Why broiler chickens grow poorly and how to help them gain weight

Broiler chickens are hybrids obtained by interbreeding. Their main advantage is early maturity. Over 7 weeks of life, chickens gain 2.5 kg, by 2 months they weigh about 3 kg, and by 3 months - 4-5 kg. Broilers are slaughtered at approximately 75-80 days. Keeping animals longer is unprofitable, since weight gain practically stops, but they will consume even more food.

Important! The main criteria for assessing the maturity of broiler muscle mass are the breast and thighs. With their sufficient and proportional development, slaughter can be carried out.

White diarrhea in broilers: treatment and possible causes

A possible cause of frequent, liquid droppings with a whitish tint is salmonella. The infection is very common in poultry and, unfortunately, can affect humans. The disease spreads to chickens from infected chickens, as well as through contact with shared equipment or failure to maintain cleanliness in the poultry house.

When choosing a treatment strategy, in addition to white diarrhea in broilers, about the presence of salmonellosis, pay attention to:

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on the depressed state of the bird;
to the chicks’ reluctance to move, lethargy;
developmental lag compared to healthy peers;
to rapid, labored breathing through an open beak.

In private farmsteads, the causative agent of the disease is fought with the help of sulfonamide drugs

At the same time, it is important to remove sick birds and carefully monitor the well-being of the remaining ones.

Recommendations

The contents take place indoors, so comfort should come first. When creating conditions in the chicken coop, you must remember that this breed needs cleanliness. The chicken coop should be spacious and should have access for walking.

There is no need for huge perches. The floor covering must have a bedding containing a limestone layer. Broiler chickens are heat-loving birds, so in severe frosts it is necessary to provide heating. If it is impossible to install heating devices, the room should be insulated.

Diseases

Respiratory tract disease often occurs. Treatment of such diseases begins with prevention - ventilating the premises where birds live. If the birds do get sick, then by isolating the sick from the healthy and treating them with a course of antibiotics, it is possible to overcome the disease.

What to do to ensure that laying hens grow normally

Experts recommend constant monitoring of the growth and development of birds. It is best to make a competent calculation of the nutritional value of the feed and its consumption.

There are several recommendations

Optimal chicken weight:

at the age of 14 days - 0.5 kg;
1 month –1.5 kg;
at 2 months – 3 kg;
at 3 months – 5 kg.

In practice, the weight may differ, but not much. Most often, a chicken is slaughtered 55 days after its birth. It is at this age that broilers gain maximum weight.
Maintaining generally accepted sanitary standards for keeping poultry has a huge impact on the further growth of broilers. It is recommended to observe the temperature regime in the room. It is important not to forget about cleanliness, constantly getting rid of waste and other debris from the habitat of laying chickens. Good ventilation of the room where the birds live is considered one of the leading factors in the proper development of broilers.
One of the most important aspects of the normal weight gain of laying chickens is the limitation of their habitat. Experts say that chickens grow the heaviest in special cages that are small in size. As mentioned earlier, only half a square meter of space is enough for ten chickens.
If the reasons for insufficient growth of chickens are a lack of vitamins or various diseases, then in the first weeks of development of pets it is necessary to add antibiotics and vitamins A, E and D to their diet. This will reliably protect chickens from diseases and provide good prevention of vitamin deficiency. It is recommended to repeat this preventive course again after three weeks.

Preparing a vitamin solution is extremely simple. To do this, it is recommended to take 10 ml of essential vitamins per 250 mg of vegetable oil. The composition should be given to chickens twice a week at the rate of 1 teaspoon of fortified oil per 1 kg of feed composition. And the question of why broilers do not grow will be resolved by itself.

Only compliance with basic recommendations for caring for broiler chickens, as well as their proper feeding, will ensure good growth and weight gain of pets.

Diseases

Prevents the growth of infection in the body. Young laying hens often do not begin to lay eggs after suffering from infectious diseases. They experience disruption of the reproductive organs and growth stops. Veterinarians recommend vaccination of egg-laying chickens. This will save the livestock from infection and mass mortality. Broilers are not vaccinated. They are given vitamin complexes and antibiotics.

