EARNING BY POULTRY KEEPING

(7) MEDICATION PROGRAM

The medication program for the broilers must be carried out as follows:- (week 1 to week 7)
Please note that antibiotics should be given to the birds every 12 – 14 days.

Age (wks.) Medication Recommended Drugs
Week 1 Vitamin for Anti-stress Vitalyte, Vitastress, Aminovital solution
Vita-Aid

Week 2 Vitamin + Antibiotics Chick formular, Dinachicks, Antistres,
Vitex, Asyrl

Week 3 Coccidiostats Ciccidin, Embazine fort, Embazine
Solution, Coccidium, ESB, Amproxin,
Duccoxin, Dinaprol, Furaprol,
Nitrofurazone

Week 5 De-wormer Piperazine liquid, Piperamycine,
Assiazine, Finiworm, Altamisole

Week 6 Coccidiostats Treat as done in week 3

Week 7 De-wormer Treat as done in week 5

incomemakingbybroilerprodudction

MerchantCircle.com | Blog(1) INTRODUCTION

Broilers are specially developed, fast growing birds for meat. Broiler chickens are genetically superior birds which when provided with adequate nutrition, good housing and management will reach the market weight of 2-2.5 Kg. at 8 weeks. Hybrid chickens were developed by large scale international poultry breeding co-operation and imported into tropical countries and these constitute chickens used presently by commercial poultry keepers.

There is global shortage of white meat and those who are able to produce enough chickens are in for very fat bank balances, but due to shortage of practical guidance on how to produce really rich and healthy chickens, a lot of farmers who are interested in producing agric chickens are discouraged.

The need to teach farmers the methodology of Broiler production is the reason for this blogsite. It is my good intention to educate Poultry Farmers on how to produce healthy and rich Broiler chickens in order to meet up with the world shortage for protein.

The brooding and the finishing phases are the two important aspects in broiler production. In the brooding phase, they are fed with broiler starter from day one to the fourth week of age and the broiler finisher are given from the fifth week to 8th week when they attain market weight in the finishing phase.

At this point in time, I have to sound a warning here on the source of acquisition of day old chicks. From my practical experience, some quack hatcheries do not give adequate medical attention to their day old chicks and as such, the farmers who patronize these quacks are in for trouble with the breeding of the broiler chicks that are not given proper medical care at the hatchery.

Make sure you acquire your day old chicks from the renowned hatcheries discouraged with your broiler production through loss of your chicks.

(5) FINISHING OF BROILERS

(5) FINISHING OF BROILERS


After a successful completion of the brooding stage/phase at 4 weeks, the finisher mash should be introduced gradually mixed with the starter mash for at least 1 week, before the birds can be given finisher mash alone. Remember to de-worm the birds before every change of feed is done. The cellophane or any covering used during brooding stage/period should be completely removed sol as to provide enough ventilation for birds. The floor space should also be increased to give enough space for the birds.
The Drinkers should be raised on cement blocks or any suitable material and the feeders should also be raised by hanging with ropes. The use of heat is not allowed at this stage, rather enough light should be made available enable the birds to feed b both day and night.

(4) BROODING OF BROILERS

(4) BROODING OF BROILERS


This is the most difficult aspect in the management practices in broiler production. Birds should be kept warm with artificial heat from the day they arrived till 4th week of age. Provide enough clean water, floor space, feed non-stop and allow some fresh air inflow during hot days. It is recommended that the temperature of the brooder house should be maintained at about 32 degree centigrade and relative humidity of 55 – 70% during brooding period. An average time temperature of 23 – 26 degrees centigrade in Nigeria for broiler is recommended by some authorities and the night temperature of about 20 degrees centigrade. However, the most relevant authorities in broiler production recommended a temperature of 30 degrees centigrade in the Harmattan period. The relative humidity of 50 – 80% in Nigeria was recommended in the south and 30 – 60% in the north, but an optimum range is 50 – 57%.

In practice, it is advisable to allow the general weather condition to guide you in brooding stage of your chicks. Feed the chicks all day and all nights. As earlier mentioned in part 1, broilers are genetically superior birds with specialized characteristics. To maintain this superiority, they are fed broiler starter throughout the four weeks of brooding. The broiler starter can be obtained from, any commercial broiler compound feed dealer. Keep the chicks under close observation for 3 – 4 days, regulate the heat source following any of the observations below:-

(a) If the birds cluster or gather to the heat source, this implies that the heat is not enough. Therefore, the heat should be increased.

(b) If the birds move away from the heat source and are found at the edge of the brooding house, it implies that the heat is too hot for the chicks, therefore, the heat should be reduced.

(c) If the birds are found to distribute or spread evenly in the brooding house, this implies that the heat source if good for the birds and should be maintained.