Broiler breeds: 11 best large breeds for breeding at home

Without exception, all breeds of broiler chickens are actively gaining weight. In order to grow them, you need only 1.5-2 months. Chickens gain 40-65 grams in just a day, although they eat as much as ordinary birds. Broilers do not need any special care. The main thing is cleanliness and regular feeding. For 2 months they eat no more than 2 kilograms of compound feed, and at this age they already weigh 2.5 kilograms.

How were they bred?

Broilers are a hybrid variety, bred by crossing several breed lines. To obtain hybrids, meat and meat-egg directions are used.Broilers are not a breed at all, but the popular name for meat chickens. Birds are specially bred for their meat. The word "broiler" is translated as "fry", which means that chicken meat is suitable for roasting on a fire.

Initially, for the sake of obtaining hybrids, breeds of birds such as the Cornish and the White Plymouth Rock were taken. The Cornish were brought in as fathers, and the Plymouthrocks were brought in as hens. New Hampshire, Brahma, Fighting Cornish, Langshan, Jersey Black Giant breeds are used to breed new broiler chickens.

Crossed broilers are distinguished by their developed meat forms, high weight, large breast and excellent taste characteristics of meat. Broiler chickens grow quickly and gain weight. They eat the same amount as ordinary chickens. Growing a broiler up to 2 months (before slaughter) takes 2-3 kilograms of dry feed. At the age of two months, they weigh 2 or more kilograms, the weight of an adult chicken is almost 5 kilograms.

In the production of chickens, special requirements are imposed on the commercial qualities of carcasses. The bird should not have dark feathers and dark skin. Parent breeds should have dominant, snow-white plumage and yellowish (pale) skin.

As a result of crossing chickens with light (sometimes red) feathers are obtained. Hybrids have a large body, small head, muscular paws. Birds have poorly developed combs and beards. Chickens are sedentary, they have a calm character.

Broilers are distinguished by an active set of live weight. At 6-9 weeks of age, chickens are ready for slaughter. At this age, their weight is 2.45-3 kilograms. Broilers rush well, give about 120-180 eggs per year. However, all the positive qualities of their parents are not transmitted to their offspring. Broiler chickens are bred only by selective crossbreeding.

In order to breed broilers, you need to buy ready-made day-old chicks or hybrid hatching eggs.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros of broiler breeding:

• active weight gain;
• low cost of final products (meat);
• great taste and product characteristics;
• crosses have high immunity and good survival rates.

Cons of growing:

• poor egg production;
• not strong enough bones due to rapid weight gain.

Best Broiler Breeds

In science, all broilers are called crosses. These hybrids have taken all the best characteristics of the parent breeds. A large number of broilers have been bred.

ROSS-308

Chickens of this variety recover quickly.Every day, young broilers gain 56-66 grams in weight. Birds are killed at two months of age. By this time they weigh 2.45 kilograms. Adult chickens lay well, they can produce 186 eggs per year. This cross has short stature, large bones, well-developed muscle mass, light plumage, pale skin.

I like it22I don't like it17

COBB-500

These are broilers with snow-white plumage and yellowish skin. The hybrid has a light and large breast. Birds can be slaughtered as early as 45-60 days. At this age, they weigh 2-2.55 kilograms. Broilers are recovering very actively.

I like it14I don't like it6

COBB-700

These are large chickens with snow-white plumage and a yellowish carcass. Unlike other broilers, this cross does not have large thighs, but there is a large breast. Young animals are ready for slaughter at 1.5 months. During this period, the birds weigh 2.56 kilograms.

I like 3 I don't like 2

ROSS-708

Improved hybrid from cross ROSS-308. Young chickens quickly recover and grow. With regular feeding at the age of 40 days, they weigh almost 2.45-3 kilograms. Due to too rapid development, the meat and skin do not have time to acquire a yellowish color, so the carcasses have a pale appearance. The cross has light feathers, a large chest and medium-sized thighs.

I like 8 I don't like 6

Broiler 61

This species belongs to four-line meat crosses. Birds are rapidly gaining mass. By the age of 1.5 months, they weigh 1.8 kilograms. Birds have snow-white plumage, yellowish skin. Adult laying hens can produce 144 eggs per year. Chicks have high survival rates.