If growth retardation is observed in the entire population, and not in individual individuals, then the cause may not only be infectious diseases. Birds often suffer from coccidiosis. It is caused by parasites. They end up in the chicken coop along with low-quality food and dirt.

For chickens that are 2 months old, a container with ash and sand is placed in the room if they are meat birds. Individuals must take ash baths to cleanse their feathers of parasites. For laying hens, such a container is installed after six months. Small chicks can eat a lot of sand, which can cause intestinal upset.

There are anomalies in the chickens that confuse the palace officials. All sanitary standards and feeding rules are observed in the chicken coop, but one chicken is not growing well. His goiter quickly clears, and frequent stools of normal color and consistency are noted. Diseases are excluded.

Such individuals have an accelerated metabolism. They eat a lot of food, but their muscle fibers do not grow, and they do not gain weight. They may experience skeletal growth. The chick may never grow up, but will always remain a chicken. Sometimes there is rapid growth after puberty, at 7-8 months of age, but this is rare.

Unfortunately, farmsteaders do not always buy healthy livestock. Incorrectly selected eggs, violation of the incubation regime, incest - all this leads to abnormalities in the development of the young. Much depends on the poultry farmers themselves. Compliance with the regime is a key factor for the proper growth of chickens.

How to treat broilers

If measures are not taken in time, broilers may not only grow poorly, but even die.
Why should we be afraid of this? Unless you are dealing with a special breed of poultry for which underweight at a certain stage of life is the norm, then treatment should be started in all other cases. If there is a deficiency of protein, amino acids and other important elements, chickens need to be fed with a special balanced feed in the form of granules. From the first days of life, the feeder should always be filled with food in the amount the babies need. Introduce into the daily diet of broilers that do not gain body weight within normal limits protein products - cottage cheese, fermented milk, fish and bone meal, fish, 1 - 2 grams of yeast daily. From the age of 7 days, chicks need nettle and alfalfa greens - they should be part of the mash.

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Description of the cross

Broilers have white plumage, pink comb and earrings. The body shape of chickens is round. Outwardly, they look like large fluffy balls. The limbs are low and widely spaced.

The British company has created ROSS 308 meat broilers. Lines 500 and 708 are an improved version of the first cross:

ROSS 308 chicks appear weighing 42 g;
at 7 days the weight increases to 169 g;
daily weight gain increases every day. If at 7 days it is 29 g, then after a week it increases to 52 g per day;
at one month of age, chickens reach 1680 g;
at 45 days – 3091 g. This is productive weight. The meat yield is 75%. Carcass weight 2318 g. Young animals can be sold at an earlier date;
individuals of the ROSS cross continue to grow up to 70 days. At this age, the chicken gains 5051 g. Usually, young animals are not fattened to this age, but breeders inform about the possibility of obtaining a carcass of greater weight;
At 70 days, growth in broilers slows down significantly. Further fattening is not advisable.

The ROSS hybrid poultry was created specifically for meat production, but laying hens are left on the farmstead. From a chicken you can get 160 eggs per year, weighing 70 g. They are not used for incubation. After sale, the herd is completely renewed; purchase eggs or chicks from breeders.

The survival rate of broilers is high, close to 100%, but breeders warn that it is necessary to create comfortable living conditions for the livestock.

Problem solving methods and prevention

A timely detected and correctly identified cause of a bird’s malaise is an opportunity to raise the bird to its feet and ensure that it gains normal muscle mass.

The exception is broiler chickens of special breeds. All other problems can be easily fixed.

Conditions in the chicken coop

The issue of heating a bird's home must be approached with full responsibility.

Broilers are sensitive to temperature changes , so in the chicken coop, cracks, floor and wall holes through which heat escapes are sealed.

Broilers are sensitive to temperature changes, so cracks, floor and wall holes in the chicken coop through which heat escapes are sealed.

It is a big mistake to think that birds will gather in a flock and warm each other with their own warmth. In order for them to move less and gain weight faster, it is recommended to keep them in special cages.

