-
How To...
05
Bulk Weigh Broilers Between0 and 21 Days
01 Why
bul
k w
eigh
bro
ilers
bet
wee
n 0
and
21 d
ays?
An Aviagen Brand
An Aviagen Brand
Why bulk weigh broilers between 0 and 21 days?
Routine accurate estimates of average body weight allows:
• Accuratemonitoringofliveflockperformance.
• Identificationofpossibleperformanceissues.
• Definedendproductspecificationstobeascloselymetaspossible.
-
02Theprocedureforbulkweighingbroilersbetween0and21days
HOW TO...Bulk Weigh Broilers
Between 0 and 21 Days
05
An Aviagen Brand
The procedure for bulk weighing broilers between 0 and 21
daysBird HandlingBirds must be handled in a calm and correct way by
people who have been appropriately trained. Bird welfare must be a
priority at all times.
Equipment1.Agoodsetofelectronicormanual/mechanicaldialscaleswith10g(0.02lb)increments,anaccuracyof+/-20g(0.04lb)andaminimumcapacityof10kg(22lb).
Examplesofdifferenttypesofweighingscales(lefttoright)-Floorpanscalesforsingleormultipleboxweightsandmanualdialscales.
2.Apenorpencil.
3.Weightrecordingcharts.
4.Scientificcalculatorifweighingusingmanual/mechanicaldialscales.
Note - All scales should be calibrated on a regular basis (at
the beginning and end of every weighing) to ensure they are
weighing accurately and correct body-weight management is
maintained.
-
03 Theprocedureforbulkweighingbroilersbetween0and21days
HOW TO...
05
An Aviagen Brand
Bulk Weigh Broilers Between 0 and 21 Days
Example Calculation:
Averagechickweight(g/lb)=Total weight of chicks weighed in
box
Number of chicks in box
Averagechickweight=3200g(7.05lb)
=40g(0.09lb) 80
Procedure – Day 0
(Placement)Weighatleast3boxesofchicksperhouseplaced.
Step 1 Zeroscaleswithanemptychickboxandlid.
Step 2 Weigh a box with chicks inside and with lid on to gain
total weight of chicks and box – recordweight.
Step 3 Count out the number of chicks weighed in
eachbox–recordchicknumber.
Step 4 Calculateaveragechickweight.
Step 5 Plot average weight of all chicks weighed on
aweightchartandcomparetotarget.
Step 1
Step 2
-
HOW TO...
05
04Theprocedureforbulkweighingbroilersbetween0and21days
An Aviagen Brand
Bulk Weigh Broilers Between 0 and 21 Days
Procedure – Day 7, 14 and 21
Step 1
Step 1 Place an empty bulk weighing container,such as a box or
bucket (big enough to hold
10-20chicksatatime),onscalesand‘zero’thescaleswiththecontainerinplace.
Step 2 Usinga catchingpen, catcha sampleof atleast 1%or100birds
(whichever is greater)perhouse.
Ifbirdsaresexed,aminimumof100birds(or1%ofthepopulation)ofeachsexshouldbeweighed.Samplesshouldbetakenfrom
3 evenly distributed locations throughout eachhouse(orsexedpens
ifgrowingsexesseparately). Sample points should be
awayfromdoorandwalls.
Step 3 Place 10 - 20 birds at a time into the weighing container
and record the total weight of each
fullcontainerandthenumberofchicks.Neverput too many chicks in the
container; theyshouldnotbeplacedontopofeachother.
Step 4 Gently empty the birds out of the containerback into the
main population and repeattheweighing process untilALL birds in the
catching pen have been weighed. This
willeliminateselectivebias.
Step 5 Add together the weight of all samplesweighed and divide
by the total number of birdsweighed.
Step 6 Plot average chick weight on a weight
recordingchartandcomparetotarget.
Step 3
Step 4
-
Pro
cedu
re fo
r ta
king
indi
vidu
al b
ody
wei
ghts
05 Interpretingresults
HOW TO...
05
An Aviagen Brand
Bulk Weigh Broilers Between 0 and 21 Days
Interpreting
resultsIfbodyweightsareinconsistentwithexpectedgainsorthereisamarked(+/-50g[0.11lb])deviationfromthestandardbody-weightprofile,re-weightheflocktocheckweighingaccuracyusingthesameproceduresasabove.
A deviation in normalweekly body-weight gain (+/- 20 g [0.04
lb]) during the first 14
daysthatcannotbeattributedtoweighingerror,generallyindicatesaneedtorevisefarmbroodingprocedures.
If early body-weight targets are not being achieved it is
necessary to:
• Measure,monitor,andreacttohousebroodingconditions:
o Checkhousesarepre-warmedfor24hourspriortochickarrival.
o
Checkhouseairtemperatureatchicklevelis30.0°C(86.0°F)atplacement.
o Checkhouserelativehumidityis60-70%forthefirst3-5days.
o
Checkhouselittertemperatureis28.0-30.0°C(82.0-86.0°F)atplacement.
o
Checkthatchickshavenomorethan1m(3.3ft)totraveltoanadequatefreshwatersupply.
o
Checkthatatleast80%ofthebroodingareaflooriscoveredwithpaperand/ortrays(1per100chicks),andagoodqualitysievedcrumborminipelletisfed.
o Checklightintensityinthebroodingareais80-100lux(7-9fc).
o Checkcropfill.
• Feedahighernutrientqualitystarterfeed.
More Information• BroilerHowTo04;HowTo...AssessCropFill.
• BroilerManagementHandbook.
