Do broilers lay eggs: how to get the product at home

Broilers are bred to produce tender chicken meat in the shortest possible time. Breeders have bred a special breed of chickens, which is gaining weight in a record 1.5-2 months. The meat is fragrant, juicy and with fine fibers. Those who are considering breeding such birds inevitably wonder if domestic broilers lay eggs, whether the breed can be used to produce all types of chicken products.

Do broilers lay eggs at home?

Obtained by crossing two breeds (Cornish and Plymouthrock), broilers were conceived by breeders in order to quickly get a carcass of maximum weight. Chickens are rapidly gaining weight and at the age of 1.5-3 months they go for meat, having 1.5-4 kilograms.

Broiler breeds begin to lay later than ordinary chickens, not earlier than 7-9 months, while the taste characteristics of meat become worse. Productivity also leaves much to be desired - 2-3 eggs per week.

Eggs are much larger than usual, as they have a mutation - 2 yolks. Due to their large size, when passing through the oviduct, they often get stuck, chickens need help. The offspring from two-yolk eggs is practically not hatched or is greatly weakened.

Summarizing, we can say that you can get eggs from broilers in small quantities, and also later than from real laying hens. When the owner decides to slaughter the bird after all, the quality of the meat will be low, and not the same as that of a young broiler.

How to get eggs from broiler chickens

In poultry houses, owners try to get both products from chickens. Especially for such purposes, breeders improve broiler breeds, creating crosses with an extended set of advantages.

Crosses with improved egg-laying qualities and viable offspring have been bred - ROSS-308, ROSS-708, Smena-8, Gibro-6, Broiler-M. These broilers start laying at 5-6 months. They give 150-180 eggs per year.

To make broilers rush better, you should:

• maintain a balanced diet;
• carefully monitor containment conditions;
• must be watched as large hens have difficulty releasing eggs.

The owners should also remember that even if they manage to breed a chicken, it does not inherit parental properties. Broiler qualities are not transferred.

Important: Vaccinations and special nutrition designed for broiler breeds help prevent disease.

What's good about their eggs?

Eggs obtained from crosses are impressive in size - 60-65 grams. A double yolk is always present, which is very rare for ordinary layers.

For food

Eating is the main use of broiler eggs. The taste of the products is excellent, not inferior to the usual. Studies have shown that beneficial properties are also retained.

Due to their considerable size and difficulties in passing through the oviduct, the shells can crack. Therefore, integrity should be checked before storage, wipe the shell with a rag, remove dirt and adhering debris.

For incubator

During the selection process, the parental properties of the crosses were lost, broilers are not engaged in incubation. It is possible to breed offspring from them only in an incubator. The eggs are collected and stored at temperatures up to 18°. Recommended air humidity - no more than 80%.

The process of hatchery breeding of crosses is complicated, but chickens will be obtained without the ability to quickly gain weight, that is, not broilers. Experienced poultry farmers prefer to buy ready-made chickens, since it is impossible to breed crosses on their own.

Features of collection and storage

Sedentary chickens often peck, stain or crush eggs, so they collect the produced product twice a day. It is better to do this after the first feeding and in the middle of the day.

When collecting, they try to hold the eggs less in their hands so as not to damage the protective shell. Store products in a cool place.

Eggs are best consumed within 5 days as the quality steadily declines over time.

Specific content of broilers-egg-bearers

Those who decide to combine getting meat and eggs from broilers need to know the basic rules for caring for poultry:

1. It is important to maintain a balanced diet for chickens - a lot of greenery, shell rock.
2. Feeding small meals 3 times a day.
3. The laying chickens are not allowed to sit constantly - they are encouraged to move more. This makes it easier to release.
4. Do not overfeed - the bird is prone to obesity.
5. Take care of your he alth - broilers often get sick, as they are bred for a short period of life. Protect the bird from drafts, maintain cleanliness in the room, air humidity.
6. If the chicken is lethargic or, conversely, too restless, has not eaten for several hours, a stuck egg may be the cause. To facilitate the exit of laying hens, a light abdominal massage is done prophylactically.
7. So that chickens can form eggshells, foods containing calcium are added to the feed - vitamins, chalk, shells, crushed shells.

When keeping broilers, you need to maintain a complete diet that helps chickens quickly gain weight, and later lay well.

Growing crosses is not easy. It is better to buy chickens from well-known, well-established breeders. Many at home do not combine the production of meat and eggs - they grow layers and broilers separately. In any case, you need to carefully select breeds and listen to the advice of experienced poultry farmers.

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