Chicken hybrids designed for quick development and finishing are known as broilers. They are typically processed between 7 and 9 weeks of age after they have reached a weight of roughly 5 pounds. Roasters are birds that have been killed between 9 and 12 weeks of age and normally weigh between 7 and 10 lbs.
By beginning a fresh flock of broiler chicks when the prior flock is a month old, you can have a constant supply of chicken. In this manner, at seven, eight, nine, and ten weeks of age, you can process a quarter of each flock. How much chicken do you consume each week? This is a useful method for estimating the number to raise each year. Keep in mind that a 21 cubic foot freezer may accommodate 850 pounds of food.
Housing
Start chicks inside in a deep container (at least 30 inches deep) that will provide each bird with one square foot of floor area (plastic Sterlite containers work well, but if the container is square, round the corners in some way to prevent chick piling and death). For around a month, the chicks will need a square foot of floor space; after that, the area should double.
Spread an absorbent litter that is not tiny enough to be mistaken for food on the floor of the container. If newspaper is being used as bedding, put a small coating of sterile sand over top to prevent leg splaying.
Change any damp, filthy bedding or litter.
Brooding
Until they are 14 days old, chicks are unable to control their body temperature on their own. As a result, during the first two weeks of life, they are particularly sensitive to temperature changes and are susceptible to both overheating and hypothermia. Keep the temperature between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit at chick level. Don't wing it! Employ a thermometer. Use an infrared lamp that is safely hanging from the ceiling and that can be raised or lowered as necessary to control the temperature of the surrounding air. Incandescent lights are another option. Remember that these heat sources plus the dry bedding might ignite a fire, so take the necessary steps to protect your family and pets. until you reach 70 degrees, at which point you should reduce the temperature by 5 degrees every week.Reduce the temperature by 5 degrees every week until it reaches 70 degrees, at which point the birds should have fledged and the lights at night shouldn't be required (about 5 weeks of age, depending on the time of year and the facilities where the birds are housed). For further details, speak with your neighborhood extension).
Watering and Feeding
Water is the most crucial nutrient to provide young chicks. Chicks ingest the remaining egg yolk in their egg just before hatching. They can survive on this nutrient-rich meal for around three days. Therefore, having food accessible is less crucial than ensuring sure water is set up in the brooder for when the chicks arrive. Dip the beak of each bird as it enters the brooder into the water to allow them to take a quick sip and, hopefully, discover where the water supply is. Chicks may be encouraged to peck at the water and eventually learn to drink from it by placing colorful glass marbles in the water trough. Initially, keep a close eye on the birds, and when you feel they have all learnt to drink, you may place food in the brooder (no later than the end of the 2nd day). By avoiding the birds from overeating and not drinking enough water, these measures can stop chicks from becoming sick. They cannot properly digest their food without water in their system, which results in pasting. Another issue that might cause pasting is improper brooder temperatures.
