed in individual or multiple laying cages (battery cages).