Join Mandy, a seasoned poultry manager, and John, an expert in chick growth monitoring, as they dive into successful poultry management. Mandy shares her strategies for navigating the grow-out season, emphasizing systematic reduction from peak bird numbers. John discusses daily weighing methods to track chick growth patterns. They also touch on feeding strategies and the critical evaluation of birds for breeding. Their insights on coop setups and maintaining a balanced flock make for an enlightening discussion for poultry enthusiasts.
Effective grow-out management from hatching to November ensures a balanced dual-purpose flock, optimizing resource usage and production.
Monitoring daily chick weights during early development identifies top performers, enabling strategic culling for enhanced growth and future breeding.
Deep dives
Managing Growth Cycles
Efficient management of the grow-out season is crucial for sustaining a dual-purpose flock. Starting from hatch in March, the workload increases exponentially as the number of birds peaks around June. At this peak, approximately 200 birds may be present, and systematic processing begins to reduce their numbers over the summer, aiming to have everything settled by the end of November. This careful planning enables a balanced operation that can effectively transition into slower winter months, keeping the flock productive while also managing space and resources.
Evaluating Growth and Efficiency
In the first three weeks of a chick's life, daily weight tracking becomes essential for selecting the best birds for growth. By measuring consistent growth patterns rather than just weight, one can effectively cull two-thirds of the chicks early on, leaving only the top performers for future production. This iterative process focuses on identifying birds with steady growth rates, which can lead to more successful outcomes in terms of size and weight over time. The emphasis on measurable and observable growth characteristics allows for strategic decision-making about which birds to retain for breeding or processing.
Custom Feeding Strategies
Utilizing a tailored feeding strategy can lead to significant cost savings and improved bird health. Custom blends of feed, starting with a higher protein starter during the first few weeks, are followed by a switch to less intensive grower feeds as the birds mature. This staggered feeding approach not only minimizes waste but also enhances growth efficiency, reducing the potential for health issues related to overfeeding. Streamlining feed storage and preparation makes management more effective and aligns with overall sustainability goals in poultry production.
This episode covers the journey and management of poultry during the grow-out season for dual-purpose flock goals, featuring insights from Mandy, Rip, and John.
Mandy discusses her process, including the initial hatching in March, reaching a peak in June, and reducing numbers systematically until November. At peak, she manages around 200 birds, focusing on retaining 30 females and a few males by fall. John details his method of daily weighing chicks for the first three weeks to compare growth patterns, while Mandy stresses a steady growth trajectory.
They also discuss feed strategies, feeder management, and culling for optimal growth. Mandy explains how she evaluates birds for freezer age and potential breeding, emphasizing the importance of bird handling and bone spacing. The discussion also covers coop setups, space management, and maintaining a balanced flock with varying ages to ensure continuous egg production.