HYBRID BROILER CHICKEN
FEEDING SCHEDULE
| FEED TYPE | AGE IN WEEKS |
| BROILER STARTER | 1 – 2 weeks |
| BROILER GROWER | 2 – 4 weeks |
| BROILER FINISHER | 4 – 6 weeks |
Learning Hub
Our commitment to customer success drive us to provide tools and resources necessary for your poultry business to achieve profitability.
Feeding Programme
Day-old chicks must be handled with care. A flock that gets off to a good start is easier to control. It has a higher body weight at the start of the rearing process, is more uniform in size, has a better health status and reaches genetic potential more easily. There are a number of basic things for you to bear in mind;
Before chicks arrive, check that everything in the house is working properly: right temperature, there is enough fresh air coming in, feed and water and there is enough light.
Rearing & Feeding
Feed is the greatest expense in commercial poultry establishments, so it is important to buy feed from a reputable miller who can assure consistency in quality, and consequent flock performance.
It is important to avoid mixing feeds from several millers, or adding other protein sources such as fish meal and mineral salts (DCP), as this changes the balance in the feed, thereby affecting performance. An excess of some of these products also negatively affects the taste of the final product, for example, more than 5% fish meal in feed gives rise to a fishy tinge in both eggs and meat.
To start a flock, feeder lids or plastic feeder trays – one per every hundred (100) chicks -should be used. The feed can also be spread on paper placed over the litter. Gradually remove the feeder lids or trays, replacing them with the adult feeders. By the time the birds are ten (I0) days old, all the lids and trays should have been removed. Provide adequate feeder space as recommended below for proper growth of the birds.
Each type of bird has feed specific to its growth, as indicated below:
HYBRID LAYER CHICKEN
FEEDING SCHEDULE
| TYPE OF FEED | AGE IN WEEKS |
| Broiler starter | 1 – 3 weeks |
| Pullet Starter | 4 – 8 weeks |
| Pullet Grower | 9 – 15 weeks |
| PreLayer | 16 – 19 weeks |
| Layers Mash | 20 weeks up to laying stage |
HYBRID VILLAGE CHICKEN
FEEDING SCHEDULE
| FEEDING HYBRID VLC AS A BROILER |
FEEDING HYBRID VLC AS A LAYER |
||
| FEED TYPE | Age in weeks | FEED TYPE | Age in weeks |
| STARTER | 1 – 4 | STARTER | 1 – 4 |
| GROWER | 4 – 8 | GROWER | 4 – 8 |
| DEVELOPER / FINISHER DEVELOPER | 8 – 12 | DEVELOPER | 9 – 15 |
| PRELAYER | 16 – 19 | ||
During the changing period of the rations, mix the two rations so that the change is gradual. An abrupt change is stressful to the birds and can affect performance. Vitamins can be provided during this time to reduce the stress.
Water
Distribute drinkers evenly throughout the whole house, alternating them with the feeders so that they are easily accessible to all birds. No bird should walk more than 1.5 metres to get either feed or drink. Provide one chick fount for 75 chicks during the first week and gradually replace them with the regular drinkers allowing space.
| Type Of Drinker | Recommended water space |
| TROUGH 2.0 cm per bird | 2.0 cm per bird |
| BELL SHAPE (35cms Diameter) | 6 – 9 per 1000 birds but not less than 4 |
| NIPPLES | 8 – 10 birds per nipple |
Wash and disinfect chick drinkers daily. Ensure the drinkers are filled with fresh water after washing. Ensure that the birds have access to wholesome drinking water at all times, and never allow the drinkers to go dry. In hot periods it is essential to provide the flock with cool water, as this will improve productivity. It is therefore extremely important to protect the water tanks from direct sunlight, and to ensure they have a reflective surface.
Always adjust the drinker and feeder levels as the birds grow to ensure that the equipment is always slightly above the level of the birds’ backs. This minimises spillage. Use a reliable water sanitiser (like chlorine) to control disease-producing organisms in the water.
Poultry Centres Near Me
Stop by any Hybrid Poultry Centre for day old chicks, specialized technical and lab assistance or a quick consult with one of our vets.
