Suggested Feeding Instructions for Broilers for Bowie FFA
Items needed.. (per 50 broilers)
< 5 - pint plastic waters
< 5 - one gallon waters plastic
< 2 lb. - fine grit (suggested that you do not need grit)
< 2 lb. - medium grit - you can substitute sand or corn meal
< 5 - paper plates or pie pans
< Roofing felt or tar paper in bottom of pen
< old bed sheet or News paper in bottom if brooder
< Purina Turkey starter 28% or better protein.
< vitamins & Electrolyte (1 level teaspoon per gallon of water)
< Two heat lamps of 250 watts
< 5 wide lips feeders
< Washed sand
< Wood shavings 12 bales
< 10 gallons of Distilled Water
< 1 package of Terramycin (one level tsp per gallon of water)
< 4 - 60 watts of light bulbs
< Boiled eggs
< Cleaning Supplies, SOS Pads, etc.
Two to three days before chicks arrive.
1. Check inside of broiler house and area around house for fire ants. Treat with Daizion spray or drench. Follow directions on label.
2. Stock pile a good supply of clean dry sand for the broiler house.
3. Cover the floor of the broiler house with tar paper or roofing felt. The paper provides insulation between the chicks and the floor.
4. Construct a 4 ft x 8 ft x 2 ft brooder box out of 2 plywood. The box will be used for approximately 12 days or until the chickens are completely feather out depending on the weather.
5. Use two heat lamps to keep chicks warm. Place lamps so that they are at each end of the pen. Two amps are used because if one bums out the other will keep them warm until you discover the problem. Secure the lamp cords or chain so they will not fall into the pen and start a fire. Chick comfort can be regulated by raising or lowering the lamps. It is extremely important that the comfort of the chicks be checked every few hours.
6. Gather pint and gallon feeders and waters and other poultry equipment that you have. All feed and water equipment should be clean and rinsed with a (1-10) chlorine bleach/water mixture. Use one water container for each 10 chicks. Start with pint sized waters to save water and water additives.
7. Purchase feed, grit, pie pans, Distilled water, eggs, SOS soap pads and any other equipment that is needed.
8. The distilled water is necessary, for the first 3 weeks, because the medication work better with water of a known source. Clean cistern water can be used if available.
9. Select the feed of your choice. A 30% turkey starter crumble should be used to start the young broilers. Most exhibitors choose the higher protein feed until three weeks before they show at San Antonio. Start feeding you chicks on paper plates or pie pans for the first 3 - 6 days. Put small amounts of feed on the paper plates 10 times a day for the first six days. Chicks will every time you add feed. If you can fit on large feeder in with the pie pans, it would help to let the chicks later on so that they are already accustomed to it (More on feed can be found further in the guide.)
10. Option to Number 9
A lower protein (21-23%) start to finish feed can then be mixed with the 30% feed in equal parts to make a 24-35% feed. To be fed during week 4. By the end of week 4 the birds should be on straight 21-23% feed. Start feeding you chicks on paper plates or pie pans for the first 3 - 6 days. Put small amounts of feed on the paper plates 10 times a day for the first six days. Chicks will every time you add feed. If you can fit on large feeder in with the pie pans, it would help to let the chicks later on so that they are already accustomed to it (More on feed can be found further in the guide.)
11. Chick Comfort
The first 21 days is the most critical time of the feeding period. Regulating temperature and providing adequate ventilation is difficult because the weather is usually cold. The exhibitor needs to learn how to keep the chicks comfortable in all types of weather. The only way to keep the chicks comfortable is to check every 2 to 3 hours. If the chicks are piled up under the lamp, they are too cold. If the chicks are arranged in a 1 to 1-1/2 foot circle and some are walking around, the temperature is just right. Start with the lamps 30 inches from the floor. Raise or lower the lamp to adjust for chick comfort. During extreme cold weather, more heat lamps may need to be added. Since heat lamps draw a lot of electricity, electric wires should be adequate for the load. Some exhibitors have used portable kerosene and butane heaters to heat the air in the house. Make sure the heater is in good repair and there is adequate ventilation on the upper part, of the house. Ideal temperature for broilers after day 21 is 60-64'F, house temperature. After day 32 house temperature can range from 30-60 F with the ideal being 55 degrees F. During warm days after day 21, a fan may be needed to keep the temperature down.
