Cobb 500 description. Average broiler weight at different stages of rearing. What food to choose
Chicken meat has enjoyed consistent popularity over the years, which is why many farms prefer the production of this particular product. If you choose the right breed of broiler (meat) chickens and adhere to the recommendations for their maintenance, such a business will bring quite tangible dividends. The most popular cross in Europe is rightfully recognized as the Cobb 500. This article provides complete systematized information on this cross.
Gallery: broilers cobb 500 (25 photos)
Description of the breed
The main task when breeding cobb broilers 500 was the creation of a bird that is capable of quickly gaining muscle mass, having a good feed conversion, not particularly whimsical to the conditions of keeping and the quality of feed. The basis of the cross was a beef breed of Cornish chickens and a meat and egg Plymouthrock. Cobb 500 is a cross (hybrid), that is, they are not able to maintain the characteristics of the breed during their further breeding, since at certain stages the parent stock is crossed with Kuchenskaya, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Zagorskaya and some other breeds. Chickens are incubated from Czech eggs and sold at day-old or reared age.
This bird has a massive body, large hips, snow-white plumage. The carcass of the Cobb 500 has a yellow color like that of domestic chickens, which distinguishes this cross from other breeds. For example, the broiler Ross 708 has white or bluish skin, which is alarming. potential buyers... If simple feeding instructions are followed, the final product contains virtually no visceral fat.
Productivity characteristics
The Cobb 500 is an early ripening cross, and by the age of 30, chicks reach a weight of 2 kg. By the 45th day of life, the chickens weigh more than 2.5 kg, and by the 56th day - about 4 kg. It is possible to start slaughtering chickens at the age of one month, but keeping a bird for more than two months is not economically feasible.
Cobb 500 broiler growth table:
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Content Guide
Correctly built poultry house, as well as automation of heating, ventilation and lighting systems will minimize labor costs for maintenance and energy consumption.
Broiler feeding
The quantity of food directly depends on the quality of feeding. final product and the time taken to produce it. Majority farms use ready-made broller feed. Complete feed contains a full set of proteins, fats, carbons, trace elements, vitamins and fiber necessary for the full development of poultry. Large farms can afford to develop their own recipes and produce compound feed on their farm.
Experienced poultry farmers of small farms use grain mixture for feeding broilers own production... High-tech expensive equipment is not required to prepare a grain mixture, but the farmer himself must have a lot of experience and extensive knowledge.
Compound feed is divided into several types and is intended for chickens of different ages:
- up to 21 days, chickens are fed starter feed;
- 21-40 days - fattening;
- after 40 days and before slaughter - finishing compound feed.
Whichever feed is used, it must always be available and readily available. It is preferable to use hanging bunker feeders: the height of such feeders is easy to adjust for growing birds. It is important that chickens have constant access to clean, cold water. This task is easy to cope with automatic system nipple drinker.
Breeding broiler cross cobb 500 is one of the most profitable business ideas that do not require large investments.
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The birds of the Cross are especially appreciated. There are a number of breeds whose meat qualities are lower, but they stand out for other characteristics. These are Plymouth Rock, Adler and Kuchin Anniversaries.
Day-old chickens may die, therefore, regardless of breed, buy 10-day-old broilers. The most popular meat breed is Smena-7. The best imported chickens are ROSS-308 and Cobb 500.
Chickens cross Cobb 500
A great option for selling meat. The skin of the chicks has a good tint. The weight gain is very high.
In 35 days, the chicken gains 2 kilograms of weight. Reaching the age of 35-42 days is considered optimal for slaughter.
Broiler 61
The presented species differs in that with low feed costs, a large increase can be obtained. For 1 kg of meat, only 2 kg of feed will be needed. In 7 weeks, the chicken weighs 1.7 kg.
Bird survival rate is 98 percent!
Ross 708
The presented type of chickens is very productive. For a month, the young gains 3 kilograms of weight. Among all other breeds, this is the most successful. The only drawback is pale skin.
Chickens grow quickly, she simply does not have time to gain color. Broiler chickens are very demanding to care Broiler chickens are very demanding to care
Ross 308
The main difference is excellent muscle gain. It can reach 60 grams per day. Chickens are slaughtered already at 6-9 weeks. The chicken weighs 1.6 kilograms. The offspring is viable. The presented breed runs well.
The only drawback is pale skin color.
Growing broilers. Part 1 (video)
Features of keeping and growing
Broilers are doing well at home. Growing them is a profitable venture. Chicks grow rapidly and gain weight.