The walls of the bird house should not be thin - during the day they will get very hot, creating heat in the chicken coop, and at night the birds will feel cold.

Walls made of cinder block, wood or brick are ideal. You also cannot do without ventilation, since bird droppings contain a large dose of ammonia.

In the summer, you need to open the doors and windows of the shed so that fresh air circulates in the room, but put nets over them to prevent rodents and predators from getting inside.

Damp bedding must be regularly changed to dry and fresh - this will not only save the animals from cold and discomfort, but will also prevent the flock from becoming infected with harmful bacteria.

Birds need fresh air, sunlight and daily walks to increase their appetite, actively grow and improve health.

You need to make sure that the chickens rush to the nests and not to the floor. It is not recommended to place a sippy cup next to the bedding - birds may spill water on it.

The ideal lighting in a chicken coop is diffused, soft red light, from which the animals are not stressed. The illumination period should last approximately 14-17 hours in winter

Diet correction

A proper diet is not only about filling feeders on time. Birds need to be regularly given vitamin and mineral complexes.

There are ready-made balanced supplements that include all the nutrients and microelements important for the chicken body.

Attention! You should not feed supplements to birds after one and a half months of their life. They will no longer grow, but the quality of their meat may deteriorate!

Rarely walking a flock in sunlight can result in a vitamin D deficiency for the bird. In this case, it is given additionally to the animals.

If chickens eat homemade mash, they must include vitamin and mineral mixtures . Frequent feeding of grain can and should be varied with vegetables - boiled and finely chopped, herbs, fruits.

Rules of feeding and watering

Compliance with the frequency and amount of feeding, especially for newborn chickens. From the moment of birth and during the first week, the chicks should eat 8 times a day, from the second week the food is reduced to 6 times, and after another week the flock is transferred to 4 feedings a day.
Be sure to place a bowl of clean water next to the feeder , which is periodically poured out and fresh water is poured.
Chickens quickly get used to one type of food and do not tolerate changing it well. It is better to replace it gradually, adding part of the old food, which they eat well, to the new food. Portions of the old are gradually reduced and soon the livestock is completely transferred to the new food.

Control of weight and height according to standards

From the moment the chicks hatch, poultry farmers are advised to make entries in a diary, where they record the growing weight, diet and parameters of the chickens at certain intervals.

Every week, record the temperature, the number of feedings, and the composition of the feed, if it has recently been replaced by another.

Approximate weight standards for broilers:

newborn chicks - about 40 g;
1 week – 0.2-0.25 kg;
2 week – 0.75-0.8 kg;
1 month – 1.5-1.6 kg;
1.5 months – more than 3 kg.

Poor quality care

With proper feeding and proper care, meat breed chickens gain more than 1 kg at 1.5 months. Egg breed chicks are smaller. They weigh no more than 200-300 g. An adult chicken weighs 800 g - 1 kg. If broiler chickens were purchased that are rapidly gaining body weight, and some small individuals were noted among them, it is likely that a chicken of egg production was also included along with the meat breed chicks. It is better to separate it from the main stock. Large chickens can crush a small chick and force it away from the feeder and water bowl. In the future, pecking is possible.

Broilers are thermophilic. Chickens are kept at a temperature of 30 C. They begin to reduce it gradually from 2 weeks: reduce the temperature by 2 degrees per week. The optimal temperature for keeping chickens at the age of 2 months is 18 C.
Daylight hours are 16 hours.
The room is always kept fresh air and humidity at 65%.
Overheating or hypothermia is unacceptable. These are the causes of poor development and growth.
Chicks feel cold if they gather under a lamp. They crowd close to each other.
Chicks feel hot if they sit with their eyes closed, as if they are sleeping.

Cleanliness of the premises is required. The litter should always be updated. Lay newspaper, cardboard or oilcloth with sawdust on the floor. The bedding is changed before each feeding. Moisture on the floor is unacceptable. It can lead to the development of helminths and pathogenic bacteria. Chicks become hypothermic on a wet floor.

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If chickens grow poorly under normal conditions, what should you do in this case, where should you look for the cause? The reason may be hidden in vitamin deficiency. Meat breed chicks require more feed than egg-laying chickens.