12. Feeding Period
Day 1
1. Broiler chicks arrive - Prepare pint and/or quart waters with distilled water. Put water containers in pen. Allow chicks to have plain water for the first 6 to 8 hours. While putting chicks in the pen, dip their beaks in the water before releasing them. After 6-8 hours of plain water, add vitamins and Electrolytes to the left over water. Continue the Vitamin water through the 4th day. Change the water at least every 12 hours.
2. At the beginning or the fifth day change to Terramycin. Continue terramycin through the 7th day. From the 8th day to the 11th day, change to Vitamin water. From the 12th day to the 14th day, change to Terramycin. Use Vitamins from the 15th day to the 18th day. Terramycin can be used from the 19th to the 21st day. Use terramycin after the 21st day, if problems arise. Remember, all medication should be changed every 12 hours, because the medications lose their strength. Discontinue all medications, 7 days before the show.
3. Chicks should have fresh feed added to the paper plates, 10 times a day, for the first 6 days. Frequent feeding, will ensure that all the chicks will learn to eat. Under number 4 instructions for feeding special feed, are given.
4. Special Feed should be prepared as follows: (First through sixth day) Use one egg for each 10 chicks per day (5 for 50) Mash required number of eggs for the day with a dinner fork until the white is mixed with the yellow. Keep mashed eggs in refrigerator. Mix 1/10 of mashed eggs with a small amount of feed. Use this feed and egg mixture to drop on top of feed piles, 10 times a day. Five eggs should last for the entire day for each 50 chicks. The amount of feed should be enough to stick to eggs with no loose crumble. NOTE: Be sure eggs are thoroughly boiled. Boil only a 3 day supply at a time. Be sure and refrigerate at ail times.
GRIT
Fine Grit - Day 5 to Day 28 - One Tablespoon two times per week- per 10 chicks
Medium Grit -.Day 29 to show - One Tablespoon two times per week per 10 chicks
ADDITIONAL Feed INFORMATION
Vitamins and Electrolytes will help prevent leg weakness problems if added at the correct level in the water during the first 21 days.
Ventilation
Provide ventilation at the top of your broiler pen. Ventilation should allow used air to escape at least 4 feet above the broilers. Do not ventilate at floor-level side because a draft will cause the birds to get cold.
Lighting
Four 60 watt light bulbs should be used to provide light in a 12'xl2' broiler house. If the house is larger, 75 watt bulbs should be used. The bulbs should be placed 5-7 feet high near the four walls of the building. By having light from all four directions, the entire feeder space will be lighted. Lights are to be kept on at all times so that the chickens will eat more.
Watch the Weather
Watch the weather forecast every evening for the first 3 to 4 weeks. The small chicks cannot tolerate rapid weather changes. By knowing the forecast you can prepare for the changes.
Broilers must not experience temperature extremes (too hot or cold) or cold drafty air. The pen should be checked frequently and adjustments made to ensure a comfortable environment. Broilers reared in an overly warm environment will grow slowly, finish and feather poorly. Supplemental heat should be eliminated by the fourth or fifth week if weather is not usually cold. Ideal temperature is 55 degrees to 65 degrees after the birds are well feathered. A fan may be needed in March if temperatures become hot.
Pen Space
At least two square feet of floor space per bird must be provided by the time the broilers reach two weeks of age. Crowded broilers are invariably less uniform in size and body conformation, fleshing, finish, and pigmentation, less flesh than those provided the recommended amount of space. By 4 weeks of age, at least 4 square feet per bird should be given.
The broilers should be culled at 3-4 weeks of age to remove stunted, under-sized sick and crippled birds. Birds with conformation defects should also be removed to provide additional space and reduce social stress.
Litter
Broilers should be kept on sand as long as possible, which is at least two weeks. On day 12 add wood shavings over the sand. Litter should be gradually added to the pen. Add litter on the outer edges of the pen. The chicks will move the litter over the pen. Remove all wet areas from the sand before adding the shavings. Add litter every few days until litter is 4 to 6 inches deep. Litter should be stirred on a daily basis and wet or dirty areas should be removed everyday. Remember never remove all the litter from the pen at one time. Sudden and dramatic environmental changes can cause birds to go off feed.