Compared to regular ones, broiler chicken weighs 2 times more! What should be the conditions for keeping? Broiler raising is somewhat more difficult than normal chickens. Special conditions of detention and diet are required. Let's figure out the conditions:
- the room in which the chickens will be kept must be clean and well ventilated. The best option is broiler cages. But you can also on the floor in the barn, if only the temperature is suitable; when kept on the floor, they make a corral. Clean chopped straw and hay act as bedding. As the chickens grow, the corral is increased. 6 square meters can accommodate 50 heads;
Broiler chicks grow rapidly and gain body weight
- cleanliness is a guarantee of health. Since broiler chickens are sedentary, it is necessary to create perfect cleanliness, otherwise they can get sick and die; the bird feels good in the cages. 1 square meter can accommodate up to 18 chickens and up to 10 adults. Periodic ventilation is important; when purchasing day-old chicks, be prepared to keep them warm the environment at 30 degrees and constant lighting. It is necessary to create the presented conditions within 2 weeks. During this time, the young will grow up, get stronger; in winter period broiler chickens are placed in a special enclosure in the greenhouse. In this case, you do not need to monitor the temperature, the main thing is to ventilate the room.
Growing broilers. Part 2 (video)
How is feeding done
The health and weight of the chicks will depend on what you are going to feed them. It is recommended to use compound feed for broilers from the first days. It has everything you need: protein and plant elements, vitamins, salts, a substance that improves digestion.
There are a lot of chickens, there is nothing to worry about. There should be clean water near the feeder. In the first 5 days of life, chickens are drunk with a special preparation that stimulates metabolism and growth. Compound feed for broilers is also provided.
You will find out which drug to choose by consulting in veterinary pharmacy... Every year there is something new. Feed for broilers should be available at all times If you have the opportunity, chickens should be given yogurt.
It has a good effect on growth. From the third day, you can give cottage cheese. At the same time, green foods are introduced into the diet. Twist garlic, onion, carrot tops, dandelion.
Do not give beet tops - it weakens. From the fifth day, you can give grated carrots. Next to the feeder they put river sand, fine gravel.
They are needed to improve digestion. Continue feeding in this way for 20 days. Then you can introduce a mash into the diet - the grain part is exchanged for potatoes mixed with bran and yogurt.
It is better to feed the chickens with a fresh mash to prevent intestinal diseases. The presented food option will protect against pecking. Watch how the goiter is filling.
If not completely, remove the chick from the rest and feed separately. There must be clean water near the feeder. Feed for broilers must be available at all times. The mash is given 3-4 times a day.
In the first 4 weeks, chickens grow most intensively, therefore, they eat a lot. From 4 weeks, crushed corn and wheat are introduced into the diet. You can give chopped apples, cucumbers, other vegetables from the garden. Everything except beets.
Chickens are raised for 80 days. Then they go to the slaughter. The weight of an adult chick reaches up to 3 kg.
Growing broilers at home. Part 3 (video)
How to make the bird develop normally and not get sick? The rules should be followed.
- When biting appears, the chicken is fed with citric acid, previously diluted in water. Biting is caused by bright light, damp litter, lack of protein or gravel in the house. Space should be organized in the house so that chicks can feed evenly. For good development, create a bird. optimal conditions for life in the poultry house. Food, lighting, humidity should be selected for a specific breed. Requirements regarding air humidity - it should be exactly 60 degrees. If the humidity is high, the birds will start to wither. Chicks first need 8 meals a day. Then you can reduce your food intake to 4 times a day. There should be water in the drinker all the time - you can use both cold and warm. Do not raise it to a temperature of 30 degrees, otherwise the bird will stop drinking. Drinkers and feeders must be clean. They are washed daily. Treatment with soap or soda is carried out once a week.
It is better to purchase chickens from 1-10 days of age
- It is best to purchase chickens between 1-10 days of age. They go to slaughter at the age of 60 days. Keeping the birds longer is irrational, they stop gaining weight, the meat loses quality. Chickens often have digestive problems. You can get rid of them in a simple way- at three weeks of age, give a solution of potassium permanganate. The procedure is repeated every three weeks. The effectiveness of the feeding is determined as follows - the chickens are weighed every week. As for the air temperature, it should not be too high so as not to irritate the mucous membranes of the bird.
Growing broilers at home. Part 4 (video)
If you are interested in meat, not eggs, broiler farming is the best option. The breed should be chosen based on the goal, on how quickly you expect to grow poultry and sell meat.
It is important to remember that this type of chick requires considerable attention. Requirements apply to both feed and content.
Also read:
Choosing a breed of chickens (chickens) for growing
Chicks are usually bought from producers breeding them specifically for sale. Many are trying to purchase day-old chicks at a minimal cost. But in the first days of life, chicks die most often.
So sometimes it is wiser to take young animals 10 days old... Chickens are best purchased at hatchery stations in poultry farms. You need to choose mobile, active chickens with shiny, clear eyes.
To distinguish between males and females, you need to spread the chicken's wing. The feathers of the cockerel are of the same length, in the hens they are different. A healthy chick is distinguished by soft and toned tummy, even fluff, clean "butts".
Their wings should be pressed to the body. But for some breeds of broilers ("Cobb 500", "ROSS-308") a slightly enlarged belly, bluish tint of legs and beak are common. Normally developing chicks always respond to sound.
