4 Ways to Raise Broiler Chickens for a Faster Harvest
Learn how to raise broiler chickens that reach harvest sooner, with practical tips on coop location, choosing chicks, vaccine storage and feed.
Raising meat chickens is not a new business in Indonesia. There may already be hundreds of thousands of broiler farmers across the country. The popularity of broiler farming is tied to its promising returns. The obvious advantages for poultry farmers are constant market demand for chicken meat, prices that stay relatively stable or even rise, and of course a faster harvest cycle than other livestock businesses. Speaking of harvest time, there are several things you can do to get your broilers ready for harvest sooner than usual. Here are 4 ways to raise broiler chickens for a faster harvest.
The Coop
The first way to shorten the harvest cycle is to pay close attention to your broiler coop. The coop plays a vital role in how the chickens grow and develop before they are ready for harvest. Here are the criteria your coop needs to meet:
- Coop Location
Location is the first thing to consider. Try to build the coop about 100 meters from the nearest homes. Besides avoiding air and noise pollution, chickens need a quiet place so their growth is not disrupted by stress from busy surroundings.
- Water Source
Try to build the coop near a water source. It makes it easier to meet the birds' water needs, and the water source can also act as a natural neutralizer for the waste they produce.
- Orientation and Lighting
Also pay attention to how the coop is oriented. The ideal coop runs lengthwise from east to west. There is a good reason for this: in that position, the chickens get enough light during the day, which clearly supports their growth.
Also read Tips for Choosing the Right Broiler Coop Size
Chicks
The next step is choosing quality chicks. However well you care for your broilers, your efforts will be wasted if the chicks you start with are poor. Choosing good chicks is clearly essential. Besides lowering the risk of deaths from disease, good chicks also have the potential to reach harvest weight quickly. Do a little research first on how the chicks you plan to buy were hatched. Look at their physical traits too. Chickens with signs of poor health can usually be spotted early on.
Vaccines
Proper vaccination is the next way to raise broilers for a faster harvest. You may already know that broilers are highly vulnerable to viruses and disease, no matter how good the chicks are. There are specific ways to store vaccines so they keep their quality until they are given to your birds. You can keep vaccines in a cooler with ice for a short time if you are not using them yet. Or, for an easier option, store them in the refrigerator and take them out when you are ready to use them.
Feed
The last factor is feed. You need to know exactly what your chickens need at each stage of growth. During the grower phase, chickens need a high-protein diet, while during the finishing phase they need more of other nutrients such as fat, minerals and vitamins. Meeting those needs precisely is the key to harvesting your broilers sooner.
Those are 4 ways to raise broiler chickens for a faster harvest. We hope you find them useful.
