FAQs

Broiler Housing

Brick wall on length sides of house must be at 50cm height and both widths on the higher sides should be at least 2.6m high.

Concrete floors and well plastered bricks on the walls for ease on cleaning. For roofing use asbestos or the metal sheets painted white to reflect heat

On flat land with well drained soils

Ascites causes birds to die on their backs. It is a condition that causes death in fast growing birds and it is associated with inadequate supplies of oxygen and poor ventilation.

Broiler Diseases

They vary with age and environment but broilers are prone IBD, IB, Newcastle and coccidiosis

Vaccination is the introduction of weakened disease causative agent to an animal and it is necessary to help the animal develop an adaptive immunity in case the real disease comes.

Cleaning, disinfecting and resting houses after each batch, limiting visitors to the house, placing a foot bath with a disinfectant by the entrance and practising all in all out system.

Broiler Feeding and Water

With Profeeds and with good management work with 500g of starter crumbles, 500g grower crumbles, 1000g grower pellets and 1500- 1700g finisher pellets per bird dependant on slaughter weights.

Broiler breeds were bred to convert food into meat in a much more efficient way than a normal chicken.

Pellets reduce wastage, they give an improved FCR, less energy is used in digestion and pellets they have an improved hygiene since the pelleting process involves heat.

No pig feeds do not meet the nutritional requirements of broilers.

We recommend that you do not mix concentrates with straight feeds as this will slow down growth rates as your birds try to adjust to the new form of feed.

A stress pack has vitamins and minerals which relieves your birds after going through a stressful moment e.g. transportation.

Yes, with Profeeds and with good management you can slaughter at 5 weeks with an average weight of 1.7 kg.

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) is a measure of an animal’s efficiency in converting feed mass into meat.

Broiler Placement

With good management and proper housing, broiler production is profitable all year round.

Before placing your birds make sure you remove all weeds around the house and destroy all possible mosquito breeding areas. Remove manure and scrub all surfaces with a detergent, rinse and dry before applying a disinfectant. Also clean and disinfect all equipment and curtains. The house should be left for 10 days before your next placing.

We recommend material which can absorb moisture well and gives comfort to the birds like wood shavings not saw dust and thin, short pruned grass straws.

33 birds/m2 at brooding then 10 to 12 birds/m2 in summer and winter respectively after brooding.

Broiler Environment

Cold air is heavier than warm air so by opening curtains from the top, we allow cold air to get down and dilute with the inside air. Opening curtains from bottom only lets in a draft of cold air which causes temperatures to suddenly drop down.

Periods of darkness promote resting where energy is conserved resulting in improved FCR. Skeletal defects are reduced and bird uniformity is improved. Alternating light and darkness promotes melatonin production which is important in immune system development.

Cold air is heavier than warm air so by opening curtains from the top, we allow cold air to get down and dilute with the inside air. Opening curtains from bottom only lets in a draft of cold air which causes temperatures to suddenly drop down.

Temperature depends on the age of the birds and below is a guideline:

Age of Birds in days Temperature in Degrees Celsius
Day old 33-34
7 30-31
14 27
21 24
28 21
35 19
42 18

Broiler Equipment

Feeding equipment e.g. chick trays and feed troughs as well as drinking equipment e.g. water founts, a thermometer and brooders e.g. charcoal heater.

Use a detergent e.g. Superwash, rinse with clean water and apply a disinfectant e.g. Virukill and leave for 10 days before use.