Adequate Feed Space
Adequate feed space must be provided. All broilers must be able to eat at the same time. One tube type feeder per 10 broilers and one waterer per 10 broilers should be provided. WIDE LIPPED feeders should be used to give birds adequate room to eat. Both should be kept level with the backs of the broilers. Stir feed or shake feeders every time you enter the broiler house This will entice the broilers to eat.
Water
Broiler must have access to clean fresh water at all times. Containers should be rinsed daily, scrubbed every 4 days and disinfected once a week. (SOS pads work good)
Exercise
Walk broilers for 3-5 minutes three to ten times daily after two weeks of age. Continue exercising broilers until show. Be very, careful while exercising your broilers. Daily exercise improves performance and eliminates uneven breast muscling.
Additional Pre-Show Supplemental Feeding
Many high placing broilers have been produced by feeding supplemental feed during the last 12 days. Supplemental feeding, should be done twice daily for only 15-20 minute periods. The mixture should be placed on top of the regular feed and should only be wet enough to form into a ball, than easily crumble apart.
Supplemental feed also adds more fat to the feed. There are several ways to feed supplemental feed. Probably the easiest way is to bake a high-fat corn bread.
Recipe - 5 eggs (lightly beaten),
1 cup evaporated milk,
1/4 cup melted hog lard
1-1/2 cups corn meal.
Combine ingredients and bake. To keep the corn bread moist, do not oven bake. To feed, crumble and mix with feed. Use 1 cup of crumbled corn bread with 1 cup of feed per 10 birds Try the mixture in the dry form. If the birds clean it up in 20 minutes, stay with it. If the birds don't care for the dry mixture in a few days, dampen the mixture with evaporated milk.
Another method of supplemental feeding is as follows:
Use a large round bowl (glass, metal, plastic). To the bowl, add 2 tablespoons corn oil and smear oil on the sides of the bowl. Add 3 cups of feed and 2 cups of calf manna, (or its equivalent). Mix thoroughly so the oil is mixed on all the feed mixture. This mixture should feed 20 birds. This mixture can also be dampened with evaporated milk.
Other methods include using low-sodium cottage cheese or mashed boiled eggs. Feed is mixed with the cheese or eggs and fed twice a day, as a trick to get the birds to eat more.
REMEMBER - SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY. IN MOST CASES, IT IS A GIMMICK TO ENCOURAGE MORE FEED CONSUMPTION.
IMPORTANT
Broilers should be treated for internal parasites on the 35th day of the feeding period. Piperazine in the drinking water will do a good job of worming your broilers. This chore can be done by following the schedule below:
1. Remove water containers from the pen on the 35th day at 10 p.m. (night).
2. Wash containers with SOS pads.
3. Birds will be thirsty by the next morning.
4. Next morning (36th day) put Piperazine treated water in the pen. Leave the treated water in the pen for 6 to 8 hours.
5. Rinse the container; and fill with fresh water.
IMPORTANT
Check your broilers for external parasites. (Lice and mites). If some are found around the vent area, treat with 10% Seven dust.
SUMMARY CALENDER
Day 1 -
Gather everything you need to get the pen and feeding area ready for the chicks as indicated earlier. Check electric wires. Have pen ready and have 3-5 gallon buckets of dry sand ready. Get medications and distilled water ready. Boil 15 eggs and refrigerate after eggs have cooled. Put heat lamps on 4 hours before chicks arrive. Chicks arrive. Dip beaks in water and release. Use vitamin water after the first 6 to 8 hours. Start Special Feed routine. Maintain chick comfort.
Day 2 -
Continue special feed routine. Add fine grit at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 10 chicks. Observe chicks. Continue Vitamin water.
Day 3 -
Observe chicks. Continue feeding Special Feed. Add to sand piles in pen.
Day 4 -
Observe chicks. Continue Special Feed. Boil 15 eggs and refrigerate.
Day 5
Begin changing from paper plates to feeders. Clean water containers and add Terramycin to water. Add sand to piles. Continue Special Feed. Continue fine grit.
Terramycin 1 teaspoon per gallon of water.
Day 6
Continue Terramycin water. Expand pen. Last day of Special Feed. Some exhibitors may choose to continue special feed.
Day 7 1
Continue Terramycin water. Add sand to plies in pen. Maintain broiler comfort.
