Help me! 4H Broilers. First timer

[rjohns39]

What are the goals of the show? How and what will they be judged for?

 

[DwayneNLiz]

i wouldnt change much as far as set up but i would want to keep the heat further from the water

 

[rjohns39]

@duluthralphie are you familiar with 4H standards for broilers?

@Cara Carter what part of the country are you in? What's your weather like now?

 

[junebuggena]

One heat lamp should be sufficient at this point. And should be angled straight down, only heating a small area directly underneath, not angled out in an attempt to warm the whole brooder. Food and water should be placed as far from the heat as possible. This will make them move around enough so that you don't need to stir them. They should have been on chick starter for the first 4 weeks. Finisher is lower protein to slow the growth rate down so that their bones can develop enough to support their bulk.

 

[Cara Carter]

What is the protein % of the feed? Broiler finisher is usually about 15% protein and that isn't sufficient for a fast start. Finisher is for slowing their growth to "finish" them.
You want something in the range of 20-22% the first few weeks.
Turkey starter at about 27% protein is too high.

They'll move around if you have the feed and water separated a bit.

Ours says 26%

 

[Cara Carter]

One heat lamp should be sufficient at this point. And should be angled straight down, only heating a small area directly underneath, not angled out in an attempt to warm the whole brooder. Food and water should be placed as far from the heat as possible. This will make them move around enough so that you don't need to stir them. They should have been on chick starter for the first 4 weeks. Finisher is lower protein to slow the growth rate down so that their bones can develop enough to support their bulk.[/QUOTE

They are on a starter that was 26% that we just ended and were going to start the finisher from now until the show. Should we buy another bag of starter to finish off this week?
I’ll make an adjustment to the heat lamps today. I’ve heard that we should separate the pullets and cockerels this week too.

 

[Cara Carter]

One heat lamp should be sufficient at this point. And should be angled straight down, only heating a small area directly underneath, not angled out in an attempt to warm the whole brooder. Food and water should be placed as far from the heat as possible. This will make them move around enough so that you don't need to stir them. They should have been on chick starter for the first 4 weeks. Finisher is lower protein to slow the growth rate down so that their bones can develop enough to support their bulk.

They are on a starter that was 26% that we just ended and were going to start the finisher from now until the show. Should we buy another bag of starter to finish off this week?
I’ll make an adjustment to the heat lamps today. I’ve heard that we should separate the pullets and cockerels this week too.

 

[Cara Carter]

That's a decent setup. I'd switch to ceramic heat emitters so you can give them a dark period. Then you can add a light on a timer to put them on a schedule.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...itter.TRS1&_nkw=ceramic+heat+emitter&_sacat=0

Keep them on fresh bedding so the feathers will look as good as possible.

Thanks so much! I really appreciate all of the advice

 

[rjohns39]

Sorry for all of these questions. I grow broilers for food and have learned that 4H standards are sometimes a little different. How old will they be at judging?

 

[Cara Carter]

Sorry for all of these questions. I grow broilers for food and have learned that 4H standards are sometimes a little different. How old will they be at judging?

They will be 6 weeks old at judging