When tapping on the box where they are located, the chicks tend to the noise.
For home breeding chickens of meat crosses "Dominant", "Smena", "Avian Farms", "Tibro", "Tetra", "Ross", "Lohmann" are more suitable.
Cross is a line of bred chickens. with certain properties. Of the crossbreeds, Adler silver, Kuchin anniversary, Rodailanp, Plymouthrock are suitable, but their meat qualities are lower.
The most widespread and meeting international standards for cross meat orientation is "Smena-7". About half of the broilers raised by domestic poultry farms are bred by the Smena breeding plant. Of the imported broiler crosses, Cobb 500 and ROSS-308 are considered the best.
Incubation of chicken eggs to prevent disease during rearing
With the reduction in the number of poultry in poultry farms, it is not always possible to acquire day-old broilers. In this regard, before raising young animals for meat, the owners of household plots give birth to adult birds or raise them to sexual maturity.
Then get hatching eggs from them The industry produces small-sized incubators especially for private farms. Domestic manufacturers produce models: IPH-5, IPH-10, LEO-0.5, Nasedka and others. They lay 50-100 eggs.
But working with an incubator is a complex process that requires special knowledge, strict adherence to the technology of growing broiler chickens and the purchase of expensive equipment. For incubation, eggs are carefully selected according to their shape, weight, egg content and shell state. For the removal of young meat, the culling is less strict.
During incubation process parameters are monitored: readings of wet and dry thermometers, opening of dampers, rotation of trays, operation of fans. Although the incubation mode is automatically supported, once every 8 hours, the readings of the devices are checked and the operation of the device is monitored.
If you want to know how to organize a dog enclosure with your own hands, then this article is for you. You can read about the life expectancy of rabbits here. It is interesting!
Features of growing and conditions of keeping broiler chickens
Depending on the possibilities and existing conditions, broiler chickens are raised by extensive and intensive methods. In the first method, one batch of chickens is purchased in spring or summer and raised until autumn.
When using the intensive method, young animals are purchased every 3-4 months in small batches throughout the year. Chickens are not released for walking and are fed with complete feed. If it is not possible to purchase them, then they are prepared at home, making up mixtures according to approximate norms.
Raising chickens for more than 70 days is not economically viable. After this age, their development slows down and the return on feed decreases. Broiler chickens are kept in two types of conditions: on deep litter and in cages (broiler cages).
In the first method, according to the name, the litter plays an important role. It should be composed of a dry, loose mass capable of absorbing harmful gases and dampness. The best option is dry sawdust... Their layer can be up to 10 cm.
Before covering with sawdust, the floor is sprinkled with lime at the rate of 0.5-1.0 kg per 1 m2. The rearing room for day-old chicks is illuminated around the clock and can accommodate up to 18 birds per square meter. But good ventilation is required.
In the first days of cultivation, the temperature is maintained at 26-33 ° C. By the fourth week, it gradually decreases to 18-19 ° С. At a lower temperature conditions growth of chickens is delayed and weakened chicks die.
Household electric heaters are used to heat the premises. The temperature needs to be adjusted periodically.
If the chicks are crowded around the heater, there is not enough heat. If they lie with unfolded wings and extended heads, the temperature should be lowered.
For broiler rearing, a higher temperature is maintained in the cages than with the floor method. Chicks in these conditions cannot choose a warm place, therefore it is necessary that the temperature on the upper tiers does not fall below 34 ° C.
This is especially important for day old chicks. The density of placement of young animals in cages is 10 heads per 0.5 m2. It does not change until cultivation is complete.
Feeding and caring for broilers, preparation for slaughter
In the early days, the young are fed the same way as chickens from egg breeds. Their diet includes millet, boiled eggs, oatmeal, finely crushed wheat, barley, oats. Grain feed should make up 60-65% of the total feed.
From the 3rd day add fresh chopped greens in the mash. It can be replaced with grass flour or sprouted grains (preferably barley). Grass flour is fed no more than 5 g per head per day.
In a crushed form, they are introduced into a mash, 2-3 g per head per day from 5 days of age.
They feed the birds ad libitum and often. From the first week of life - 8 times a day, from the second - 6, from the third - 4 and from one month of age 2 times (morning and evening). From the 5th week, coarse feed is preferable.
Chickens should always have warm, clean water, but they do not drink too warm (more than 30 ° C).
In the second month of feeding chickens are less demanding on the composition of the feed. At this time, juicy feed, grass flour and herbs are introduced into the diet, and the amount of protein feed is accordingly reduced.
The degree of fattening and the readiness of poultry for slaughter are determined by fatty deposits under the wings and on the chest. When inflating the feathers, the fat should be visible through the skin. Looking for information on growing and caring for a pumpkin? The answer is in this article. How to make a flower bed is described in this article. Video how to make a compost pit: http://selok.ru/stroitelstvo/dlya-sada/kak-sdelat-kompostnuyu-yamu.html
Important points of the technology of growing chickens
On industrial poultry farms the main food for broilers is compound feed. In the home farm fattening chickens may not be worth it without a well-thought-out and varied diet. To control the growth of broilers, weekly weighing is required.
