Week 1 (Days 1-7): The Foundation Period
The first week is absolutely critical. Chicks that perform well during this period typically
continue to excel throughout their lives. Those that struggle early rarely fully catch up.
Your focus during week one centers on getting chicks eating and drinking, maintaining
optimal temperature, and ensuring every chick gets a strong start.
Day 1: Arrival and Placement
When your day old broiler chicks arrive from suppliers, your brooding area must be
completely prepared. Temperature should have been at target levels (32-35°C at chick
level) for at least 24 hours. Feed should be widely distributed on paper or flat trays
covering 50-75% of floor space. Water should be available at numerous points.
Handle the delivery boxes carefully and inspect chicks before final acceptance. Some
mortality during shipping is normal – anything over 1-2% warrants discussion with your
supplier.
Place chicks gently into the brooding area, distributing them throughout the space
rather than dumping them in one location. Watch their behavior immediately. They
should begin exploring, pecking at feed, and finding water within the first few hours.
During day one, check your chicks every 2-3 hours including at night. Use their behavior
to assess conditions:
• Chicks evenly distributed around the heat source indicate correct temperature
• Chicks huddled tightly under heat are too cold
• Chicks avoiding heat and congregating at cool edges are too warm
• Active, curious chicks pecking at feed suggest good conditions
• Lethargic, quiet chicks signal problems requiring immediate attention
Days 2-3: Establishing Patterns
Your chicks should be actively eating and drinking by day two. Walk through them
frequently to encourage activity and help stragglers find feed and water. Continue
monitoring temperature through chick behaviour.
Check crop fill several times daily. The crop (the bulge at the base of the neck) should
feel full and spongy when gently palpated. If many chicks have empty crops 12+ hours
after placement, this signals serious problems with feed access, water access, or
temperature.
Introduce vitamin/electrolyte supplements in drinking water for the first 3-5 days to
support chicks through transportation stress and support immune system
development.
Begin transitioning from paper/tray feeding to your regular feeding system. By day 3,
most chicks should be competently using feeders and drinkers.
Days 4-7: Growth Acceleration
By day 4-5, your chicks should be noticeably larger and more vigorous. Feed
consumption accelerates rapidly during this period. Ensure feeders remain full and
clean. Water consumption also increases significantly – check drinker levels frequently.
Watch for any signs of disease:
• Respiratory sounds (sneezing, wheezing, rattling)
• Lethargy or reduced activity
• Refusal to eat or drink
• Abnormal droppings (very watery or bloody)
• Pasty vents (droppings stuck to rear)
Early detection and response to health problems prevents small issues from becoming
flock-wide disasters.
Begin modest temperature reduction – approximately 1-1.5°C per week. Gradual
reduction avoids shocking birds while moving toward eventual ambient temperature.
Expected Performance Week 1
• Feed consumption: Approximately 100-150 grams per bird
• Average weight: 140-180 grams by day 7
• Mortality: Should be under 1.5% for quality chicks with good management
• Feed conversion ratio (FCR): Approximately 0.9-1.1 (meaning they gain more
weight than feed consumed)
This FCR under 1.0 is special – it only occurs in the first 8-10 days when chicks are
incredibly efficient at converting feed to body mass. After day 10, FCR will always
exceed 1.0. Taking maximum advantage of this early efficiency is critical for overall cycle
profitability.
Week 2 (Days 8-14): Building Momentum
Week two is where momentum builds. Birds are growing rapidly, feed consumption
increases substantially, and your management attention shifts from survival basics to
optimizing growth.
Temperature Management
Continue gradual temperature reduction. By end of week two, you should be around 27-
29°C. Watch bird behaviour constantly – they'll tell you if adjustments are needed.
Ventilation Becomes Critical
As birds grow and consume more feed, they produce more moisture, heat, and
ammonia. Ventilation becomes increasingly important. You need to balance
maintaining appropriate temperature with providing adequate fresh air.
Poor ventilation shows up as:
• Ammonia smell (burns your eyes/nose when entering)
• Wet litter
• Respiratory symptoms in birds
• Lethargy despite appropriate temperature
Adjust ventilation gradually to avoid sudden environmental changes that stress birds.
Abrupt feed changes can cause temporary digestive upset. Gradual transition maintains
feed intake and growth momentum.
Quality feed matters enormously. While feed represents your largest cost (60-70% of
total production costs), this is not where to cut corners.
Equipment Adjustment
Raise feeder and drinker heights as birds grow. Equipment should be at back height for
birds – too low and they waste feed scratching it out; too high and smaller birds can't
reach.
