showing Broilers

[buckeye chickens]

We have been showing broilers at our county fair for three years. All of the kids pick up ten chicks at the fairgrounds on the same date. There is knowing weight rules so the kids with the biggest chickens win. We feed turkey starter and leave the light on all the time. Ours are some of the biggest but, never are in the top five. What you feed to your show broilers and how did they place? Anyone tried a show top dress made for hogs/cattle?

 

[mikarod]

I judge 4H broiler shows...and honestly? It's not about overall weight for me.

Birds that are more uniform in the breast area are generally the big money earners both in industry and in fairs. You can have REALLY large birds that vary ridiculously in the breast, and not win. I prefer all the birds in a pen (usually 3 birds) to be uniform.

If they're the biggest..so be it. But uniformity is a must.

 

[ghulst]

I have also judged 4-H meat pens. I like the biggest however they must all be the same size. There sure is a lot of differnce in the pens. Plus all should have males or pullets.
I would sugest that you feed a good 22-24% feed and keep the birds warm.