The first five days especially critical period of feeding chicks. Their digestive system is not yet developed and the feed must be easily digestible. Of great importance for the development and growth of chickens is lighting.
In the light, their metabolism is activated. During the first crescent, they need round-the-clock lighting.
At correct organization even in a small area in summer period(May – August) it is possible to raise two batches of broiler chickens at no special cost. Thus, you will be able to provide your family with dietary meat.
Photos of broiler chickens and cages for them
Some useful photos To enlarge, just click on them. Breeding modern broiler crosses can be very profitable. After all, such a bird gains muscle mass very quickly. During the season, 2-3 broods can be grown for meat.
One of the most interesting crosses on this moment are the Cobb-500 broilers. The reviews from the owners of household farms and farmers about them are simply wonderful.
Advantages of the breed
One of characteristic features this cross is very attractive marketable condition carcasses. Brollers of the Cobb-500 breed are distinguished by pleasant yellow skin.
Most other hybrids have either white or bluish carcass, but of course this is not the only merit of the Cobb 500. The undoubted advantages of this bird, among other things, include very fast growth with low feed costs.
It is allowed to slaughter chickens of this breed already at the age of one month. At this time, their weight with proper balanced feeding and good conditions content can reach 1.7-2 kg.
The optimal slaughter period is considered to be 35-42 days old. Another advantage of this cross is the absence of the need to use any expensive feed. The main part of the menu of this bird is usually a special feed with all the necessary additives. In the absence of the possibility of buying it, the diet for Cobb-500 broilers can be developed independently. To the advantages of the breed, farmers and owners of personal backyard plots include strong legs, a wide chest, as well as excellent survival rates.
general description
The plumage of Cobb-500 broilers, reviews of which are excellent, have a pure white. One of distinctive features it is this cross that has thick, well-developed legs, always yellow. The scallops and lobes of both females and cockerels have a healthy, bright red color.
Cross-country reviews
Cobb-500 broiler chickens, whose characteristics (the differences from other crosses are discussed above) of which make it possible to judge them as very hardy and productive, are currently bred in many household farms. Farmers have a very good opinion of them.
Chickens of this cross grow well, are practically not susceptible to diseases and do not require any special care. The only thing is that the development of the diet must be approached with all responsibility. If there is too little protein in the feed, these chicks will not grow large.
And since they are quite expensive, the costs may simply not be justified. That is, the potential of the poultry must be used to its full.In addition to all the advantages listed above, the owners of household farms attribute homogeneity in the herd to the advantages of this cross.
That is, all birds from one brood have almost the same height and weight. In general, according to our domestic poultry farmers, chickens are very good - Cobb-500 broilers. Reviews on the forums speak volumes about this.
Basic feeding rules
The diet of these chickens is made in such a way that they receive a sufficient amount, firstly, of proteins, and secondly, minerals. In addition, like any other broiler, the Cobb-500 must receive all the vitamins it needs, and if you want to start a broiler of this particular breed, it is important to remember one rule.
Wheat in any form in the diet will reduce the poultry's absorption of potassium and phosphorus, which it needs very much. Therefore, the deficiency will have to be made up without fail with special additives. Of course, all feed given to chickens must be fresh.
Do not feed Cobb-500 broilers on rotten vegetables, moldy foods, or out of date supplements. A balanced menu is the basis for the success of a broiler chicken rearing procedure. We feed well - we get a lot of meat.
With a lack of protein, the result is likely to be disappointing.
Ready feed
As already mentioned, Cobb-500 broilers are usually grown on balanced commercial feed. As a rule, in household plots, Pk-5 (for chickens) and Pk-6 (for adult chickens) are used.
Experienced poultry farmers advise purchasing ready-made feed for broilers of this breed only from trusted producers. The use of a low-quality product can significantly reduce the productivity of poultry.
Homemade food
The broiler menu differs from the diet of layers primarily by the increased protein content. You can feed the Cobb-500 with any grains and shreds.
However, you should definitely add fishmeal, whey, meat waste, etc. to the menu. That is, food rich in proteins. Any vegetables can be added to the mash for this poultry. Red carrots are especially useful for meat crosses.
When it comes to potatoes, it is best to only feed them raw to broilers. Some farmers believe that boiled can easily cause a poultry stomach to stop.
Judging by their observations, on the second day after feeding such food, the chickens do not feel very well. Vitamins A, E and D must be added to the feed. Without them, it will be impossible to achieve a good result of productivity. The easiest way to make a multivitamin "mash".
To prepare it, you will need half a liter of sunflower oil. Add 10 ml of each vitamin solution to it and mix everything well. You can store the oil in the refrigerator.