Add additional feeding and drinking space as birds grow. While you had enough
equipment for tiny chicks, growing birds need more access points.
Monitoring and Record Keeping
Weigh a sample of 20-30 birds mid-week. This provides your first real assessment of
growth trajectory. Compare against breed standards (available in management guides
from Ross or Cobb).
Record:
• Average weight
• Weight range (heaviest to lightest)
• Total feed consumed to date
• Cumulative mortality
• Any health interventions
Vaccination
Week two often includes vaccination against Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis,
or Gumboro (infectious bursal disease) depending on your vaccination program. Many
farmers purchase day old broiler chicks from suppliers with key vaccinations already
administered at the hatchery, but some vaccinations must be given in the field.
Follow vaccination protocols precisely – timing, dosage, and administration method all
matter. When in doubt, consult with poultry health specialists.
Expected Performance Week 2
• Feed consumption: 200-300 grams per bird for the week
• Average weight: 380-480 grams by day 14
• Cumulative mortality: Under 2.5%
• FCR to date: Approximately 1.15-1.25
Week 3 (Days 15-21): Peak Growth Begins
Week three marks the beginning of truly rapid growth. Birds are entering their most
efficient growth period. Management focus shifts to supporting maximum growth while
maintaining health.
Environmental Management
Temperature should be around 24-26°C by week three. Most birds can handle this
temperature without supplemental heat if housing is draft-free. Continue prioritizing
ventilation – air quality matters more now than maintaining very warm temperatures.
Lighting programs vary, but many broiler operations use 18-20 hours of light during the
growth phase to maximize feed intake and growth. The dark period allows birds to rest
and supports leg health.
Feed Management
Feed consumption increases dramatically. A 500-bird flock might consume 50+ kg of
feed daily by late week three. Ensure feeders stay full – any time birds can't access feed,
you're losing potential growth.
Continue monitoring feed quality. Check for:
• Moisture (feed should be dry)
• Mold (discard any moldy feed immediately)
• Contamination (rodent droppings, foreign material)
• Proper storage (protect from weather, pests)
Growth Monitoring
Weigh birds weekly. By now, you should see clear growth curves. If birds are significantly
under target weights, investigate:
• Feed quality and quantity
• Health issues
• Environmental problems
• Genetics (if this is your first cycle with a new supplier)
Calculate ongoing FCR. From day 14 onward, FCR typically ranges 1.4-1.6 with good
management. If yours is significantly worse, identify why.
Space Considerations
Birds are getting noticeably larger. Ensure stocking density isn't becoming problematic.
Overcrowding increases stress, disease transmission, and reduces growth rates.
Health Vigilance
Week three often reveals any health challenges that weren't apparent earlier. Watch for:
• Coccidiosis (bloody droppings, lethargy)
• Respiratory disease (coughing, nasal discharge)
• E. coli (sudden death, lethargy)
• Leg problems (birds sitting rather than standing)
Early detection and intervention with appropriate medications save birds and
productivity. Have relationships with veterinary suppliers established before you need
them.
Expected Performance Week 3
• Feed consumption: 400-500 grams per bird for the week
• Average weight: 900-1100 grams by day 21
• Cumulative mortality: Under 3.5%
• FCR to date: Approximately 1.35-1.45
Week 4 (Days 22-28): Managing Heavy Birds
By week four, you're managing substantially larger birds with correspondingly greater
feed and water needs. Management challenges shift toward handling size and weight.
Feed Transition to Finisher
Most farmers switch to finisher feed around day 24-28. Finisher has lower protein and is
formulated to maximize meat deposition while minimizing excess fat. It's also typically
the lowest cost per kg of the three feed types.
As always, transition gradually to avoid digestive upset.
Water Management
Water consumption increases dramatically. Birds at this age drink 1.5-2 times as much
water as feed consumed. For a 500-bird flock eating 80 kg of feed daily, that means 120-
160 liters of water consumption.
Ensure adequate drinker capacity and check water availability frequently. Water stress
even for a few hours significantly impacts growth and health.
Litter Management
With larger, heavier birds, litter quality becomes more challenging to maintain. Wet,
caked litter increases ammonia, supports pathogen growth, and causes leg and footpad
problems.
