Meat Birds
BROILERS/CORNISH CROSS GIANTS
Over the last 36 years the broiler has become an exceptionally fast growing bird. As nice as it is to get meat in the freezer quickly, the speed of growth has brought its own set of problems. These fast growing birds tend to be susceptible to leg problems, heart attacks and ascites (heart valve failure leading to a fluid filled abdomen). Following our suggestions will minimize these problems.
- Keep chicks warm and in a small area to start; early chilling, overheating, or huddling will cause continued problems later. Start your chicks at 32°C (90°F) measured furthest from the heat source in the brooding area at chick height. Ventilation is important from the first day. Add heat lamps if necessary but do not seal up your brooder so that air supply is completely cut off. Increase ventilation as chicks get older. The air should feel dry, not musty.
- Feed 20% chick starter for 3 weeks; then switch to a 16% grower during the fourth week. Allow 1 kg of starter per broiler before switching to grower. Well balanced chop may be used from the 6th week. Grains need to be fed with the addition of a
poultry supplement! - For the first 4-5 days; provide 23 hours of light. Start reducing the hours of light by ½ hour per day until birds receive 8-10 hours of dim light (you should just be able to read a newspaper). A time clock that will allow 8-10 hours of growing time is ideal. If a black out situation is not possible, then be sure the birds clean out their feeders before refilling. Going too long without food may result in them eating the bedding material.
- Once the birds are a week old, you should start to move the feeders and waterers further apart from one another. Do this a bit at a time until they are at least 4-5 feet apart. As your birds grow be sure that they have plenty of room to move around.