I like 2 I don't like 3

Hybro-6

A four-line hybrid obtained from crossing two maternal and two paternal breeds. When the birds are 1.5 months old, they weigh 1.5 kilograms. Chickens have yellow skin, subcutaneous fat, white thick plumage. The comb looks like a leaf. Adult laying hens produce about 155 eggs per year.

I like 5 I don't like 4

Cross Change

A hybrid obtained from crossing 4 breeds (domestic and foreign). Chickens have a muscular body, snow-white feathers. Birds are actively gaining weight, every day their weight increases by 56-60 grams. Chickens are killed on the 40th day, their weight by this age is 2.3 kilograms. In addition to meat, up to 165 eggs per year can be obtained from laying hens.

I like 3 I don't like 3

Broiler-M

The hybrid was created by crossing mini-hens and the Red Yerevan breed.In addition to meat, these chickens can produce up to 162 eggs per year. True, birds begin to rush at the age of six months. Broilers are bred for meat. They are slaughtered when the chickens gain 2.5-3 kilograms. At two months of age, broilers weigh 1.9 kilograms.

I like 3 I don't like 3

Hubbard F-15

Hybrid with high productivity. At the age of two months, young birds weigh about 3 kilograms. These are chickens with developed forms, a large white breast, light plumage. With good nutrition, adult birds can gain 8 kilograms. Laying hens produce almost 200 large eggs a year.

I like it17I don't like it3

Competitor-3

Cross obtained from crossing the breed ROSS-308 and Plymouth Rocks. The birds have snow-white feathers, a strong physique, and a wide chest. At the age of 1.5 months, chickens weigh 2.15 kilograms. Adult laying hens can produce 165 eggs in a year.

I like 2 I don't like 5

Arbor Airex

This is a heat-loving bird that is grown for dietary meat. Chickens have light plumage, strong bones, large breasts, well-developed thighs and shins. At 1.5 months, a chicken weighs 2.45 kilograms.

I like it13I don't like it8Final ranking tableHubbard F-15fourteenCOBB-500eightROSS-3085Arbor Airex5ROSS-7082COBB-700oneGibro-6oneCross ChangeBroiler-MBroiler 61-oneCompetitor-3-3

Features of cultivation

Broilers are profitable to grow for meat. In just 2-2.5 months, chickens gain up to 2.5-3 kilograms of weight. They contain broilers, as well as ordinary poultry.Purchased chickens are provided with a temperature of 30-33 degrees Celsius. Little chicks are kept in cardboard boxes. When the birds grow up a little, they are transferred to a regular chicken coop. The air temperature should be 22-25 degrees Celsius.

The room where the chicks are kept should be warm and clean. Small chickens are fed with special starter feed, millet, cottage cheese, egg yolk, greens and vegetables are gradually introduced. Adult crosses are given granulated feed, various cereals.

There must be a drinker with fresh water in the chicken coop. It is advisable to give birds vitamins (Biovit) and minerals, as well as drugs (Enrofloxacin, Baycox) for prevention.

Home Breeds

Broiler birds can be raised at home, like normal chickens. For 1.5-2 months, the hybrid gains 2-2.45 kilograms of weight.Among the rapidly growing crosses, ROSS-708 enjoys well-deserved authority. After 40 days, the chickens already weigh 2.89 kilograms. This is the largest and meat bird. No less interesting is the ROSS-308 cross. Every day, the weight of chickens increases by 56-66 grams. At 2 months, chickens already weigh 2.45 kilograms.

COBB-500 chickens are no less productive. These are precocious, which by 1.5 months gain weight of more than 2 kilograms. True, the productivity of the breed depends on the conditions of detention. Chickens grow better if they are properly and regularly fed. This breed has a high chick survival rate.

Those who plan to raise birds for meat and eggs can be advised to purchase the Broiler-M cross. This is an unpretentious hybrid breed of chickens that feels comfortable in a chicken coop or in a cage. In a year, a laying hen can produce 165 eggs. The weight of one is 65-70 grams.

To grow broilers, first of all, you need to purchase young stock. Day old chickens cost 0.3-0.5 dollars.Hatching eggs are cheaper. Their cost is 0.2-0.3 dollars. Each bird up to the age of two months to eat food for 0.25-0.50 dollars. But on the finished carcass, you can save 3-5 dollars.

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