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.

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.

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.

Read also: Curly breed of chickens: description and photo

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.

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.

Broilers are not growing, what should I do?

In the event that broilers stop growing, the prerequisites should be established and they should be eliminated very quickly. If you are raising chickens for subsequent sale, then low weight can negatively affect the success of the trade.

Why broilers do not gain weight main reasons:

1.The room temperature is not correct.

For normal growth, the room in which they are kept must be warm. They need warmth constantly. In the initial 2 weeks, chickens develop immunity. When the chicks freeze, they will not be strong. Please note that the room temperature should be 30 degrees Celsius. After 14 days, the temperature can be reduced to 25 degrees Celsius.

For the first time, their lights must be on all day long.

3. Lack of calcium in the body of chicks.

Poor growth can often be associated with common vitamin deficiency.

4. Incorrect diet.

It happens that young animals do not gain weight due to the fact that they need to drink or they do not have enough food. Then the body seeks internal opportunities for the chick’s organs to develop, but there are no longer enough reserves for growth.

Helminths can infect the digestive tract of chickens, their crop and esophagus, so the development of birds occurs more slowly.

What to do if broilers begin to grow poorly?

You need to pay attention to the conditions in which broilers are located. The room must be at the required temperature without humidity

Lamps with infrared radiation are perfect for this. They simultaneously illuminate and heat the room. If broilers are not developing well, you should pay attention to the lighting in the room. For their development, daylight hours must be approximately 17 hours. It should be noted that bright light is also not required. It will irritate the young animals and can cause pecking. It is advisable to use soft light. Lamps with blue and red light are suitable. This will create the required length of daylight hours and will also have a positive effect on the development of broilers.

Bird feeding must be of high quality. The food contains minerals, vitamins and calcium. It is recommended to use mixed feed. This will give the chicks everything they need.

When buying compound feed, please note that it must contain protein. Calcium in the bird's body comes from chalk and eggshells, which must be included in the daily diet of broilers

To improve digestion, crushed shells and crushed gravel are added to the food. This facilitates faster digestion of food, and, naturally, the young animals will grow faster. Feeding chickens in the first 7 days should be at least 8 times a day. After a week you need to give food 6 times a day, in the third week 4 times a day. It is necessary that the food includes greens, as they provide the chicks with the necessary vitamins. As preventative measures, vitamins and antibiotics should be included in the diet. Remember that vaccinations are required and all birds must be examined by a professional veterinarian.

If broilers are sick with helminthiasis, you can treat the birds with Garlic Nilverm. This drug is sold in pet stores. The product should be mixed into wet food intended for birds. Broilers gain weight poorly due to lack of proper care.

Meat crosses compare favorably with other breeds if you are not interested in egg production, but primarily in meat productivity. As everyone knows very well, broiler chickens grow very quickly, and in two months they reach a weight of about one and a half kilograms. It is not recommended to keep these crosses for more than 80 days; it becomes unprofitable, because a lot of feed is consumed, and their growth slows down significantly after this period. The fastest weight gain is observed in the first month of life.

Broiler chickens are kept in chicken coops, without pasture with low light, but the daylight hours must be at least 17 hours. To keep chickens at rest, they need dim lighting so that their physical activity is low. The litter in the poultry house should be deep and soft; as the litter becomes dirty, it should be replaced with a new, clean one. In this case, the density of chickens should be 11-14 birds per 1m2. if the room has good ventilation, then the density can be increased to 18 heads per 1 m2. Also, for good growth, you need to maintain the correct temperature regime, see table 1

Temperature conditions for broilers of different ages

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.

Tips and tricks from experienced poultry farmers

Grapes grow poorly, what to do

It is best to purchase broilers in early spring (March-April). During this period, the chicks are stronger, healthier and more easily adapt to temperature changes and weather conditions.

For example, you can compare broiler crosses KOBB-500 and ROSS-308. The former have more massive legs and should be larger before slaughter. In ROSS-308, the bulk of muscle mass is formed at an early age, and they have a lower survival rate. However, if you purchase ROSS-308 broilers in the spring, and KOBB-500 closer to the middle of summer, then the ROSS-308 cross will be larger and its weight will be greater than that of its “competitors”. In addition, if you start poultry in the spring, you will be able to raise two batches of broilers during the warm season.

Broilers need to be fed greens. They eat chopped nettles, alfalfa, and radish leaves with appetite. Grass should be picked or mowed immediately before feeding to keep it fresh and juicy. You should start adding greens to the food no earlier than the 4th day.

