I’ve seen a lot of farmers complain recently and saying with confidence that Broilers don’t survive more than 9 weeks “they die mysteriously”.
Well, I wouldn’t argue with the last statement “die mysteriously” but I don’t agree with they don’t survive more than 9 weeks.
Of course, it’s best to keep broilers within 6-8 weeks for a good profit margin. However, this is not applicable in all circumstances.
Your location, market demand and customer-base matters.
If you sell chicken to frozen food sellers, you definitely must let your Broilers reach 8-9 weeks old. This is no regard to how fast they grow but the toughness. A broiler can weigh 3kg plus in 6 weeks but it’s not tough enough yet for sales to frozen food sellers. I only realized this when we started a frozen food store.
If you sell to eateries or fast foods, 5-6 weeks is your best target.
If you sell to direct consumers who are ready to pay the price for a fully mature and tough chicken, 10-12 weeks is best. It can even go more than that but to not lose your profit and your money, keep within this target.
So, while you say Broilers are best kept for 6 weeks don’t be too confident saying this like it applies to everyone. Not at all. Your location, market demand and customer-base is a determinant of this.
Also, you should understand that in some locations, a broiler will never be prised above 3000 no matter the age. In such locations, it’s best to keep a short time target and get to the market.
Back to the subject: why do Broilers die without any mysteriously after 9 weeks?
The truth is, broilers die mysteriously just anytime not only at 9 weeks.
Managing Broilers is a whole context that a lot of farmers often ignore.
At every stage of your Broilers life, they need different management practices.
For example, it is recommended that broilers eat starter for 3 weeks and finisher from 3 weeks above.
But, some farmers feed their Broilers starter until 6 weeks in the name of booting their growth.
What you are doing is indirectly shortening their lifespan.
How does it feel when an adult eat baby food?
In fact, adults are warned to be careful of what they eat because they can’t fully digest some food compared to when they were young. Same is applicable to Broilers.
So, if you feed your Broilers starter more than 28 days, be ready for what is coming ahead. If you’re a victim of this you should understand by now.
Secondly, all broiler species are not the same.
If you have kept AGRITED and CHI chicks together at same time from day old you will understand.
Gritted chicks can tolerate cold but not too much heat. CHI chicks can tolerate heat but not too much cold.
This is coming from experience not just saying.
So, while head can kill your Gritted Broilers mysteriously from 9 weeks above, CHI chicks may tolerate that heat but respond to cold instead.
When you keep Broilers, know their types and their characteristics so you can manage them appropriately.
Next, is the feed you are giving to them.
Let me explain this simply, professional feeds are good for a short term. They pack up fat in birds which indirectly increase their body heat and can easily expose them to heat-stroke from feed digestion.
If you use Ultima, breed well professional, and even new hope fees you’ll get what I am saying.
These feeds are very good. In fact, they are the best feeds in the market today but, BUT, they have some negative effects too on birds longevity.
So, if you plan to keep your birds above 9 weeks, start they up with professional feeds and switch to commercial feeds from 5 weeks.
For example, start your birds up with Ultima and finish them up with hybrid or top feed or livestock feed.
Note: making your own feed still remain the best if you are within environments where there are raw materials readily available.
Also, note that Grower feed isn’t recommended for Broilers. I had engaged a vet doctor on this topic and in the end he came back to learn more.
Grower feed will make your birds lose weight, add height, grow cob and wattle bigger. This is why grower feed is recommended for layers or pullets before they start laying.
Note: while height is ok, customers are not buying height but meat or weight.
And feeding your birds with a feed very high in fiber but low in energy and protein is the worst you should do. Because boilers stay for a long time before maturity, grower feed is good for them. But for fast growers like broilers it is never recommended.
Conclusion:
The assumption that Broilers die mysteriously after 9 weeks is true. But, the conclusion that broilers won’t live more that 9 weeks is completely wrong.
Feed your Broilers:
Professional starter feed (0-3) weeks
Professional finisher feed (3-6) weeks if your target is 6 weeks
But if your target is above 8 weeks switch to Commercial finisher feed from 3 weeks.
I have kept some Broilers over 7 months and they never get sick again after 16 weeks although just a few number.
So, yes, Broilers can live for as long as you give them the management they need to survive.
Final note:
If you use organic medications, you are 60% out of mysterious deaths in broilers. Organic poultry farmers will tell you this anytime.
Profitability in poultry hangs in cutting down mortalities and reaching your target as fast as you can with excellent productivity.
Remember, medication is as important as feeding and organic medication remain your best bet!