They give it twice a week for 1 tsp. per 1 kg of feed. Of course, chickens should be fed chalk and salt. Small shells and eggshell... It is necessary to put in cages or a shed and containers with small pebbles.
Sand should not be given to broilers.
To obtain a good result in meat yield, chickens of this breed should create optimal conditions for growth and development. Typically, household farms use the following types of Cobb-500 broilers, such as:
- Cellular. The small space limits the activity of chickens and they gain weight better. This method is used mainly in cases where there is enough space in the barn, and the livestock is not too large. It is not recommended to release these chickens for walking. This can significantly reduce the rate of muscle gain.
Judging by the reviews of farmers, the second method of keeping allows you to get better quality carcasses. In addition, chickens get sick less and less often. However, the cellular method can significantly save space.
Especially when using two- or three-tiered structures.
Basic rules of content
Chickens of this breed are placed in a well-ventilated and very warm room. It is not necessary to arrange windows in the barn. Up to fifteen days of age, house lighting should be around the clock.
Broilers eat a lot at this time and in the dark they may simply not find the feeders. Further, the duration of daylight hours is reduced to 18 hours. The success of such a procedure as raising Cobb-500 broilers depends largely on how clean the room in which they are kept will be.
Dirt and large amounts of uncleaned stool can lead to an outbreak of an infectious disease. For the same reason, the troughs and drinkers should be kept clean.
They should be washed daily, avoiding fading water or souring feed. It would be best to buy nipple drinkers for chickens. Feces and dirt do not get into such containers.
The design of the feeders should be such that the bird cannot climb into it with its feet.In the event that there is no window in the shed, be sure to arrange at least the simplest ventilation. If the air in the room where chickens are kept too high in ammonia, the bird will lose its appetite.
In addition, this will necessarily increase the case. Broilers do not tolerate stuffiness very well. Also, even weak drafts should not be allowed in the room.
The optimal temperature in the chicken coop is considered to be 28-33 grams.
Hatching egg
It is not particularly difficult to grow a bird such as Cobb-500 broilers (reviews allow us to judge it as not too whimsical) at home. But to breed it, like any other hybrids, will not work.
Crosses are bred by crossing a large number of chicken breeds at once. Unfortunately, their qualities are not transmitted to posterity at all.
IN best case you can get young animals with productivity similar to one of the parent breeds. There is only one way to breed chickens of this breed at home on their own. To get young, you just need to buy a broiler hatching egg Cobb-500.
The cost of one piece is not too high - about 30-35 rubles. Young growth, even a daily one, of course, will cost more. The incubation of broiler eggs of this breed is carried out as usual, subject to the prescribed temperature and humidity conditions.
Chick care
At first, Cobb-500 chicks are fed in almost the same way as laying hens: cottage cheese, boiled egg, finely crushed wheat (65% of the total), etc. On the third day, green food and red carrots are included in the diet. At 10 days of age, chickens begin to give fishmeal, cake, potatoes.
Broilers COBB 500 (COBB 500) are the world's most efficient cross, and this article discusses the chicken production targets of this cross and dietary recommendations to help meet these targets.
Productivity indicators broilers KOBB-500 in different countries the world is significantly different from each other. The figures presented in this article are based on field trials and actual results from commercial broiler farms around the world. Growth rate data are targets for keeping production costs low.
Recommended feeding recipes are balanced for the needs of the cross broiler COBB 500... In some regions, higher nutritional diets are recommended for certain breeds, but for broilers COBB 500 this does not apply.
The effect of the main micronutrients on the development and mineralization of the bone in chickens is well known. It is very important to include these micronutrients in broiler diets in sufficient quantities throughout the entire feeding period. Adding whole or crushed wheat to compound feed can significantly reduce calcium and phosphorus levels. It is necessary to take this factor into account when calculating the level of trace elements for inclusion in compound feed.
The quality and availability of raw materials may require adjustments in nutrient content. At times, ration formulations need to be "tweaked" to meet your specific requirements and environmental conditions.
You can also get more information about broilers of this cross from the article "", which describes their benefits, feed conversion rates, feed costs, uniformity and productivity indicators.
Growing broilers COBB 500 (COBB 500)
Raising chickens and males together
Age Days | Weight Age | Average daily gain | Total feed conversion | Daily feed intake | Total feed intake |
Raising chickens
Age Days | Weight Age | Average daily gain | Total feed conversion | Daily feed intake | Total feed intake |
Raising cockerels
Age Days | Weight Age | Average daily gain | Total feed conversion | Daily feed intake | Total feed intake |
Breeding chickens for meat is a popular activity among farmers. At rational organization farms and the right choice breed benefits are always obvious. One of best options In recent years, Cobb 500 broiler chickens have been recognized. The hybrid is popular both abroad and in Russia.