Broilers need to be fed greens
Since the starter feed contains the largest amount of useful components, some poultry farmers feed broilers with it, abandoning the growth and finishing feed. It is best to observe what food the bird eats with great appetite and give preference to it, but do not forget that the main task of broilers is to gain weight.
When broilers are kept in a cage, an accelerated increase in muscle mass is observed than when kept in a pen. In any case, excessive activity will stop the broiler from gaining weight, so you need to reduce their physical activity to a minimum.
In order not to ask questions about why broilers do not gain weight well and what to do, you need to study all the features of caring for them and the rules for keeping them before purchasing birds. Then there will be much fewer problems, and the work will be enjoyable.

Keeping broilers is a profitable business. Knowing the nuances of development and paying enough attention to the bird, in a couple of months you can get high-quality homemade meat that is excellent for consumption, or you can start a business selling broiler meat.

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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.

Compound feed - how to choose and give it

Sometimes the reason that broilers eat poorly lies in poor quality nutrition, so you need to be very careful when choosing. Fortunately, the market today is huge and finding a responsible seller is not difficult.

Many owners of private farms start meat chickens in the spring, so manufacturers produce special formulations just for them - with a high amount of proteins. Mixtures are not suitable for laying hens or other poultry. Prepared feed is replaced as the herd grows. But first you need to make sure of the quality of the product offered. The seller must have the necessary documents, which indicate the expiration dates and composition, the address of the manufacturer, and on the bag - a label with the name and expiration date.

From the moment of birth to a month, the so-called starter (starter feed) is used. It can be alternated with natural products.
Fattening - allows you to gain the required weight in the shortest possible time. The muscle tissues have time to mature properly, which gives them a delicate taste.
Finish - intended for adults. The protein content is not so high, but there are a lot of vitamins and microelements.

Sometimes when changing the nutritional formula, pets do not eat well. This is because they need to get used to the new taste. The solution is simple - mix both types of food and gradually change the ratio in favor of the new one. Usually, within a few days it is possible to completely switch the patients to the desired mixture.

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.

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.

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.

What to do if broilers grow poorly

Pay more attention to the conditions in which the birds are kept. The room where young animals are kept must be dry and warm. It is necessary to completely eliminate drafts and provide good ventilation.

To maintain the required temperature conditions, oil radiators can be used. Infrared lamps have proven themselves well. They perform the function of lighting and heating devices.

If the birds are not growing well, pay attention to the lighting of the coop. The length of daylight hours for broilers should be about 17 hours

It is worth noting that bright lighting is not recommended. It will irritate the birds and may even lead to pecking. It is better to use softer lighting.

Lamps with red and blue light work well. They provide the necessary duration of daylight and have a positive effect on the growth of birds.

It is necessary to feed broilers only with high-quality feed, which contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals and calcium.

It is recommended to use mixed feed; they will help provide the young animals with everything they need. When purchasing feed, make sure that it contains protein.

Chalk and eggshells will help you provide your birds with calcium. These ingredients must be included in the daily diet of birds.

To improve digestion, it is necessary to pour fine gravel and crushed shells into the feeders. They contribute to faster absorption of food, and accordingly broilers begin to grow better.

By the way, broiler chicks need to be fed eight times a day in the first week of life. From the second week it is necessary to feed the young 6 times a day, from the third week - 4 times. Make sure your diet contains green food; this is the main source of vitamins for birds.

For prevention purposes, it is recommended to give antibiotics and vitamin complexes to chicks. Do not forget about mandatory vaccination and regular examination of all chickens by a qualified veterinarian.

If you encounter helminths, then try using the drug “Garlic Nilverm” to treat chickens. It can be purchased at any pet store. The drug is usually added to wet mashes for broilers.

As you can see, birds grow poorly due to failure to comply with basic requirements. Pay more attention to your chickens and you will never encounter this problem.

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.

We feed broiler chickens with dairy products

Experienced poultry farmers must include dairy products in the fattening diet of broiler chickens. Milk, whey, yogurt, and low-fat cottage cheese provide the calcium needs of babies and allow them to develop normally.

As a rule, fermented milk ingredients are not given to chicks in their pure form, but are included in feed and wet mash. They are first given to chicks 10 days after birth.

The simplest food option is to mix kefir with grain to obtain semi-dry porridge.

The ingredients are mixed and fed to the chicks within an hour after preparation.

What feed is used to quickly gain weight in chickens?

By properly organizing the feeding of broiler chickens, you can achieve rapid weight gain, and already in 2-4 months you can send the bird to slaughter.

To do this, you can purchase special feed for fattening, the composition of which is carefully selected by specialists.

