TAILIEUCHUNG - The Home Broiler Chicken Flock

Broiler-breeder hens are first housed in open-floor environments or pens where they are reared to 20 to 22 weeks of age. The arrangement and management of these houses are similar to that described for broilers. Roosters are similarly housed until breeding age. The breeding flock (hens and roosters) is then transferred to production houses where hens begin to lay fertile eggs at about 24 weeks of age. The birds are held in production for an additional 36 to 44 weeks, at which time they are sold to the market. Production broiler-breeder flocks are confined in modified open-floor housing, where two. | ỆỊ UNIVERSITY OF IFAS EXTENSION PS42 The Home Broiler Chicken Flock 1 Jacqueline P. Jacob and F. Ben Mather2 Broilers are meat-type chickens. Sometimes they are called fryers or frying chicken. Commercial broilers are crossbreds primarily involving White Cornish and White Plymouth Rock. Today s commercial broilers are marketed at 4-10 weeks of age depending on the body weight desired. Broilers are used for products such as Cornish Hens lb live weight at about 4 weeks of age chicken for fast food restaurants lb at about 6 weeks of age chicken for grocery stores lb at about weeks of age and deboned chicken for sandwiches nuggets etc. lb at about weeks of age . Many families are interested in producing their own broilers for home consumption for home processing of broilers refer to Factsheet PS-8 Procedures for Killing and Dressing Home Grown Fowl . It may cost more to raise broilers than to buy them at the supermarket but the recreation and satisfaction derived offset the higher cost. In addition manure and litter from broiler production can be used to fertilize the family garden and flower beds refer to Factsheet PS-1 Poultry Manure as a Fertilizer . Broiler projects are popular with 4-H and FFA members and are an integral part of many youth livestock shows. Broiler projects are especially suitable for youngsters with limited space. Remember that home flocks even small ones require daily care including weekends vacations and holidays. The time and effort required for this care should be considered when deciding whether or not to start a poultry flock of any kind. It is also important to check on zoning regulations in your area. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED Expensive housing and equipment are not necessary. However you will need a clean dry structure that will protect your broilers from predators cold and rain or hot sun a brooder or heat lamp s to warm the chicks feeding and watering equipment Housing Broilers reared for home use should have 1 square

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