The Cobb 500 was bred for the sale of meat. The cross was based on early maturing breeds with good quality slaughter carcasses. The ancestors included Kuchinskaya, Cornwall, New Hampshire, Pantsirevskaya, Plymouthrock, Royd Island, Zagorskaya Salmon.
This mixing allowed for attractive weight characteristics and appearance... The hybrid has a natural yellowish skin tone that attracts buyers. This bird does not need expensive care. Its maintenance and feeding is not difficult.
Appearance, productivity and photography
Cross is easily distinguishable from other chicken breeds. The Cobb 500 has a massive body with high powerful legs. The sternum makes up most of the torso. The neck is of medium length, strong. The head is neat with a wide forehead. It is decorated with a red comb and the same earrings.
The beak is massive. The plumage is dense, dense, completely snow-white. The wings are medium-sized, adjacent to the body. Roosters have a small curved tail. In chickens, the tail is practically not prominent.
Broiler Cobb 500 is highly regarded for the uniformity of flocks. Livestock of the same age will have practically the same weight. Already by 1 month of life, individuals gain up to 2 kg, after another 2 weeks the weight goes to the level of 2.5 kg. 50-day-old birds weigh more than 3 kg.
The main growth occurs before 80 days. After the rate decreases, the meat begins to acquire toughness. The most favorable period for slaughter is considered to be 40-60 days.... Some people prefer slaughtering at 30 days to reduce body fat and maintain juiciness. Keeping longer than 4 months is considered unprofitable, since feed intake is high and there is no gain.
The meat tastes good, breast fillet is considered a dietary product.
During the first month of life, the Cobb 500 gains up to 2 kg of mass. Egg production of the breed
Few people think about the egg production of this breed. Broiler farming is mainly done with the aim of obtaining meat. Meanwhile, you can, of course, use eggs for food and for breeding. A Cobb 500 chicken produces about 100-120 eggs in one year (2-3 per week).
Sexual maturity occurs at 7-8 months. A limited number of chickens are left for egg production, the rest are sent for slaughter.
Roosters and hens of the breed cannot be called aggressive. They are quite calm in everyday conditions, rarely raise fights and noise unnecessarily. The main character flaw is considered to be cases of cannibalism with insufficient nutrition. Young animals especially suffer from such a sin with a deficiency of protein and calcium.
Cobb 500 are calm enough in a domestic environment, rarely make fights and noise unnecessarily. As a rule, weaker tribesmen suffer, so diet and behavior must be monitored.
The method of keeping on a soft bedding is practiced. Small aviaries are abundantly covered with shavings, sawdust, peat, chopped corn stalks and cobs. In summer, the thickness of the litter is oriented at 5 cm, in winter it will be necessary to increase the flooring to 15 cm. Cobb 500 chickens easily live in cramped conditions. There can be up to 20 heads per 1 square meter. Sex segregation is often practiced.
But most often cages are used for the breed. In them, you can quickly catch up with the birds to the desired mass and only a light layer of bedding is required. The space in the cage house is used more efficiently and economically, and cleaning is easier. In addition, it is more convenient to monitor the health of the livestock.
Broilers Cobb 500 are kept on soft bedding or on a net. A room with an aviary or cages should have good ventilation (but not drafts). It is not necessary to make windows, enough artificial light for 16-18 hours a day. Light is required so that birds can easily find food, eat well and grow faster. Air temperature - 28-30C heat.
To get a good mass, you need to decide what to feed the Cobb 500 herd. Proper nutrition is very important, not only for weight gain, but also for the prevention of infectious diseases. Food and water are always offered in a slightly warm form - cold ones are difficult to digest.
Adolescents for slaughter and roosters for breeding are fed with an emphasis on protein. In the early days, broiler chickens are given chopped eggs, light dry cottage cheese, soaked oats and millet, and crushed wheat. The grains are pre-cleaned from chaff. Cereals should be moist, but without excess liquid. From 9 days, boiled and chopped fish waste, mixed feed are added to the diet.
From the 14th day, grated boiled potatoes, carrots, chopped greens (parsley, leaf lettuce), tops, grass (clover, young nettle), curdled milk are introduced. Adolescents for slaughter and roosters for breeding are fed with an emphasis on protein. Layers need more greens, vegetables and grains.
At any age, it is useful to add shell rock powder, egg shells, chalk to replenish calcium reserves. Vitamins can be given separately, but it is preferable to use dry compound feed PK-5, which provides for the presence of the necessary microelements.
For fattening Cobb 500 broilers, it is preferable to use dry feed PK-5. PK-5 is mixed with grain mash, dairy and vegetable products, fish, meat waste, meat and bone meal, the above additives. Such a complex in the feeder will allow the chicks to stay healthy and gain muscle mass at a high speed with a minimum of fat.
Important. When introducing dry compound feed, the amount of water in the chicken coop should be increased to avoid digestive problems.