The diet is saturated with protein feed and food additives of animal origin. Vitamins and mineral salts must be added to the food. Young animals will grow poorly if there is a lack of vitamins “A”, “B”, “D”. Vitamin deficiency will manifest itself in chickens not only in growth deficiency, but also in decreased immunity, loss of plumage, and peeling of the skin.

In good weather, if the ambient temperature is at least 22-25 C, the chicks are taken out into the fresh air. The box is taken outside or the livestock is placed in a closed cage. Walking is allowed from 3-5 weeks after birth. Sunlight promotes the production of vitamin D in the body. If it is not possible to take the chicks out for a walk, then an ultraviolet lamp is installed in the room. Irradiation is carried out daily for 5 minutes. in a day. Fish oil is added to the feed.

Already from 2-3 days, chickens of meat breeds begin to be given mash. They include skim milk or milk, millet, greens and grated carrots: it contains carotene, a growth vitamin. If, with proper nutrition, proper growth is not observed, then supplements with vitamin “A” are introduced into the diet.

Farmers believe that the answer to the question of why chickens do not grow lies most often in vitamin deficiency. Starting from the 2nd week, young animals add cake, yeast, and bran to the mash. These products are rich in vitamins B and E. Vitamin deficiency will slow down development, and there will be a deviation in the growth of muscle fibers and in the functioning of the nervous system. In case of acute deficiency of vitamins, it is recommended to feed young animals with the following drugs: “Calcium gluconate”, “Alpha-tocopherol acetate”, “Chiktonik”.

In order for the chicks to grow normally, greens must be added to their diet from 2 weeks. Nettle is best suited for broilers, but usually young animals are given green onions, dill, parsley, and alfalfa. These are natural vitamins that a growing body needs.

What influences the problem?

Why don't broilers grow? The problem may lie in the temperature of the coop. Laying hens cannot tolerate cold. To keep warm, they begin to actively move, run, jump, while losing calories and, accordingly, not gaining weight. It is necessary to monitor the feathers: they may fall off if the chickens have health problems.

There are a number of other reasons why laying chickens do not grow.

Large area for walking. Broilers do not need a lot of space to roam. They enjoy living in close quarters and are content with a small walking area. In such a situation, they spend practically no energy and calories on keeping warm, which means they gain weight. Many farmers have found out from their own experience that the ideal area for chickens is 50 x 50 cm, which is enough for 10 chickens. Under such conditions, within a month it will become noticeable that the birds are growing.
Total lack of essential substances in the body. As veterinarians have found out, a lack of calcium, protein and amino acids in the body is one of the main reasons that chickens grow poorly.
Broiler chain. Few people know that today on planet Earth there are a very large number of different species and subspecies of broilers. There are lines that have their own characteristics, which include, for example, fast or, conversely, slow weight gain. If species are acquired that slowly gain weight, then even under good conditions and the complete absence of pathologies, they will not gain the required weight before the due date. You just have to be patient and wait.
Stomach disease. In broilers, in the first days after birth, the digestive system does not function well, since the immune system has not yet fully developed. At this stage of life they need special care.

If a beginner is engaged in breeding chicks, then he often does not have enough experience in this matter. Then improper nutrition and care can lead to changes in the acidity of the chick's gastric juice and the functioning of the digestive system, which will result in dispersion. Such symptoms may also indicate that the birds are eating low-quality food. But this type of chicken is very sensitive to changes in feed, as well as to low-quality, spoiled and rotten feed, which causes poor growth.

Why do you need to control weight gain?

Controlling weight gain is an important condition for obtaining profit from the spent feed. The bird must undergo a course of daily weight gain. Day-old chicks weigh 40-50 g. This figure increases every day. Broiler chickens type ROSS 308 should have the following growth rate:

1 week - weight gain of 20.9 g per day;
2 week - 40.7 g;
3 week - 64.1 g each;
4 week - 80.7 g each;
5 week - 90 g;
Week 6 - 94 g each

Starting from week 7, the average daily weight gain does not increase, and may even decrease to 75 g. Cross is able to gain up to 5 kg in just 10 weeks. But the real numbers are more modest. Household conditions, the quality and mode of feeding, as well as the characteristics of care affect the weight of chickens by 2.5-3 months. Broilers most often weigh between 3-4 kg.

