5 Best Tips for Raising Broiler Chickens

Broiler chickens are widely raised for their meat. Since they are bred specifically for meat, it is no surprise that they grow and develop very quickly. In Indonesia, broilers are also known as ayam potong, ayam pedaging, ayam negeri and other names. Raising them does not take long either: broilers are ready to harvest in just 4 to 6 weeks. Even with such a short cycle, you need to raise them as well as you can. If you get it wrong, the chickens will have abnormal meat or end up undersized at harvest time. Here is how to raise broiler chickens the right way:

Also read 4 Ways to Build an Ideal Layer Chicken Coop

Take Good Care of Your DOC

Raising broilers the right way means taking good care of your day-old chicks (DOC) to protect them from stress and disease. DOC are still very prone to stress, which makes them lose their appetite. When their appetite drops, they become vulnerable to all kinds of diseases. Before you start raising chickens, it is highly recommended to choose quality DOC. Quality chicks are more resistant to stress, which can strike at any time. As soon as the DOC arrive at your farm, give them sugar water right away for an energy boost.

An Ideal Coop

The coop is one of the most important parts of a chicken farming business. Every type of chicken has its own ideal coop. An ideal coop is located far from residential areas; if it is close to homes, many neighbors will complain about the chicken waste. The coop should also have a water source that is easy to draw from at any time, and it should be easy to reach by various means of transport. Air circulation inside the coop must be good so oxygen and carbon dioxide can be exchanged.

Also read 5 Broiler Feed Management Tips for Higher Productivity

Chicken Feed

Feed is one of the most important parts of chicken farming. If you feed chickens incorrectly, they will not grow and develop properly. So do not just fill them up; match the feed to their nutritional needs. For starter-phase feed, provide more protein and calories, because starter chickens still need both. Calories are a source of energy, while protein builds new cells to replace damaged ones.

Vaccination

Broiler chickens are highly vulnerable to all kinds of diseases. To protect them, give them a complete course of vaccinations so these diseases can be prevented. Common broiler diseases include Newcastle disease, Gumboro disease, ngorok (chronic respiratory disease, or CRD) and diarrhea. That is why you need to know the symptoms these diseases cause.

Keep Drinking Water Clean

Another part of raising broilers well is keeping their drinking water clean. Besides meeting their feed needs, you need to meet their water needs. Change the water as often as possible, since drinkers sometimes get contaminated with droppings and leftover feed, making the water unsanitary for the chickens. If you are lazy about changing the water, the chickens will easily develop digestive problems.

Also read Layer Chicken Nutrition for Productive Hens and High-Quality Eggs

Raising broiler chickens is harder than raising kampung chickens (Indonesian free-range native chickens): besides getting sick easily, broilers are also prone to all kinds of infections. Raising broilers the right way should help minimize the diseases and infections that often strike them.