Have a few questions on Broilers?

[Gersbud]

I have been reading all the posts on broilers. I have had mine for about a week now. At the elevator where I got them I was told to start them out on a Turkey/gamebird starter. Is this ok to do?

Will I have to change their feed when they are older? or do they just continue on what they have now?

I have a place outside that is a completely enclosed pen near my layers. Used last for pheasants last year. This pen does not have a shelter. It has an area where they can get out of the rain but is not enclosed. Is this ok for them to be in? or are they like turkeys and drowned in the rain?

 

[wynedot55]

the reason they told you to start them on the gamebird feed is because they grow so fast.you need to change their feed at 2wks.an put them on grower feed for the last 4 or 5wks.till you butcher them at 6 to 7wks old.

 

[Gersbud]

Thanks again for the information Wynedot55.
So then I should go and get them the same Turkey or Gamebird grower.

 

[wynedot55]

yes

 

[greyfields]

Quote:
Yes. Depending on what line of feed you are using, the correct broiler ration will have different names. Generally, broilers have one feed "Starter/Finisher" which they are given their entire life. As long as your gamebird starter is 20%+ protein, that's the correct feed.

Quote:
Generally the food isn't changed. Their lives are very short, only 8 weeks in most instances (or 42 days commercially).

Quote:
Broilers are not vigorous animals at all. And the largest cause in mortality in big operations are sudden temperature changes. So, if they get wet and exposed to even a small breeze, they could start dropping on you. This is really going to depend on your climate more than anything. I'd at least provide shade from the sun and protection from wind on at least two sides.

Turkeys will not drown in the rain.

 

[UncleHoot]

Quote:
This is more true when the birds are younger. At 5 weeks or older, they seem to be less susceptible to problems with the cold and rain (not that you should leave them completely exposed), but more susceptible to problems with excessive heat. Make sure they stay warm when young, and not too hot when they get older. Always provide some type of shelter, as Greyfields already suggested.

 

[UncleHoot]

Quote:
And last night, I accidentally tried to test their limits. At 2 weeks old, it got down to 53 degrees in the brooder (not directly under the lamp). Only one of my lamps was operational, so I'm sure it was actually warmer under the lamp, but it was a low wattage lamp. Anyway, they were all huddled together when I went in this morning and plugged another lamp in.

Oh well, in another week or so they'll be moving outside to the new broiler pen, if the weather is decent.