Broiler chickens ROSS 308 are actively growing. Monitoring your weight every day is difficult and inconvenient. In addition, chickens and roosters of this breed have different rates of weight gain, so it is more advisable to monitor weight gain week by week. Beginner poultry farmers will be helped by the ROSS weight table declared by the manufacturer.

The weekly average weight table is intended for monitoring and timely culling of birds on the farm. Provided that each ROSS receives high-quality feed, and the conditions for its maintenance are observed by farmers, the chickens reach a weight of 5 kg in 10 weeks. Such figures indicate the high profitability of maintaining the breed for production purposes.

Causes of the problem

The main reasons why laying chickens do not grow:

Insufficient amount of protein in the birds' diet. Chickens constantly need a sufficient amount of protein food, and its lack interferes with weight gain.
Features of the selection of this breed of chickens. Today there are a huge number of varieties of broilers, and some of them take an extremely long time to gain weight. And if you happen to purchase this particular breed, then don’t worry. Just keep caring for and feeding the birds. They will definitely start gaining weight.
Diseases of the digestive tract. Chicks, in the first day after their birth, need to be provided with special nutrition. After all, at this moment their digestive system is not yet working at full capacity. If chickens are fed low-quality or spoiled feed, they will develop metabolic disorders and dispersion. This disease most often occurs due to disturbances in the normal acidity of gastric juice.
Helminths are parasitic worms. They, affecting the crop, esophagus and the entire digestive system, significantly slow down the growth of chickens.
Unfavorable temperature for keeping birds. At an early age, broilers are very sensitive to ambient temperature. And if it is not warm enough, babies spend their last strength and energy on warming up, losing their mass.
Lots of living space. For laying chickens, unlike ordinary chickens, large areas should not be allocated for keeping and walking. In such conditions, birds spend a minimum of energy walking and warming up. For a dozen chickens, it is recommended to allocate about half of one square meter of space.

Conditions for growth

If the chickens are not growing well, you need to check the living conditions and, if necessary, adjust the care.

Temperature conditions. The first 14 days - 30℃, then at least 25℃. The lamps must be on 24 hours a day.

Vitamins and minerals, including Calcium, are added to the food of young individuals for rapid and high-quality growth. They give food on schedule (8 times a day), in plentiful quantities. To increase appetite, sweeteners are used, then chickens are more willing to eat regular food.

The first month is the most important month in the life of chickens, so special attention should be paid to them during this period. In the first days of life, chickens are treated with antiparasitic drugs.

Pay attention to stool and general condition to avoid infections. The last rule is to keep young animals isolated until they reach a certain age.

In the first days of life, chickens are treated with antiparasitic drugs.

Pay attention to stool and general condition to avoid infections. The last rule is to keep young animals isolated until they reach a certain age.

Failure to comply with temperature conditions

The slowdown in broiler growth rates may be due to the following circumstances:

sharp fluctuations in temperature in the poultry house , causing stress in broilers;
presence of drafts;
During the cold season, the thermometer in the room where the birds are kept drops below 18-20 degrees Celsius , which leads to a slowdown in the growth of young animals, since the energy obtained from food is spent by the chickens’ body not on weight gain, but on heat exchange.

For normal growth of broilers and achievement of productivity indicators corresponding to age norms, ensure compliance with the following conditions;

The temperature in the room where newborn chicks are kept should not be less than 30 degrees . After 2 weeks, the temperature is lowered to 25 degrees Celsius, and after a month - to 20 degrees.
The poultry house must be protected from drafts and equipped with a heating system.
A mandatory requirement is the presence of ventilation , which prevents deterioration in the health of birds due to exposure to damp, musty air and ammonia vapor.
Equipping the chicken coop with infrared lamps that give off heat well.

