How to Raise 4-H Broilers

Exhibit your best 4-H broiler pair at the exhibition for grading.

Chickens raised for meat and not eggs are termed "broilers" in the poultry-production industry. Broilers have a different body type and nutritional requirement as compared with those that are bred for laying future breeds. If you want to provide your family with fresh, healthy and homegrown chicken, consider raising your own broilers. 4-H Club is a national organization that aims to develop leadership and life skills in young people by promoting healthy living, science and engineering. One such project is raising 4-H broilers and exhibiting them at the end of the year for grading and awards.

Things You'll Need

• Chicken coop
• Measuring tape
• Chicken food
• Containers for water
• Containers for food
• Vitamins/electrolysis solution
• Lighting
• Fans/heaters
• Disinfectant
• Pine wood shavings/straw
• Documentation/financial records

Instructions

1. Measure the chicken coop with measuring tape and area to determine how many chickens can be kept. One chicken requires at least 3 square feet in the coop and the same outside the coop. Do not crowd the area because it can lead to infectious diseases in chickens.

2. Prepare a place for raising the chickens by equipping the area with food and water containers. Add vitamins or electrolyte solution to the drinking water to ensure they remain hydrated. Broiler chicks require high-quality broiler feed containing at least 20 percent protein, according to the University of Florida IFAS extension. The chicks' feeders should be full of food when you get them, but after the chicks have learned to eat, keep the feeders no more than ¾ full to prevent feed waste. Consult the local feed dealer about the type of feed, vitamins and electrolyte solution brand to feed the chicks.

3. Add devices for lighting, cooling or heating. Most broilers are grown using 24 hours of light because lighting increases body weight gain and improves their feather growth. One or two 40-watt bulbs hung over the pen are adequate for most home projects. Chickens need a lot of air circulation so it's best to keep the doors and windows open. Ensure the broilers do not overheat and prefer temperature of about 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool the birds by using fans and other types of ventilation.

4. Install about 3-foot-high fencing so the chickens do not leave the area or fall prey to predators. Add layers of pine wood shavings and straw for bedding for the chicks.

5. Clean the enclosure at least once a week to remove all dirt, waste and uneaten food. Use a shovel to remove the feces and dirt. Disinfect the chicken home with soap and water and then a commercial disinfectant labeled for use in poultry houses. Allow the area to dry before putting the chicks back in. Clean the water bowels at least once a day.

6. Keep track of the entire growing process of the chicken in the form of documents and pictures. The 4-H organization requires various statistics, including number of chicks started, number of chicks that died, weight at different stages, cost of chicks, cost of brooding, cost of feed and other costs. Various record sheets are available as guidelines from the organization itself for breeders to fill in during the process.

Tips & Warnings

• Get tips from the 4-H organization on how to set up the coop area. The organization has its own manual with basic rules and regulations.

• When selecting market broilers, choose chicks with strong legs because this is a sign of healthy chicks. Do not select chicks with excessive runny droppings as this is a sign of health problem.

• Just before the 4-H exhibition, select four to six of your best birds. Bathe them every alternate day to get their feet and breastbone as clean as possible and keep them on clean shavings. From these select the best pair to exhibit and exhibit them in a well-ventilated crate.

• Do not allow the market broilers to stay in the sun after bathing them because it can discolor their feathers and give them a yellowish tinge.

• Young chicks may not innately recognize food, so you may have to stir the food and lead the chicks to it until they recognize the food ---- and water --- by themselves.

References

• Chicken Basics: Raising Chickens
• Back Yard Chinese: Raising Chickens
• 4 H Poultry: Getting Started with Poultry
• Growing Broilers for the State Fair

Resources

• EDIS: The Home Broiler Chicken Flock
• UCCE: The Broiler Project
• Tennessee 4-H: 4-H Poultry Program
• Mississippi State University: 4-H Leader's Guide for Poultry
• West Virginia University: 4-H Poultry Record Guide