For the winter, vegetables are dried, then soaked in the usual way. The herb is prepared in the form of flour or brooms, which are then steamed and given to the birds. It is sometimes helpful to give broilers potato peels without dirt. Feeders should be cleaned regularly and food is fresh at every meal. Meals - 3-4 per day.
Growing at home Cobb 500 can be carried out in two ways: from young stock or hatching eggs. The choice depends on the capabilities and wishes of a particular farmer.
Broilers Cobb 500 are hatched from hatching eggs. It is easier to purchase chicks from private breeders. Eggs are cheaper when purchased in bulk from poultry farms. The cost of incubation material is lower. But many people prefer to buy just young animals, since they clearly show the rate of weight gain, and therefore health. Chicks easily endure transportation, quickly adapt to a new place.
With further reproduction, it is better to remove the eggs; use an incubator for nursing. Broiler layers are bad, maternal instinct tends to zero. In addition, eggs and babies are more likely to be crushed when cramped.
Roosters with chickens are often kept separately, connecting individual individuals exclusively for mating. To increase productivity, some breeders collect semen from males and then artificially fertilize females. The technology of the procedure can be obtained from veterinarians.
Chicks easily endure transportation, quickly adapt to a new place. In the incubator, eggs are placed horizontally or turned upside down with a blunt end. The temperature is kept at 37-38C for 21 days. Ventilation should be present, but without drafts and air cooling.
2 weeks after hatching, the babies are kept at 30C in round-the-clock lighting. The light should not blind the chicks. From day 15, daylight hours are reduced to 18 hours. The litter is changed regularly.
Important. Dirty litter is a dangerous source of infectious diseases.
Like any breed, the Cobb 500 has its own strengths and weaknesses.
The main disadvantage is the intolerance of cold weather and the need for long daylight hours. In many regions, heat and light have to be provided with artificial sources, which leads to decent energy costs.
The Cobb 500 hybrid is prized for its good disease resistance.
But, if the rules of keeping are violated, and they can be susceptible to diseases:
Before placing chicks in the house, it must be disinfected. The best prevention of these pathologies is the observance of sanitation in relation to the poultry house and feed. Before settling in a new livestock, cages and aviaries need to be disinfected, the feed troughs are thoroughly washed and dried, and the litter is replaced.
The table below serves as a guideline for the right amount feed per individual at different ages. It also allows you to easily calculate the feed cost per head, calculate the profit from the subsequent sale of each carcass and track the correct weight gain of the young.
| Bird age, days |
Bird weight, grams |
The amount of feed per head per day, grams |
Total feed consumption for a life on the head, grams |
| 0 | 42 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 52 | 14 | 14 |
| 2 | 66 | 14 | 28 |
| 3 | 82 | 15 | 43 |
| 4 | 100 | 16 | 59 |
| 5 | 120 | 22 | 81 |
| 6 | 142 | 25 | 106 |
| 7 | 166 | 28 | 134 |
| 8 | 193 | 31 | 165 |
| 9 | 223 | 35 | 200 |
| 10 | 256 | 39 | 239 |
| 11 | 293 | 44 | 283 |
| 12 | 334 | 49 | 332 |
| 13 | 379 | 55 | 387 |
| 14 | 427 | 61 | 448 |
| 15 | 478 | 68 | 516 |
| 16 | 532 | 75 | 591 |
| 17 | 589 | 83 | 674 |
| 18 | 649 | 91 | 765 |
| 19 | 712 | 99 | 864 |
| 20 | 778 | 106 | 970 |
| 21 | 846 | 112 | 1082 |
| 22 | 916 | 118 | 1200 |
| 23 | 988 | 123 | 1323 |
| 24 | 1062 | 128 | 1451 |
| 25 | 1137 | 133 | 1584 |
| 26 | 1213 | 137 | 1721 |
| 27 | 1290 | 141 | 1862 |
| 28 | 1368 | 145 | 2007 |
| 29 | 1447 | 149 | 2156 |
| 30 | 1527 | 153 | 2309 |
| 31 | 1608 | 157 | 2466 |
| 32 | 1690 | 160 | 2626 |
| 33 | 1773 | 163 | 2789 |
| 34 | 1857 | 166 | 2955 |
| 35 | 1942 | 169 | 3124 |
| 36 | 2027 | 172 | 3296 |
| 37 | 2112 | 175 | 3471 |
| 38 | 2196 | 177 | 3648 |
| 39 | 2279 | 179 | 3827 |
| 40 | 2361 | 181 | 4008 |
| 41 | 2442 | 182 | 4190 |
| 42 | 2522 | 183 | 4373 |
| 43 | 2601 | 184 | 4557 |
| 44 | 2679 | 185 | 4742 |
| 45 | 2756 | 186 | 4928 |
| 46 | 2833 | 187 | 5115 |
| 47 | 2909 | 188 | 5303 |
| 48 | 2984 | 188 | 5491 |
| 49 | 3058 | 188 | 5679 |
Calculations of feed costs for each head are carried out using a table. For each subsequent day of life before slaughter, 188 grams of food is taken per head per day.