Characteristics of the cross Ross 308

The Aviagen company is the official distributor of chickens of this cross all over the world; they deliver their products to hundreds of countries. In addition, work to improve the cross is ongoing. According to external signs, chickens have clearly defined meat qualities, large pectoral muscles and thighs, and a stable bone structure. White feather color, red comb and lobes. The skin is light in color.

The bird is calm by temperament. There is great genetic potential in terms of mass. Before planting, chicks are selected, weak and sick ones are discarded, as well as those below the recommended weight for day-old chicks of this cross.

Ross 308 broilers are fast-growing poultry with good feed conversion and high meat performance. Consumer demand is growing every year, so it was necessary to create a cross that would have stable growth and excellent taste.

But in order to make it economically profitable to raise chickens of this cross, you need to comply with the developed technological factors:

1. Observe the incubation regime, before this, properly store and transport the egg;2. Provide constant access to water and food. Use feedstuffs developed using the technology: Start, Growth, Finish; 3. Air humidity of at least 50%, ventilation and temperature control;4. Carry out control weighing of several heads from the herd to understand the efficiency of rearing;5. Avoid contamination and keep the room clean during cultivation and after;6. The bedding material must be dry; if it is necessary to change the bedding, it is better to put a new one on top of the old one.

How to feed broiler chickens

Therefore, during this period, nutrition should be made as complete and balanced as possible. Feeding broiler chickens from the first day consists of boiled chopped eggs, cottage cheese, oatmeal, chopped wheat grains, and millet. All grain crops must be peeled from films and finely crushed. Grain should account for 60% of the diet. From 3 days of age, it is allowed to introduce fresh, chopped greens into the menu. In winter, it is recommended to add high-quality herbal flour to the mash. For a fragile bird's body, red carrots are very useful. It is given from 5 days of age. Carrots are grated on a fine grater and added to the main food.

Briefly about pathology

Why do broilers grow poorly? This problem occurs frequently, and many poultry farmers are concerned about this issue, because the broiler breed of chicken does not like changes and is quite demanding in nutrition and care. There have been cases when chickens died immediately after changing food: they either refused to eat it or, on the contrary, they ate, but their stomach simply could not cope with the new diet.

If you follow all the recommendations regarding the nutrition necessary for such a breed, there should be no problems, since it is the factor of quality nutrition that affects the development of the chick. If even after revising the menu there is no change in growth, it makes sense to try to reduce the area where the chickens live.

Spacious walking area

If broilers are fed enough food but are not gaining weight, it may be due to the following reasons:

active lifestyle of broilers , leading to high calorie consumption;
spacious area for poultry walking.

An ideal solution to the problem could be cage-based housing of meat chickens, which limits their motor capabilities and promotes rapid weight gain.

Newcastle disease in broilers

A very dangerous disease, especially for the hybrid breed - broilers. As a rule, after infection, mass death of the entire livestock is observed in a short time. An infectious disease is rapidly transmitted from sick birds to healthy ones.

Among the main signs of the disease the following symptoms are observed:

Chickens eat very poorly.
They cannot orient themselves in space.
They sneeze and cough frequently.
They try to regurgitate the mucous mass stuck in the throat.
They practically do not react to external stimuli.
Strange sounds are made, similar to the cawing of a crow.
Damage to the nervous system leads to the development of paresis, convulsions, spasms, paralysis, and damage to the entire body.
The comb and beard take on a bluish tint.

Against the background of the problem, another disease develops: keratoconjunctivitis. Young broilers, instead of gaining muscle mass, on the contrary, lose weight, become weaker and are severely delayed in development.

There is no treatment for this disease in broilers and chickens, as well as other poultry! Why? Effective therapy has not yet been developed... The disease leads to the death of all birds.

The only method to avoid the problem is to carry out preventive measures.

ROSS-308

Broilers of this cross gain muscle mass very quickly. Within 24 hours, a chicken of the ROSS-308 broiler breed increases its weight to 60 grams. Already at the end of the ninth week of fattening, broilers are ready for slaughter, i.e. reach a weight of 1600-2500 grams.

