Broiler Cobb 500: description, breed weight table by day, growing at home

Buyers prefer to buy broiler chickens. The meat cooks faster and has a tender texture. Farmers are trying to satisfy the desires of buyers. Broilers of the Cobb 500 cross are in the lead among competitors in terms of weight gain, economy in feeding, presentation of the skin. Thanks to their positive characteristics, they are grown by farmers around the world and private households.

Description and characteristics of the breed

Czech broilers are popular all over the world. In a short period of time, farmers raise meat chickens at low cost.

Appearance of chickens

The Cobb 500 broiler breed is distinguished by snow-white plumage. All birds, as for selection, are large, massive. The difference in weight is minimal between males and females. The skin is naturally yellow, enhances the presentation.

Bird productivity

Broilers are highly productive. At the age of 30-45 days, broilers are suitable for slaughter. Weight varies from 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms. 73% of meat is obtained from one bird. Weight gain rapidly increases over the course of 11 weeks. In the future, there is a decline.

Weight and height of chickens by day

When roosters and hens are fed together, daily weight gain is shown in the table.

Age (in days) Weight (grams)Daily Growth (grams) 402456615032466556364465


	41
10	260	26
20	775	39
30	572	52

Weight gain is noticeable at the age of 1-2 months.

Conversion Costs

Compound feed for cross-country can be the cheapest, it does not affect the productivity of the breed. Feed conversion is the most profitable compared to competitors. The share of the cost of feed in the cost of cultivation is 60%.

Egg production

Broilers have low egg production. Individuals begin to rush at the age of 7 months - this is quite late in comparison with competitors. A hen lays 1 egg in 3 days. The weight of one unit is 58 grams, which is also considered low.

Character of breed

Cobb 500 broilers are friendly, calm. Not afraid of the presence of people. Sometimes young individuals suffer from aggression, cannibalism. This behavior is explained by excessive daylight hours. Young bullies are seated in different cages.

Advantages and disadvantages

Cobb 500 broilers have a number of advantages, the main ones being fast growth, high weight, disease resistance. A negative characteristic is cold intolerance, which requires additional costs for heating the chicken coop.

Specific maintenance and care

At home, growing broilers is caged, floor maintenance. The room should be ventilated and warm. Birds are kept separate from other breeds.

Optimal conditions

Broiler breed Cobb 500 in the growing process requires the implementation of some rules that contribute to rapid weight gain. Set the correct temperature, light conditions, starting from one day of age. They keep the chicken coop clean.

The number of landings per 1 m2 is 30-42 kilograms of live weight.

Temperature conditions

For chickens, the temperature regime is +27 °С … +33 °С. After a week, the heat level is reduced every day by 2 degrees. Lower the temperature to at least 14 degrees.

Light mode

Chicks need around the clock lighting. After 14 days, daylight hours are reduced by 1-2 hours. Until the 14-hour day is established. Direct sunlight is contraindicated.

Processing the poultry house

The new herd is introduced into the prepared room. Remove debris and disinfect. Walls and floors are covered with lime. In the future, monitor the cleanliness of the litter. They change it completely or partially 2 times a week for adults, for young animals - every other day.

Features of poultry feeding

As a feed for broilers, use specialized compound feed or cook it yourself.

Broiler nutrition by day

In the first 10 days, starter feed of a small fraction is useful for chickens. In the next 11-22 days, there is a rapid increase in muscle mass, a granular feed is required, for example, Rost. At the age of 1 month and beyond, they are fed with finishing feed.

Self-made

Food prepared by yourself must contain proteins, vitamins, minerals, trace elements. The diet of broilers includes vegetable grain mash, oil cake, meat broth, meat and bone meal.

Supplements and water

Clean water should be freely available in the poultry house. They change it every day. In addition to the main food, the diet includes crushed shells, chalk, coarse sand, fodder yeast, s alt, grass meal.

Chicken breeding

Purebred broilers cannot be bred at home. The characteristics of each subsequent offspring deteriorate, productivity decreases. This is due to the breeding of the hybrid by special crossing.

Incubation

Eggs for the incubator are bought from the manufacturer to get a purebred breed. The incubator is heated to 25 degrees before eggs are laid. The temperature regime is maintained within 37.6-37.8 degrees Celsius. After 21 days, offspring appear. Laying hens of a different breed are also used.

Caring for day old chicks

Day old chicks need a dry, warm, well ventilated room.

Feeding

For young animals, special compound feed is used. Feeding is carried out 8 times a day. Constant lighting helps to find food. In the following weeks, reduce the number of feedings. By the age of one month, the feeding of young animals is brought to two meals a day.

Possible diseases and their prevention

Cobb 500 broilers are disease resistant. Improper maintenance, feeding, care can provoke diseases.

Dyspepsia

The disease of dyspepsia is characterized by symptoms: liquid excrement of a white or yellow hue, with particles of undigested food. Young individuals suffer from dyspepsia. The chicks lose their appetite, lethargy appears. Quality feed appropriate for the age of the chicken, fresh water will help prevent the disease.

Broncho-pneumonia

Symptoms of bronchopneumonia: shortness of breath with open beak, stretching of the neck, wheezing. Causes of the disease: hypothermia, sudden changes in temperature. Prevention: before settling chickens, they clean and disinfect the chicken coop. Living conditions: humidity - 70%, temperature - not less than 14 degrees for adults. It is important to provide good nutrition, which includes vitamins, proteins, which provide immunity boost.

Marek's disease

Marek's viral disease in chickens is characterized by symptoms: lameness, twisting of the neck, drooping wings, tail, indigestion. Chickens are the first to be affected. Preventive actions: vaccination, hygiene measures, keeping birds by age.

Avitaminosis

Among broilers, beriberi is more common than others. This is explained by the rapid weight gain. Symptoms: cessation of growth, weight gain, lethargy, impaired coordination of movements, refusal to eat.

Prevention: feed with compound feed according to the table attached to the feed. Self-cooked food is enriched with vitamins, minerals.

Enteritis

When enteritis becomes inflamed mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. The immune system is weakened, the level of acidity in the digestive tract changes. Chickens are primarily affected by the bacterial disease. Everything is important in the fight and prevention of enteritis: balanced food, warmth, light.

Aspergillosis

Fungal disease aspergillosis affects eggs, young, adults. Symptoms in chickens: lethargy, shortness of breath, stunting. Signs of disease in adult birds: diarrhea, exhaustion, cough, shortness of breath, death of embryos.

For the purpose of prevention, the litter is treated with a solution of copper sulfate, zootechnical standards are observed: they provide ventilation for the chicken coop, do not exceed the settlement norm by 1 square meter, exclude spoiled feed.

Salmonellosis

Dangerous disease salmonellosis is common among people, birds. The bacterium enters through food. The digestive system is affected. Symptoms: difficult breathing, tearing, drowsiness. Chickens have diarrhea. After 2-5 days, convulsions. As a preventive measure, 2-day-old chicks are given the vaccine.