Page 223 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

The suitability of the breed or type of chicken to keep for meat

The suitability of the breed or type of chicken to keep for meat (whether exotics
or local) depends on the availability of the DOC and market demand at your area.
Also, it should have a high growth rate to reach market weight of 2 kg at 8 weeks
and have deep muscles.

Management of broiler from DOC
Prepare the house for the DOC well before the arrival of the chicks. The house should

be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected two weeks before chicks’/birds’ arrival.
Remove dusts from walls and ceilings. Practise the four Ss’, that is, Scrape, Sweep,
Scrub, and Sanitise the house using any disinfectant. The house for broilers should
be well ventilated to control temperature, humidity, accumulation of ammonia and
dust. The temperature in the growing pen should be kept at 21 - 24 °C. The brooder
for raising the chicks is prepared in a similar way as that of raising layers DOC.

During the rearing period, provide 23 hours of light and 1 hour of darkness so that
they are not stressed in case of power failure. Ensure proper stocking density in
accordance to age and size of the birds. The preferred stocking rate is 10 - 12 birds
per m for the birds expected to grow to about 1.5 - 2.5 kg market weight. The birds
2
are fed ad libitum throughout the rearing period.

Immediately as you receive the chicks, remove dead birds. Place the chicks in the
brooder and make sure you start and follow the feeding programme as indicated
below:

(a) Broiler starter mash/crumbles, which is fed to the birds from day one (1)
up to day 14 (2 weeks).
(b) Broiler growers’ mash/pellets, which is fed to the birds from week three (3)
to week four (4).
(c) Broiler finisher mash/pellets from week 5 to marketing weight.

Alternatively, you can feed starter mash up to 21 days followed by finisher mash up
to market point. Such feeds may be either commercial feeds from the feed companies
or may be homemade feeds using local ingredients/materials available by using
local mixing methods to minimise feed costs. But, make sure you get an assistance
from feed expert to get a good formula for your feed you wish to formulate. Provide

vitamins and minerals to avoid nutritional disorders.

Student’s Book Form Three
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