“Newborn” chickens are fed cottage cheese and boiled eggs, after which they are introduced to the so-called starter feed with a high protein content, which helps strengthen the chicken skeleton, ensure muscle growth, and improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. For these purposes, food PK-6-1 in granules is suitable. It contains wheat, corn, cake, low-fat kefir and barley.
At the age of 2 weeks, broilers begin to actively grow and at this stage they are given PK-6-2 feed. It is also granular, but the granules are larger. The composition is similar to the starter food, but the ingredients are presented in different proportions, lysine, vegetable oil and meat and bone meal appear. The feed is served dry, but can be mixed with water or fresh milk. The use of PC-6-2 ensures intensive weight gain and the formation of protein tissue in poultry.
At the age of one month, broilers are transferred to finish feed - PK-6-3. The granules in it are even larger and easier to feed. Fresh herbs, feed fat, and feed yeast are added to the composition. Since the life of broilers is quite short, at this stage it is necessary to help the chickens gain the necessary kilograms, and using the right feed allows this to be done. PC-6-3 contains less proteins, but is rich in minerals and vitamins.

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What greens and vegetables to give to broiler chickens

Vegetables and herbs are an essential source of vitamins and fiber, so they must be included in the diet of broilers.

Fresh carrots are extremely beneficial for chickens. They begin to add it to wet mash, starting from 5 days of age at the rate of 5 g per chick.

It is recommended to include fresh cabbage and beets in your diet, and boiled potatoes.

Greens are an indispensable ingredient in the daily diet of broilers. In summer, as a rule, there are no difficulties with it.

It is allowed to give chickens alfalfa, clover, nettle, dandelion and other plants, and in winter you can use sprouted grain greens.

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.

Features of selection

Among broilers there are several varieties, depending on the breeds that formed the basis of the cross. This factor must be taken into account when purchasing chickens.

Some birds reach their optimal weight slowly - only by 12 months, and sometimes later. If you want to purchase “early maturing” chickens, then these are the chickens you should ask at the poultry farm.

If broilers do not grow, then the veterinarian will advise you on the correct measures to eliminate the disease.

While waiting for the doctor, you can take the following preventive measures:

Check the conditions of detention;
Review your daily diet;
Make sure the chickens don't get sick.

Compliance with the necessary nutritional conditions and maintenance of broilers allows breeders to successfully feed crosses in private farmsteads every year.

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.

Prevention

To prevent underweight in broilers, special attention must be paid to preventive measures. They consist of adjusting the diet, living conditions and reducing the poultry's walking time.

In order to prevent outbreaks of diseases and provide chickens with all the conditions for their normal development and productivity, it is necessary to adhere to simple rules: organize daylight hours and temperature conditions, regularly clean and disinfect the chicken coop, and provide the birds with nutritious food.

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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.

Weight standards for broiler chickens

Broilers are genetically endowed with the ability to grow quickly. Scientists are constantly improving meat breeds of chickens and creating new ones, trying to reduce the fattening time. If earlier representatives of meat breeds of chickens were ready for slaughter at the age of 60–63 days, then modern broilers do not need to be fed for more than 40–45 days.

Chickens are born weighing 40–44 g; after 10 days their weight increases 6 times and reaches 200–240 g. Cockerels are slightly heavier than hens. At ten days of age, the difference in their weight is about 30 g.

After another 10 days, the weight of the chicks increases by another 500 g and amounts to 750–800 g. This is the norm, but there are exceptions, for example, there is a known case that occurred in Veliky Novgorod. Local poultry farmers managed to fatten a three-week-old chicken to 2 kg.

Attention! Accelerated growth negatively affects the musculoskeletal system of birds, so farmers try to limit the activity of birds. They arrange chicken coops so that the feeders are in close proximity to the birds.

The broiler weight continues to increase rapidly up to 2.5 months. At the age of 30 days, the normal weight of a chicken reaches 1550–1600 g. Meat breed chickens are usually fattened for 40–50 days. In the future, their growth slows down, but their appetite remains the same, so feeding the young animals longer is unprofitable.

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.

Diseases

No matter how hard the owners try, their charges are not 100% insured against various ailments. What to do if birds stop gaining weight due to illness? First you need to determine what exactly the chickens were infected with.

A common problem is helminths.

They can settle not only in the intestines, but also in the crop, preventing the animal from developing properly. A course of antibiotics will help correct the situation. A weakened body will also need a course of vitamins.

Some farmers complain that chickens fall on their feet. This happens to both chickens and cockerels. Why don't broilers grow? The most common cause is rickets, which appears due to a lack of vitamin D. Limbs weaken, bones become brittle, and the bird is unable to walk normally. Without treatment, the case can end in death.

Once again, the cause of the problem lies in an insufficiently varied diet. From the first week you can add greens to it (nettle is especially useful); sprouted grains are an excellent addition. Vitamin supplements from the pharmacy will not be superfluous.

If the house is not clean enough, chickens can develop viral arthritis. At the same time, the joints are hot to the touch and visually enlarged. Broilers also suffer from tendon displacement, usually due to deficiencies in the diet. The legs become twisted and the bird is unable to move normally. Most often, such an individual has to be slaughtered.

