Q: What is a broiler?
A: Broiler is a bird which is primarily reared for obtaining meat.
Q: What is a layer?
A: Layer is a bird which is primarily reared for obtaining eggs.
Q: Why should one rear broilers?
A: Broiler rearing is concerned with rapid return of the invested capital, fertilizer for crops, economic and social stability. So one should take up the job of rearing broilers.
Q: From where we can start broiler farming?
A: It can be started by bringing the day old chicks.
Q: From where we can buy chicks and at what cost?
A: Chicks can be bought from the hatcheries and cost varies from Rs. 20 to Rs. 47/chick without subsidy.
Q: Where to keep the chicks and what to feed?
A: The chicks should be kept under brooder, an artificial source of heat for giving them heat. Glucose water should be fed to chicks on arrival.
Q: Upto what age brooding should be done in case of broiler chicks?
A: It should be done upto 4 weeks of age, reducing the temperature of the brooder 5 degree F successively at every week.
Q: How much feed should be offered to birds?
A: Ideally they are offered feed equal to half of their body weight for first three weeks.
Q: How much water to be given to a bird?
A: Water should be offered twice the amount of feed offered.
Q: Do medicine and vaccination should be given to broilers?
A: Ideally they are required but with clean managemental practices one can avoid the money invested on drugs.
Q: At what age, the broilers should be marketed?
A: 28-35 days.
Q: What are the marketing channels for marketing broilers?
A: Broilers can be sold at local eateries, meat processing plants, local slaughter houses, local markets, etc.
Q: What should be done if the birds become sick?
A: Isolate the sick bird along with its droppings and call your local veterinarian.
Q: What are some remedies and treatment of heat stress in a flock?
A: Ensure proper cross ventilation, avoid overcrowding and check diet of the birds. You can also use cold automatic sprinklers.
Q: What if one wants to expand the business of poultry farming?
A: Different loan schemes can be availed by the farmers by the help of the local veterinary officers, agricultural/veterinary universities, etc. under Poultry Venture and Capital Fund Scheme (PVCFS), Poultry Development Schemes of State/UT Governments.
Q: From where one can acquire training for broiler farming?
A: Contact local veterinary officer, agricultural/veterinary university, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), poultry extension and demonstration centres of the state/UT government for the training.
Q: Where to get the compound feed for the birds?
A: The feed can be obtained directly from the feed industries or the feed stores available in the market. Click to read the preparation of compounded feed at your home.
Q: What is feed conversion rate or FCR and its significance in broiler production?
A: The feed conversion ratio or FCR is the amount of feed consumed by a bird to gain one kilogram of weight. For example, if bird requires two kilograms of feed to gain one kilogram weight, the FCR would be two. This means that when a feed has a low FCR, it takes less feed for a bird to gain one kilogram weight. Therefore, feeds with low FCR is preferred.
Q: Which vaccines should be administered to broilers?
A: Three vaccines are mostly required in broilers viz. Marek’s Disease Vaccine at 1st Day, Ranikhet or New Castle Disease Vaccine at 7th to 10th Day and IBD or Gumboro Vaccine at 14th to 17th Day.
Administering Marek’s disease vaccine subcutaneously in day old chick
Q: What is the thumb rule for prevention of diseases in broiler farming?
A: Good litter quality, adequate floor space, proper nutrition and good ventilation.
Q: What should be done with dead birds?
A: The dead birds should be subjected to Post-Mortem by the local veterinarian so that the infection in the farm may be checked. The dead bird can be disposed by incinerating or burial. Do not feed dead birds to pets or other animals. Dead birds are also not fit for human consumption.
Q: Whether it is safe to consume broiler meat during COVID-19 outbreak?
A: Yes, it is safe to eat broiler meat during current outbreak and COVID-19 do not spread by eating meat and eggs. Click to read more.
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