Broilers are commercial breeds of chickens which are reared for meat. In Kenya, broilers are raised both by corporations and individuals. The meat is supplied both locally and abroad. The broiler's chickens, both the chicks and those above 5 weeks need to have adequate clean water that is changed after every moment. Dirty water in the containers facilitates throat infections for broilers. This breed have a delicate health status in the environment which is not clean. Dirty shelter harbors diseases and infections like new castles, fowl pox, fowl typhoid and coccidiosis.
Feeds;
Since broilers generally feather at 5 weeks it's important to feed the chicks with feeds that have enough protein to facilitate the feathering process. First start with containers that can hold chicken feeds and should always be full when chics learn how to feed. But the same feed containers should never run dry for the first weeks of rearing broilers, the starter feeds should have at least 23% of protein content. From 5 weeks and above the broiler feeds, popularly known as growers feed should contain at least 19% protein.
Housing;
When the broilers are still chicks they should be kept in a brooder which is typically a heated shelter for chicks. But when they develop wings the broilers get to feel hotter when kept in brooders hence they have to be transferred to a recommended shelter within 5 weeks. Additional heating may be required during the cold season and a temperature of about 15C to 23 C to thrive.
Characteristics of broiler chickens;
- They mature very fast and can weigh up to 500 grams
- Are easily vulnerable to infections than other chicken breeds.
- Both broilers and hens are kept as broilers since all of them provide meat.
- You can also trim the broilers beak when they overgrow before maturity.
