Description of the breed of broiler chickens Cobb 500 and rules for growing at home
Buyers prefer to buy broiler chicken breeds. The meat cooks faster and has a delicate structure. Farms are trying to satisfy the desires of buyers. Broilers of the Cobb 500 cross are leading among competitors in terms of weight gain, efficiency in feeding, and presentation of the skin. Due to their positive characteristics, they are grown by farmers around the world and private farms.
Description and characteristics of the breed
Czech broilers are popular all over the world. In a short period of time, farmers raise meat chickens at low cost.
Appearance of chickens
The Cobb 500 broiler breed is distinguished by its snow-white plumage. All birds, as if on selection, are large, massive. The difference in weight is minimal among males and females. The skin is naturally yellow, increases the presentation.
Bird productivity
Broilers are highly productive. Broilers are suitable for slaughter at the age of 30-45 days. Weight ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms. 73% of meat is obtained from one bird. Weight gain increases rapidly over a period of 11 weeks. Later there is a decline.
Weight and height of chickens by day
When co-feeding cocks and chickens, the daily weight gain is shown in the table.
| Age (in days) | Weight (gram) | Daily gain (grams) |
| 41 | ||
| 10 | 260 | 26 |
| 20 | 775 | 39 |
| 30 | 572 | 52 |
| 40 | 2456 | 61 |
| 50 | 3246 | 65 |
| 56 | 3644 | 65 |
The gain stands out clearly at the age of 1-2 months.
Conversion costs
Compound feed for cross-country may be the cheapest, this does not affect the productivity of the breed. The feed conversion is the most profitable compared to competitors. The share of the cost of feed in the cost of growing is 60%.
Egg production
Broilers have low egg production. Individuals begin to rush at the age of 7 months - this is rather late in comparison with competitors. A chicken lays 1 egg every 3 days. The weight of one unit is 58 grams, which is also considered a low indicator.
The nature of the breed
Broilers Cobb 500 are friendly, calm. They are not afraid of the presence of people. Sometimes young individuals suffer from aggression, cannibalism. This behavior is explained by excessive daylight hours. Young bullies are seated in different cages.
Advantages and disadvantages
Broilers Cobb 500 have a number of advantages, the main ones being: fast growth, high weight, resistance to diseases. A negative characteristic is cold intolerance, which requires additional costs for heating the chicken coop.
Specificity of maintenance and care
At home, growing broilers is in cage, floor keeping. The room must be well ventilated and warm. Birds are kept separate from other breeds.
Optimal conditions
Broiler breed Cobb 500 in the process of growing requires the implementation of some rules, contributing to rapid weight gain. Establish the correct temperature, light regime, starting from one day of age. They monitor the cleanliness of the chicken coop.
The amount of planting per 1 m2 is 30-42 kilograms of live weight.
Temperature regime
For chickens, the temperature regime is +27 ° C ... + 33 ° C. After a week, the heat level is reduced every day by 2 degrees. Lower the temperature to at least 14 degrees.
Light mode
Chicks need 24/7 lighting. After 14 days, daylight hours are reduced by 1-2 hours. Until the 14-hour day is established. Direct sunlight is contraindicated.
Poultry treatment
The new herd is brought into the prepared room. They are freed from debris, disinfected. The walls and floors are covered with lime. In the future, they monitor the cleanliness of the litter. They change it in whole or in part 2 times a week for adults, for young animals every other day.
Features of bird feeding
As feed for broilers, use specialized feed or prepare it yourself.
Broiler feeding by day
In the first 10 days, the chickens benefit from the small fraction starter feed. In the next 11-22 days, there is a rapid set of muscle mass, granular feed is required, for example Growth. At the age of 1 month and further, they are fed with finishing compound feed.
Self-production
Self-prepared food should contain proteins, vitamins, minerals, trace elements. Broilers' diet includes vegetable grain mash, oil cake, meat broth, meat and bone meal.
Additives and water
In the house, clean water should be readily available. They change it every day. In addition to the main food, the diet includes crushed shells, chalk, coarse sand, fodder yeast, salt, grass flour.
Breeding chickens
Purebred broilers cannot be bred at home. The characteristics of each subsequent offspring deteriorate, productivity decreases. This is due to the breeding of a hybrid by special crossing.
Incubation
Incubator eggs are purchased from the manufacturer to obtain a purebred breed. The incubator is heated to 25 degrees before laying the eggs. The temperature regime is maintained in the range of 37.6-37.8 degrees Celsius. After 21 days, offspring appear. Laying hens of a different breed are also used.
Day-old chick care
Day-old chicks need a dry, warm, well-lit and ventilated room.
Feeding
A special compound feed is used for young animals. Feeding is carried out 8 times a day. Constant lighting helps you find food. In the following weeks, the number of feedings is reduced. By the age of one month, feeding the young is brought to two meals a day.
Possible diseases and their prevention
Cobb 500 broilers are disease resistant. Improper maintenance, feeding, care can provoke diseases.
Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia is characterized by symptoms: liquid excrement of a white or yellow hue, with particles of undigested food. Young individuals suffer from dyspepsia. The chicks lose appetite, lethargy appears. High-quality feed appropriate to the age of the chick and fresh water will help prevent disease.
Bronchopneumonia
Symptoms of bronchopneumonia: shortness of breath with an open beak, neck stretching, wheezing. Causes of the disease: hypothermia, sudden changes in temperature. Prevention: before settling in chickens, they clean and disinfect the chicken coop. Living conditions: humidity - 70%, temperature - not less than 14 degrees for adults. It is important to provide a complete diet, which includes vitamins, proteins that enhance immunity.
Marek's disease
Marek's viral disease in chickens is characterized by symptoms: lameness, twisting of the neck, sagging wings, tail, indigestion. Chickens are affected first. Preventive actions: vaccination, compliance with sanitary and hygienic measures, keeping birds by age.
Avitaminosis
Among broilers, vitamin deficiency is most common. This is explained by rapid weight gain. Symptoms: cessation of growth, weight gain, lethargy, impaired coordination of movements, refusal to eat.
Prevention: feed with compound feed according to the table attached to the feed. Self-prepared food is enriched with vitamins, minerals.
Enteritis
With enteritis, the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract becomes inflamed. The immune system is weakened, the level of acidity in the digestive tract changes. Chickens are primarily susceptible to bacterial disease. In the fight and prevention of enteritis, everything is important: balanced food, warmth, light.
Aspergillosis
The fungal disease aspergillosis affects eggs, young animals, and adults. Chick symptoms: lethargy, shortness of breath, stunted growth. Signs of illness in adult birds: diarrhea, exhaustion, cough, shortness of breath, embryo death.
For the purpose of prevention, the litter is treated with a solution of copper sulphate, zootechnical standards are observed: they provide ventilation to the chicken coop, do not exceed the settlement rate by 1 square meter, exclude spoiled feed.
Salmonellosis
The dangerous disease salmonellosis is common among people and birds. The bacterium enters through feed. The digestive system is affected. Symptoms: difficulty breathing, watery eyes, drowsiness. Chickens have diarrhea. After 2-5 days, convulsions. As a preventive measure, chickens are injected with the vaccine at the age of 2 days.