Day 8
Clean and disinfect water containers. Change to vitamin water and add Fast-trac. Add grit. Expand pen. Add sand.
Day 9
Maintain broiler comfort. Continue vitamin water and Fast Trac.
Day 10
Continue Vitamin Water and Fast Trac. Expand pen.
Day 11
Get ready to remove Brooder box end to give chicks more room to roam pen. Begin adding litter over the sand on the outer parts of the pen. Continue vitamin water and Fast Trac.
Day 12
Change to Terramycin water. Keep adding shavings. Remove retainer pen, if cold weather is not predicted.
Day 13
Continue Terramycin water. Keep adding shavings on outer parts of the pen.
Day 14 - Continue Terramycin water.
Day 15
Clean and disinfect waters. Change to vitamin & Fast Trac water. Add grit at rate given above. Keep adding litter. This is the first day to exercise the broilers. 3-5 minutes each time is sufficient. A broom works good to move them around. Make noises to move the chickens around.
Day 16
Walk the broilers 3-5 minutes, three to ten times each day. Continue Vitamin and Fast Trac water.
Day 17
Keep adding shaving. Walk the birds 3-5 minutes. Continue Vitamin and Fast Trac water.
Day 18
Continue vitamin water and Fast Trac. Walk the birds 3 - 5 minutes.
Day 19
Maintain broiler comfort. Clean water Containers. Start Terramycin water. Walk birds 3-5 minutes. Keep adding shavings.
Day 20
Continue Terramycin water. Walk the birds 3-5 minutes.
Day 21
Stop Terramycin water. Exercise the birds. Keep adding litter.
Day 22
Clean and disinfect waters. Exercise the birds. Add grit at given rate. Fast Trac Water
Day 23 - 24
Continue adding shaving, exercise birds, make arrangement to cull birds. Fast Trac Water
Day 25 - 26 - 27
Continue adding shaving, exercise birds, Fast Trac Water
Day 28
Clean and Disinfect Waters. Cull Birds. Add medium Grit at the rate of 1 table spoons per 5 chicks. Keep exercising birds.
Day 29- 30 -31
Exercise birds. Add Litter, use Fast trac water
Day 32 - 33 - 34
Start supplemental feeding if you wish.
Day 35
Remove all water by 10:00 pm. Scrub and disinfect waters and let dry. Keep exercising every day..
Day 36
Add Piperazine de-wormier to distilled water, early in morning. Replace piperazine water with plain water after 6 to 8 hours.
Day 37
Continue feeding, supplemental feeding and fast trac water.
Day 38- 39-40- 41-42-43-44-45
Exercise birds, continue supplemental feed. Add liter as needed. Keep birds cool. Add grit to feed.
Day 46
* Arrive at San Antonio with bird by noon
* Broilers at home become roasters for Star
* Continue to feed, exercise, and use fast trac water with vitamins
Day 47
* Continue to feed, exercise, and use fast trac water with vitamins
Day 48 - 62
* Continue to feed, exercise, and use fast trac water with vitamins
Day 63 - Feb 15
Feb 15 Sell birds at San Antonio
Stock Show Days
It is always a great idea to have your caring box taped, and ready to go the night before. Make sure to put clean shavings in the box that is going to be used to transport birds.
Cut out holes in the box so that the birds can breath well.
It is also recommended that you have a box for each 1 to 2 birds.
On stock show day you will need to be calm when handling your birds so that you do not break any wings or bruise the birds.
Take can or cups for water for each pen and for feed.
If you have little fans that can run on batteries, it is good to take those to set on top of the pen when you reach the show grounds.
You might want to take a rag to wipe off any poop that might get on you or your bird.
You will need to check for bruises or broken bones when you arrive at the show grounds because it is cause for disqualification. Also, the wing band number should be written down.
The above is why you would want to take 1 or 2 alternate birds.
Take clean feed.
When at the show grounds, it is good to check on your birds every hour or less so that you can possible entice them to eat.
Wear nice clean clothes. Button up shirts and clean jeans are a good idea. Lastly, smile and hold your chickens up high when the judge comes by. Have your chicken up two people away from you and keep them up till the judge it two or three away from you after the judge has checked yours because the judge might move you to a different location in the ring.