Managing a long flock (10 to 14 weeks): feed, weight, health, costs in units
A white broiler is sold at 6 weeks; a festive coloured chicken is sold at 10, 12, sometimes 14 weeks. Twice as many days means twice as much feed to buy, twice as many weighings, twice as many opportunities for a disease or a predator to invite itself in, and cash tied up twice as long. This lesson follows the flock of 1,000 Hubbard Premium chickens from lesson 1, week after week: what we give, what we weigh, what we watch and what we count, in bags, litres and working days, never in money.
15 min read · 5-question quiz at the end
By Abdul Hussein ChoumanFounder of NEXTEKCI · Agnibilékrou hatchery since 2006This lesson is part of Free-range poultry and festive markets specialisation. It opens to every registered student, from free registration. Levels 1 to 5 and the tracks remain readable by everyone.
A white broiler is sold at 6 weeks; a festive coloured chicken is sold at 10, 12, sometimes 14 weeks. Twice as many days means twice as much feed to buy, twice as many weighings, twice as many opportunities for a disease or a predator to invite itself in, and cash tied up twice as long. This lesson follows the flock of 1,000 Hubbard Premium chickens from lesson 1, week after week: what we give, what we weigh, what we watch and what we count, in bags, litres and working days, never in money.
- ✓Describe the three phases of a long flock and what changes at each transition
- ✓Read and use the weekly weight-feed table of a coloured chicken, in bags for 1,000 chickens
- ✓Weigh 50 chickens every week, calculate the gap to the target and decide
- ✓Count the costs of a flock in units and the cost of one more week
- A long flock is a different rhythm
- Brooding: the first three weeks decide everything
- Feed: which feed, how much, in bags
- Weight: weigh 50 chickens every week
- Health day by day
- Costs in units: counting without a single amount
- Going further
- •Three phases: brooding (weeks 1 to 3), growing (4 to 8, range from week 5), finishing (9 to 14); at each transition, the feed changes, over three days.
- •Brooding for 1,000 chicks: 33 to 34 °C, 2 brooders, 15 to 20 drinkers, 20 trays; 7-day weight at least 4 times the initial weight; week 1 mortality under 1%.
- •Benchmarks at 12 weeks: 3.45 kg average in correct conditions (10 to 25% less in strong heat), 9.18 kg of feed per chicken, 184 bags for 1,000 chickens, 3 bags and 300 litres of water per day.
- •Weekly weighing of 50 chickens: normal gap down to −5%, watch down to −10%, look for the cause beyond; the mixed flock naturally gives a heavy lot (males) and a medium lot (females).
- •Count in units: actual feed conversion ratio and bags per 100 kg sold are compared from flock to flock; one more week at 12 weeks costs about 21 bags and 7 working days for 190 kg gained.