Broiler chickens of the ROSS-308 breed have good egg production and hatch quite viable chickens, which is not so common among crosses. On store shelves, these chickens can be recognized by their pale skin color.

The main advantages of the cross:

early maturity, short fattening periods; high carcass weight; unpretentiousness to food and maintenance; good egg production.

The ROSS-308 broiler breed is chosen by owners of small and medium-sized poultry farms for raising meat and egg chickens. It is not uncommon in poultry farms.

Methods for solving the problem

Broiler chickens grow well if kept in good conditions and given adequate nutrition. Having discovered smaller deviations from the norm during control weighing of chickens, it is necessary first of all to correct the birds’ diet. Next, we will have to work to improve the living conditions of birds.

Broiler nutrition

When raising meat chickens, it is better to feed them ready-made feed, selecting it according to age. It will contain the necessary substances in the correct proportion. If the farmer prepares the mash himself, then it is worth adding premixes and vitamins to their composition. The broiler diet should include:

protein - it is found in grains, eggs, cottage cheese, fish, legumes;
vegetables – carrots, fodder beets;
greens - nettles, onions, tops;
mineral supplements - chalk, shell rock, yeast, bone meal, fish oil.

It is important to properly organize the feeding of chickens. Chickens under 7 days old are given food 8 times a day at regular intervals. From the second week of life they are transferred to six meals a day, then to four meals a day.

Important! The transition to a new type of feed is being made gradually. A sudden change in diet causes stress in birds; they need to get used to the new taste and composition of food.

Correction of conditions of detention

The poultry house must be warm. The temperature inside, even in winter, cannot fall below +20 degrees. In the fall, it is worth sealing all the cracks and considering the possibility of heating the room. The presence of ventilation is a mandatory requirement. Harmful vapors of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, damp and musty air have a detrimental effect on the health of birds.

It is extremely important to organize proper lighting of the poultry house. Experienced poultry farmers recommend using infrared lamps; their light has a soft reddish tint. In addition, these lamps give off heat well.

It is important to keep the chicken coop clean by regularly removing droppings. Complete disinfection of the premises is carried out twice a year. Drinkers and feeders are washed with soda solution or scalded with boiling water daily. All these measures will help avoid the spread of infectious and parasitic diseases.

Reduced walking

If birds receive feed in the required quantity, and their housing conditions meet sanitary standards, but there is a lack of weight, it means that the birds move a lot. It is beneficial for chickens of meat breeds to be outdoors and take sunbathing, but walks should not be long. It is better to reduce the area of the yard to a minimum - there should be 18–20 chickens or 10 adult birds per 1 m2.

Broilers do not grow or gain weight slowly for three reasons - due to an incorrect diet, poor living conditions or an active lifestyle. When faced with a problem, a farmer must analyze where he made a mistake and try to change the situation as quickly as possible, because his profit depends on it.

Content Tips

If you decide to breed broilers for eggs, it is necessary to strictly dose the amount of feed for laying hens and males. With obesity, roosters become lazy and fertilize females much more slowly. The offspring emerging from the eggs will be slightly larger than ordinary domestic chickens and will easily gain fat.

To obtain testicles from broilers, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

The diet of broiler chickens should contain a large amount of vitamins and microelements. It is advisable to add a significant amount of chopped green grass and shell rock to it. Due to the natural tendency to obesity in broiler breeds, it is necessary to follow a strict diet and dose the amount of food.
Laying hens may have problems with the oviduct. The egg of this cross is significant in size, which can even lead to the death of the bird. To get it out, you need to thoroughly massage the bird's abdomen. A characteristic sign of such problems is refusal to eat for several days and noisy behavior.
Laying hens need to provide sufficient lighting, frequently change water in drinking bowls, and maintain cleanliness in the room to avoid infectious diseases.
When broilers begin to lay eggs, you need to monitor their behavior and not allow too many roosters near the hens.

Do broilers lay eggs? Yes, they lay eggs. But by this point, the taste of the meat is already beginning to deteriorate. Therefore, breeding broilers for eggs is considered ineffective and unprofitable. For this, it is better to use egg breeds of chickens.