27/07/2024
WHY DO BROILERS DIE WITHOUT ANY SYMPTOMS AFTER 9 WEEKS OLD?
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 starte
