- Feb 20, 2013
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Hi everyone! New here but think I'll find lots of helpful information at this site and am looking forward to spending some time here.
I'm currently working with 300 broiler chicks that have been with me for 20 days now. Amazing how fast they grow. The climate here (Venezuela) is generally good right now as we're entering summer.....it's dry and warm during the day and cool at night, but not too cool. We should have very little rainfall until about mid-May.
Achieving the right temperature for these guys has been a challenge since day one. While I've got a thermometer, it's not the most accurate and I've been basically flying by the seat of my pants. I started the 300 birds out in an enclosed area (an outside bathroom) of roughly 9 feet by 9 feet. While I monitored temps and weather conditions 5 or 6 times a day, I mostly relied on the birds themselves to tell me if they were too cold or too warm. So far that seems to have worked well.
On day 13 I moved the birds to a larger (9 feet by 17 feet) half-walled, roofed pen. It's lighted at night and I have curtains I can lower to prevent chilly breezes or wind-blown rain from entering. Again, the birds are doing well (still have the original 300) and I'm working right now to double their living space in the next couple of days. From there I've got a large, roofed shed with walls on two sides that I've been using as a temporary home for adult broilers. The young birds will eventually occupy that space before going to market.
I haven't raised chickens since I was a child (and that was just for fun) and am really enjoying it this time as well. In the last month or so I've bought and re-sold about 1,000 adult broilers and have found that it's a very profitable business.
I'd appreciate any helpful advice or hints you guys might have and would be glad to answer any questions. Thanks to those who established this helpful site.
I'm currently working with 300 broiler chicks that have been with me for 20 days now. Amazing how fast they grow. The climate here (Venezuela) is generally good right now as we're entering summer.....it's dry and warm during the day and cool at night, but not too cool. We should have very little rainfall until about mid-May.
Achieving the right temperature for these guys has been a challenge since day one. While I've got a thermometer, it's not the most accurate and I've been basically flying by the seat of my pants. I started the 300 birds out in an enclosed area (an outside bathroom) of roughly 9 feet by 9 feet. While I monitored temps and weather conditions 5 or 6 times a day, I mostly relied on the birds themselves to tell me if they were too cold or too warm. So far that seems to have worked well.
On day 13 I moved the birds to a larger (9 feet by 17 feet) half-walled, roofed pen. It's lighted at night and I have curtains I can lower to prevent chilly breezes or wind-blown rain from entering. Again, the birds are doing well (still have the original 300) and I'm working right now to double their living space in the next couple of days. From there I've got a large, roofed shed with walls on two sides that I've been using as a temporary home for adult broilers. The young birds will eventually occupy that space before going to market.
I haven't raised chickens since I was a child (and that was just for fun) and am really enjoying it this time as well. In the last month or so I've bought and re-sold about 1,000 adult broilers and have found that it's a very profitable business.
I'd appreciate any helpful advice or hints you guys might have and would be glad to answer any questions. Thanks to those who established this helpful site.
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