Autumn is a good time to raise broiler chickens, and farmers should not miss it

Autumn has suitable temperatures and abundant feed, making it an ideal season for raising broiler chickens. Broiler chickens also have a short rearing cycle (56 days to market), so farmers and herdsmen can seize the opportunity to raise several batches of broiler chickens to increase their income. The rearing and management techniques are as follows:

I. Housing preparation

1. Capacity: For adult chickens, calculate 11 birds per square meter; for chicks, calculate 25-30 birds per square meter.

2. Disinfection: Four steps are required: 1) Thorough cleaning. 2) Rinse with clean water, leaving no dirt behind. 3) After rinsing with water and letting it dry, first disinfect the roof, inner walls and floor thoroughly with 2% caustic soda or 0.15% benzalkonium bromide. 4) Fumigation: Before fumigation, prepare and disinfect drinking and feeding utensils, spread bedding (5 cm thick), then seal doors and windows, and fumigate with 30 ml formalin plus 15 g potassium permanganate per cubic meter of space for 24 hours. After that, open the doors and windows for 48 hours and the chicks can be brought in.

II. Feed formulas

1. 1-4 weeks of age: corn 61%, wheat bran 3%, leaf meal 2%, cottonseed cake 3%, soybean cake 16%, meat and bone meal 4%, blood meal 7%, bone meal 1%, shell powder 1.2%, salt 0.3%, additives in appropriate amount.

2. Over 5 weeks of age: corn 67%, soybean cake 18%, fish meal 8%, grass meal 1%, animal fat 4%, bone meal 1%, stone powder 0.7%, salt 0.3%, additives in appropriate amount.

III. Feeding and management

1. Drinking water: After the chicks enter the house, let them drink water first, and wait 2-3 hours before feeding. To make sure every chicken gets water, it is best to pick up each chicken one by one, dip its beak into the water tray, and let them drink 1-2 times. Also add appropriate disinfectants such as potassium permanganate to the water.

2. Feeding: According to the condition of the broiler chickens, feed them complete compound feed or self-mixed feed. From 1-15 days of age, feed 8 times a day. From 15-56 days of age, feed 3-4 times a day, following the principle of feeding small amounts frequently, and ensuring they eat enough and are full.

3. Temperature: After hatching, chicks have a relatively low body temperature and sparse down, so suitable temperatures must be provided. Week 1: 31-32°C; Week 2: 29-30°C; Week 3: 28°C; Week 4: 26°C; Week 5: 24°C; Week 6: 21°C; Week 7: 20°C; Week 8: 19°C. In addition, suitable density and humidity should also be maintained.

4. Bedding: Broiler chickens never use perches throughout their lives. After eating, they like to lie down, and when lying down, 70% of their body weight is supported by the chest. To prevent cysts from forming where the chest contacts hard ground, bedding must be spread when raising them on the floor. Commonly used bedding materials include sawdust, wood shavings, rice hulls, etc.