For Beginners: Breeding Broilers at Home

Breeding and raising broilers at home differs from raising regular chickens. These birds are exclusively meat-producing, so they don't survive long enough to lay eggs. Due to their high meat productivity, raising broilers at home is cost-effective. They maintain an ideal feed-to-meat ratio.

Breed characteristics

Since ancient times, raising chickens at home has not involved separating them by productivity. This state of affairs persisted until breeders isolated birds that gained weight well, which became the basis for the development of broilers.

Today, purebred broilers are raised primarily only in private households and small farms. More established breeders are raising hybrids. characterized by greater productivityThe distinctive features of meat-type chicken are:

• Large sizes,
• Large body weight - the rooster weighs 5.5 kg, the laying hen - 4.5 kg,
• Low egg production,
• Horizontal body position, short legs and wings,
• Rapid weight gain,
• Developed maternal instinct.

Where to start raising broilers in a private home?

Raising chickens start with the formation of parent stockWhat is this? This concept means selecting several broilers of both sexes to produce young stock. The basic requirements are as follows:

• Breeding chickens must be healthy and young so that subsequent generations also have good health.
• The ratio is as follows: one rooster to 11 hens. To ensure high-quality fertilization, it's best not to keep more than one male.
• Parent stock must receive good nutrition and quality feed.
• The chickens are raised using a special technology. For example, mature individuals between 8 and 12 months of age are selected for breeding.

Where does raising broiler chickens at home begin?

Broiler breeding begins with selecting the parent stock. This term is confusing for beginners, so it's worth explaining.

A parent stock is a group of several adult individuals of both sexes, kept for the purpose of producing young. It should be noted that The health and productivity of the bred generation depends on the parent stock and future ones, then the choice of adult birds should be approached with the utmost responsibility.

To make the right choice of breeding chickens, consider the following tips:

• Choose only healthy and young chickens, as old and sick ones will not produce healthy offspring.
• The breeder flock is purchased in the ratio of one rooster to eleven hens. Keeping more roosters is not justified, as fertility will suffer.
• Breeding individuals need fresh and high-quality food.

Broilers are raised using a technology that has many nuances. For example, if broiler chickens have just started laying eggs, their eggs are not used for incubation. For this purpose, chickens aged 8 to 12 months.

Keeping broilers at home

Broiler chickens are raised somewhat differently than other types of domestic chickens. To achieve good performance, broiler chickens require improved living conditions.

It should be taken into account that broiler farming is usually the basis for building a business, so it is necessary to provide comfortable conditions for the birds.

Growing meat chickens begins with caring for the chicks. The young birds must be kept indoors. with a temperature of at least +30 degreesMoreover, hatched chicks should be kept under a constantly lit lamp for the first two weeks of their lives. This will help young broilers gain weight faster. After 14 days, the temperature can be lowered to 20 degrees Celsius, as the chicks have developed immunity and become stronger. To raise healthy chicks, the room must be well-ventilated. This is because meat breeds of chickens lead a sedentary lifestyle, making infection highly prone. It is also essential to keep the coop clean.

These listed features of broiler chicken rearing are general. However, there are also key points. There are two methods of raising birds: floor and cage. Let's look at each method separately.

Growing in cells

This method of raising broiler chickens is used in the countryside. Ordinary domestic chickens very mobile, so they need ample space to roam, which is usually impossible in a country house. Broilers, on the other hand, are slow and phlegmatic creatures, so they tolerate cramped quarters well and thrive in confined spaces. In cages, they gain weight quickly and show no signs of distress.

Moreover, cage housing is advantageous in terms of sanitary and hygienic standards. If one chick becomes ill, the infection does not spread to the entire flock.

The planting density is as follows:

• 18 chickens per 1 square meter.
• 9 adults per 1 square meter.

Growing on the floor

This method is almost no different from raising regular chickens, but there are still some nuances.

Firstly, strict following the temperature regimeMeat-producing poultry are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations, so it's important to monitor the temperature constantly to ensure it doesn't drop below 28 degrees Celsius. Extreme heat is also detrimental to their well-being; the maximum temperature for keeping poultry is 35 degrees Celsius.

Farmers with extensive experience raising broiler chickens advise beginners to sprinkle a thick layer of lime on the coop floor. The ratio is one kilogram per square meter of area. This is then topped with bedding consisting of sawdust and straw, creating a thick layer of bedding. It's important to remember that the bedding must always be dry and clean, so it needs to be replaced regularly. Humidity in the room should remain around 70%.

What to feed?

Raising chickens for meat requires intensive feeding. Therefore, to ensure good weight gain, they must have a constant supply of feed.

Broiler chickens are ready for slaughter when they are 50 days old. Farmers want to get as much meat as possible from each bird. Therefore, they must carefully consider and balance their diet to ensure the birds have time to gain sufficient weight by this time. Fattening broilers for meat begins at hatching. Their diet should include millet and boiled eggs. From the third day, green fodder can be added to the menu.

Providing chickens with vitamins begins from the 5th day of life, and they also It is necessary to mix in chalk and crushed shellsIf feeding is correct, the young should gain 1.5 kg of weight by 8 weeks.

Broiler chickens kept at home are fed compound feed, as it is rich in the nutrients needed for rapid weight gain. Broilers readily accept wet mash, which can be supplemented with crackers or table scraps. Broilers can be fed food scraps; these birds have an excellent appetite and will eat almost anything. However, keep in mind that the feed must be fresh. Wet mash should not be allowed to ferment in the feeders, as this will cause the flock to decline.

To help your weight gain go faster, eat dairy products. Broiler chickens thrive on yogurt, whey, and cottage cheese.

Some farmers To stimulate weight gain, people resort to yeast mixturesMix the grains with dry yeast and dilute with water. Place the mixture in a warm place for 7 hours. To increase the caloric value, you can add pumpkin, potatoes, and carrots to the mixture.

One should also remember about water, which must be constantly accessible.

Benefit

It doesn't take much time to raise broiler chickens. We've already written about that. the bird is ready for slaughter already on the 50th day of lifeThis age is characterized by a live weight of 4-5 kg. Keeping the bird longer than this is pointless; it's unlikely you'll get a bird weighing more than 6 kg, and the bird's taste and nutritional qualities will be compromised.

Keeping broiler chickens at home is a very profitable endeavor. The birds can be raised in cages, so a fairly decent farm can be established in a small space. Moreover, if you have a small farm, you won't have any problems with bird feed.

Tip! To keep broiler meat yellow, include corn in the diet of three-week-old chicks.

So, as you can see, raising broilers at home isn't particularly difficult. Even a novice farmer can handle it.