RAISING MEAT RAISING MEAT - - TYPE TYPE CHICKENS CHICKENS FROM THE HATCHERY FROM THE HATCHERY TO THE FREEZER TO THE FREEZER www.usda.gov www.ross-na.aviagen.com www.clyrohillfarm.co.uk WHAT KIND OF BIRDS WHAT KIND OF BIRDS SHOULD I USE? SHOULD I USE? Variety to use Variety to use   Cornish Rock cross Cornish Rock cross   Others ? Others ? Probably nothing else close for Probably nothing else close for carcass quality and quantity carcass quality and quantity Consider feed efficiency, too Consider feed efficiency, too   Raising your own breeding stock? Raising your own breeding stock? Difficult to get parent stock Difficult to get parent stock Very difficult to raise them correctly Very difficult to raise them correctly Doubtful you Doubtful you ’ ’ d gain much d gain much WHEN TO ORDER WHEN TO ORDER Broilers Broilers 6 6 - - 8 weeks before fair 8 weeks before fair Roasters Roasters 10 10 - - 12 weeks before fair 12 weeks before fair ** If you ** If you ’ ’ re planning to restrict feed, you may want to add a re planning to restrict feed, you may want to add a week or two. week or two. Turkeys Turkeys 14 14 - - 18 weeks 18 weeks Ducks Ducks 7 7 - - 9 weeks (comm. 9 weeks (comm. Pekins Pekins ) ) Geese Geese 15 15 - - 18 weeks 18 weeks STARTING CHICKS STARTING CHICKS STARTING CHICKS STARTING CHICKS www.gdaonline.com/ STARTING CHICKS STARTING CHICKS F F EED EED   21 21 - - 23% crude protein, usually 23% crude protein, usually   Higher in other vitamins, minerals, etc. Higher in other vitamins, minerals, etc.   Usually given Usually given ad ad libitum libitum STARTING CHICKS STARTING CHICKS F F EED EED   Some people restrict feed Some people restrict feed Remove feed in the afternoon Remove feed in the afternoon Only give a set amount each day Only give a set amount each day Believed to help reduce leg problems Believed to help reduce leg problems Will take longer to get to market weight Will take longer to get to market weight STARTING CHICKS STARTING CHICKS L L IGHTS IGHTS   24 hours per day of light is okay 24 hours per day of light is okay   Some will use 23 L:1 D Some will use 23 L:1 D   Lights don Lights don ’ ’ t need to be very bright t need to be very bright   Can get by with natural light Can get by with natural light May take longer to reach market weight May take longer to reach market weight STARTING CHICKS STARTING CHICKS A A IR IR   Temperature Temperature Maybe slightly cooler than other chicks Maybe slightly cooler than other chicks   Start at 90 Start at 90 ° ° and decrease 5 and decrease 5 ° ° per week per week Temperature gradient is best Temperature gradient is best No drafts No drafts TEMPERATURE GRADIENT TEMPERATURE GRADIENT [...]... infections Coccidiosis Ammonia production STARTING CHICKS WATER Constant supply Clean Room temperature is probably best www.feathersite.com STARTING CHICKS SPACE Usually not a problem with small numbers Meat-type birds grow very quickly, so you need to be prepared STARTING CHICKS SPACE Minimum requirements per bird Broilers 75 – 1 ft.2 Roasters 1.5 – 2 ft.2 Turkeys 3 – 4 ft.2 STARTING CHICKS Probably . RAISING MEAT RAISING MEAT - - TYPE TYPE CHICKENS CHICKENS FROM THE HATCHERY FROM THE HATCHERY TO THE FREEZER TO THE FREEZER www.usda.gov www.ross-na.aviagen.com www.clyrohillfarm.co.uk WHAT. quality and quantity Consider feed efficiency, too Consider feed efficiency, too   Raising your own breeding stock? Raising your own breeding stock? Difficult to get parent stock Difficult to get