The Ross 308 is a competitor to the Cobb 500. Both breeds have good meat production and survival rates. Ross 308 wins in terms of egg production (185 units per year). In addition, their eggs are larger than many breeds in principle - about 65 grams.
Cobb 500 is the undisputed winner in early maturity (2 kg for 1 month versus 2 months for Ross 308) and the type of slaughter carcass. In terms of feed costs and purchase costs, crosses are approximately equal.
Which hybrid to choose is a matter of preference for the individual farmer. Cobb 500 is better suited for meat sale. For universal purposes of keeping, when the color of the carcass is not a priority, and the number of eggs is important, it is optimal to choose Ross 308.
In the photo there are broilers of the Ross 308 cross. Any poultry farmer knows that broilers are bred and raised for meat. Initially, broiler chickens were bred for rapid growth and dietary meat production. Modern breeders offer farmers new and new types of crosses - chickens, gaining the maximum weight of meat in a couple of months. How much chick growth should be required for broiler management to be economically beneficial for the farmer?
Determine the weight
To understand that chicks are gaining weight well, it is recommended to weigh the birds once a week. For these purposes, you can use any convenient weights. But given the mobility of chickens, the most accurate result can be obtained when weighing on an electronic scale. Below is a table of broiler weights by day, which shows the target weight gain for broiler chickens.
The broiler weight table shows that the optimal weekly weight gain of birds should be at least 100 grams in the first week of life, followed by doubling. To obtain accurate data, broilers must be weighed the same number of days at the same time. It is advisable to weigh before chicks eat.
About the features of weight gain
If, after 7-14 days of regular feeding, the weight of the broiler chicken does not increase according to the data in the table, then the mode and composition of the feed is chosen incorrectly. Broilers such as the Cobb-500 and others are gaining weight rapidly. Already at the age of one month, a grown chicken reaches 1.5 kg. A month later, the broiler weighs 2.7-3 kg.
In order to obtain an increase in the weight of chickens according to the data in the table, it is important to observe the diet in the first 30 days of the chicks' life. How correct and balanced the diet is, is shown by the first control weighing on the 7-10th day of life. The third weighing, which is done on day 21, should show the weight of the chickens equal to 800 grams. If the weight of each chicken is less, then the diet, calorie content and composition of the diet should be revised.
About mass in different periods
Novice poultry farmers often ask themselves what is the weight of newly hatched broilers? Live chicken in the first minutes of life weighs at least 40 grams. There are also larger birds. With less weight, the survival rate of chicks is not great. If the mass of the chick is even 2-3 grams more than the standard, then in the future this individual will be larger and heavier than the rest of the broilers.
The first serious conclusions about the correctness of the selection and composition of the diet can be made on the tenth day of the chicks' life. Considering that the total life expectancy in broiler farms is no more than 2 months, 10 days is a significant part of the life of chickens. So, on day 10, each broiler should weigh at least 150-200 grams. In the following days, the body weight of each chicken should increase rapidly.
The next control measurement of the weight of the chicks should be carried out at the age of 14 days. At this stage, each chicken should weigh 370-450 grams. Reviews of poultry farmers claim that these indicators are very important. If the weight of broilers meets the standards in the table, then the ration is drawn up correctly.
If the nutrition and care meet the norms and standards, then already in a month broilers in live weight will gain 4 times in weight compared to the indicators obtained at the age of 10 days. On the thirtieth day of life, each broiler should weigh between 800 grams and 1 kg. After another two weeks, the live weight of the chicks increases to 2 kg. Of course, poultry farmers do not send chickens for slaughter at the age of one and a half months.
Starting from 45 days of life, birds begin to add the following components to the feed:
A variety of greens and herbs.
Chalk additives.
River or seashells.
If all recommendations for catering are followed, then already at two months of age, the weight of each live Cobb-500 broiler will be at least 2.5 kg. For older chickens, vitamin supplements play an important role in weight gain. You can use ready-made veterinary preparations, or you can saturate the diet of birds with herbs. Part of the grain feed must be replaced with boiled potatoes, which are mixed into a damp mash.
For good weight gain, Cobb-500 broilers are recommended to give fermented milk products.
Products such as:
Sour milk.
Serum.
Low-fat cottage cheese.
Subject to all recommendations, at three months of age, broiler chickens should weigh within 3 kg. Further, the maintenance and feeding of pets loses economic sense... At this stage, in most farms, poultry is slaughtered.
In custody
According to the table of normal weight gain for broiler chicks, each broiler should gain at least 100-200 grams per week, then doubling the gain every seven days. To understand that the ration is correct, you need to weigh the birds weekly. This should be done at the same time, preferably before eating the birds. If the control weighings show deviations from the norm in the direction of decreasing, then the diet and the number of feedings of the pets should be revised.
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