To avoid paw problems, keep the floor of the pen clean and tidy. There should be no objects that could cause injury to animals.

Do not make the perches too high - the bird may fall from it and injure its legs.

How to determine the weight of a chicken?

Broiler farmers must constantly monitor the weight of their chickens. If young animals grow poorly, this will certainly affect profits. It is convenient to use electronic scales to weigh chickens; they are more accurate.

Control measurements of broiler weight are carried out at regular intervals - every 7-10 days. It is correct to weigh chickens in the morning, when they have not yet received their first portion of feed. Chickens of meat breeds have a calm disposition, so they are simply placed on a scale and the indicators are recorded.

If the chicken does not want to sit, you can use other weighing methods:

Place the bird in the box, put it on the scale and record the result. Then determine the mass of the empty box and subtract it from the original value.
Place the chicken in a cloth bag and weigh it using an electronic steelyard, hanging it by a hook. In this case, you also need to subtract the weight of the empty bag from the result obtained.

At what age does egg laying begin?

The onset of egg production differs depending on the breed and direction. In egg breeds, laying begins at 4-5 months of life. Meat and egg birds begin laying at 5-6 months. The meat breeds are considered the latest - their first egg can be laid only by 7-8 months.

When do chickens start laying eggs? Effective and simple methods for determining which birds are laying eggs and which are not Read

How to determine the age of a chicken by various external signs and what is this for? More details

The best breeds and crosses of Russian-selected chickens: the top 5 most productive chickens that are worth paying attention to Watch

What should the treatment be?

In order to certainly save young animals from problems and prevent extinction, treatment must be carried out in a timely manner and under the strict guidance of a specialist. It is better to consult a veterinarian, invite him to examine the livestock and do the necessary tests. Some diseases develop quite rapidly, so do not hesitate to seek help. All prescribed medications must be given in a strictly specified dosage, since young animals have extremely sensitive digestion.

Sick birds must be isolated to prevent the disease from spreading to the rest of the population. It is imperative to thoroughly disinfect the poultry house and organize regular ventilation. Chicks should have easy access to fresh water and food.

Balanced nutrition scheme for broilers

To quickly gain muscle mass in broilers, you can use the following nutrition plan:

The amount of feed from the 1st day of life per bird starts from 14 grams per day and goes further in an increasing increment of 3-4 grams per day.
Broiler chick weighing up to 40 grams is a pre-launch feed.
After 3 days of age, you can give crushed green mass and sprouted wheat seeds.
After chickens reach 10 days of age, it is possible to introduce mixed feed.
The bird is 10 days old - the amount of feed should be at least 39 grams of feed. The weight of the bird is around 200 grams.
Next, increase the content of high-quality feed, high in protein (protein).
At the age of 20 days, the broiler should already weigh 800 grams and receive food in the amount of about 106 grams per head per day. Don't forget about vitamins and minerals! Investments in them will fully pay for themselves with healthy and large birds.
When a broiler reaches one month of age, it should weigh 1.5 kilograms and eat about 140 grams of feed per day.
Next, at 1.5 months, your broiler should weigh up to 2 kilograms of live weight.

With your attention to the aspects of broiler breeding described above and the organization of the correct feeding, housing and vaccination regime, your broilers will be much larger, healthier and more beautiful than the birds of owners who do not properly care for them.

Bird weight at 6 weeks

The weight of a bird at one and a half months is so significant that we can talk about the carcass being ready for slaughter in order to sell chicken meat. Although, if you want to get a larger percentage of carcass meat in relation to bone waste, you should wait a little longer and leave the bird for further fattening. It is worth saying that the wait is very short, because usually the carcass is slaughtered for the 2nd month, or maximum for the 3rd month of the bird’s life.

At this age, you continue to feed the broiler intensively, giving it the opportunity to gain more kilograms of live weight. At this age, fresh grass and shells should appear in the broiler’s diet.

Incorrect conditions of detention

If broilers do not grow, then you need to check the correctness of the housing conditions.

In addition to a certain temperature regime, meat crosses need the following:

High housing density - about 10 chickens per half square meter;
24-hour lighting in the first days of life with the gradual introduction of a day-night division;
The length of daylight hours for adults is at least 17 hours;
Soft light;
Good ventilation in the chicken coop;
Timely replacement of litter at least 1-2 times a week;
Maintaining humidity at the proper level.

The issue of humidity levels in the chicken coop should be discussed in more detail.

But since the stocking density of crosses is much higher than that of other breeds, combined with poor ventilation, the birds can become very hot. This can be understood by the wet plumage. In this case, it is necessary to replace the ventilation system or artificially change the air humidity to values at which the broilers will be comfortable.