How to Make Broilers & Cockerels Grow Really Faster
Broiler chickens are genetically developed and bred for meat production. They are known for fast growth and converts feed quickly into flesh or meat. Within 5-6 weeks, a well-managed, healthy and properly fed broiler chicken is matured and ready for the slaughterhouse with an average live weight of 2.3kg. Some newbie broiler keepers or farmers have little or no idea of what must be done to achieve this result of making their birds grow really faster and attain impressive body weight.
Read also: Practical ways to boost your income with chickens
If you rear broiler chickens and want to know the secret behind making broilers grow fast and bigger, or how to reduce the time taken for your birds to reach market weight. This is the right article for you. In this post, we will be discussing seven (7) tips for boosting or increasing the growth of broilers. These tips are also applicable to cockerels, turkeys and other poultry birds.
1. Procure highly performing broiler chicks
The type or quality of chicks you buy has a big impact on their growth rate. This means that if you want your broiler chickens to grow faster and reach market weight earlier, then avoid poor-quality chicks from less reputable breeders or hatcheries.
Learn MoreThere is nothing more disappointing than buying poor-performing chicks from hatcheries that claim to sell high-quality stock. A good hatchery should guarantee a minimum 80% survival rate and have a policy of replacing dead chicks.
2. Give them the best start in life
Chickens need to be kept warm and dry, with access to clean water and food, to thrive. Good housing, brooding and sanitation practices are essential for ensuring that your chicks get off to the best possible start in life.
3. Provide them with the right quality feed
A key factor in accelerating the growth of broiler chickens is providing them with a nutritious diet that meets their energy needs. This means feeding them a diet that is high in protein and energy and supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Additionally, they should have access to feed clean water at all times to enable them to grow faster and big.
4. Use effective vaccines and drugs
Vaccinating your broilers against common diseases such as Newcastle disease, Infectious Bronchitis, and Avian Influenza can help to keep them healthy and prevent outbreaks of disease which can stunt growth or even kill them outright. Using antibiotics responsibly can also help to keep your broiler chickens healthy by preventing and treating bacterial infections.
Monitoring your broilers closely for signs of disease is important to catch any problems early and take action to treat them promptly. Some common signs of diseases include lethargy, reduced appetite, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and diarrhea.
Read also: 10 bold predictions for the poultry industry’s future
5. Keep them free from parasites
Internal and external parasites can cause a variety of health problems in broilers which can also lead to reduced growth rates. Therefore, it is important to regularly check your chickens for parasites and treat them if necessary.
6. Provide them with adequate housing and space
Broilers need a clean and spacious environment to stay healthy and grow to their full potential. Their housing should be well-ventilated, dry, and free from drafts. Overcrowding is not good for broilers. Hence, you should provide at least 1 square foot (1 sqft) of space per chicken.
A clean and tidy environment is crucial for the health of your broilers. The house or pen should be cleaned regularly to remove any build-up of manure that can attract pests and diseases.
7. Use safe organic broiler growth boosters
There are many broiler growth boosters available in the market which can help increase the growth rate of your chickens. However, not all of them are safe to use. Hence, it is important to research and choose a product that is organic and safe for both your chickens and humans.
Read also: Basic feeding program for chicken flocks
Closing
There is no special magic to raising big and weighty broilers or birds. You basically need to:
Procure highly performing broiler chicks
Give them the best start in life
Provide them with the right quality feed
Use effective vaccines and drugs
Keep them free from parasites
Provide them with adequate housing and space
Use safe organic broiler growth boosters
If you follow and utilize the above tips, your birds would give you the most desired results.
Contributed by A. Akinbobola
For more information and updates join our WhatsApp group HERE
Follow us on Twitter HERE
Join our Telegram group HERE
-Advertisement-
We do everything possible to supply quality information for farmers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this.
Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.