Manage litter by:
• Fixing any water leaks immediately
• Adding fresh, dry litter to wet spots
• Improving ventilation to remove moisture
• Using products like Eliminator (available from poultry suppliers) to dry wet areas
and control odor
Heat Stress Management
In South Africa's, summer temperatures can create heat stress even for acclimatized
birds. By week four, birds produce significant body heat. Signs of heat stress include:
• Panting with wings extended
• Reduced feed intake
• Increased water consumption
• Birds lying flat rather than standing
• Increased mortality
Manage heat stress through:
• Maximum ventilation
• Providing shade
• Ensuring abundant cold water
• Adding electrolytes to water
• In extreme cases, cool water misting or evaporative cooling
Market Preparation Planning
If you're targeting 5-6 week market weights (common for many small farmers), begin
confirming market arrangements. Contact buyers, confirm prices, and schedule
collection or delivery.
Expected Performance Week 4
• Feed consumption: 700-900 grams per bird for the week
• Average weight: 1600-1900 grams by day 28
• Cumulative mortality: Under 4.5%
• FCR to date: Approximately 1.50-1.65
Week 5-6 (Days 29-42): Final Growth and Marketing
The final two weeks focus on maximizing weight gain while maintaining bird health and
preparing for market.
Growth Optimization
Birds continue rapid growth, though FCR gradually worsens. By week 5-6, FCR might be
1.9-2.1 – meaning it takes nearly 2 kg of feed to add 1 kg of body weight.
This is normal and expected. The birds are larger, their maintenance energy
requirements are higher, and they're depositing more fat relative to muscle. This is why
longer growth periods aren't always more profitable – the increasing FCR eventually
outweighs the additional weight gained.
Health Maintenance
Larger birds face increased risks of:
• Leg problems from carrying heavy body weight
• Heat stress from body mass and feather coverage
• Sudden death syndrome (often related to rapid growth and metabolic stress)
• Ascites (fluid accumulation, often related to ventilation problems)
Maintain vigilant observation. Any bird showing distress should be assessed
immediately.
Uniformity Assessment
By week 5, weight uniformity becomes important for marketing. Buyers prefer uniform
sizes. Large variation in weights reduces marketability and profit.
Calculate coefficient of variation (CV%): (Standard Deviation / Average Weight) x 100.
Target CV% under 10% for good uniformity. Higher CV% suggests management
problems or poor initial chick quality.
Market Timing
Most small-scale broiler farmers in South Africa's market birds between 1.8-2.5 kg live
weight, typically achieved around days 35-42 depending on management and market
preferences.
Factors affecting market timing include:
• Target market preferences (smaller vs larger birds)
• Current market prices (sometimes worth holding for better prices)
• Feed costs (continuing to feed affects profitability)
• Disease pressure (if health issues emerge, marketing immediately might be wise)
Withdrawal Periods
If you've used medications, respect withdrawal periods before slaughter. Medication
residues in meat create serious legal and health issues. Most medications require 5-7
day withdrawal, but verify for each specific product.
Catch and Transport
Plan catching and transport carefully. Stress during catching and transport can cause
mortality and downgrades. Best practices include:
• Catching at coolest times (early morning, evening)
• Handling gently
• Not overfilling transport crates
• Minimizing transport time
• Ensuring adequate ventilation in transport
Final Weighing and Record Keeping
Before or at marketing, weigh a representative sample of birds. Calculate final metrics:
• Average live weight
• Uniformity (CV%)
• Total feed consumed
• Final FCR
• Total mortality
• Total kg produced
• Cost per kg produced
• Revenue and profit/loss
These numbers tell you how the cycle performed and guide decisions for future cycles.
Expected Performance Weeks 5-6
• Feed consumption: 1000-1400 grams per bird per week
• Average weight: 2200-2600 grams by day 42
• Cumulative mortality: Under 5-6%
• FCR to date: Approximately 1.70-1.90
Common Management Challenges and Solutions
Even with excellent planning, challenges arise. Here's how to handle common issues:
Ammonia Buildup
Problem: Eye-watering smell, respiratory problems, reduced growth
Solution: Improve ventilation immediately, fix water leaks, add dry litter, potentially use
litter treatments
Uneven Growth
Problem: Large variation in bird sizes
Solution: Ensure equal feed/water access throughout house, check for equipment
problems, evaluate chick quality
High Mortality
Problem: Losing more birds than expected
Solution: Identify cause (disease, environment, predation, management), consult
veterinarian, implement corrective actions
Poor Feed Conversion
Problem: FCR worse than expected
Solution: Check feed quality, review feeding practices, assess environment, evaluate
genetics, review health status
Leg Problems
Problem: Birds sitting rather than standing, lameness
Solution: Check lighting program, ensure proper nutrition, review growth rates, improve
litter quality
Heat Stress
Problem: Birds panting, reduced feed intake
Solution: Maximize ventilation, provide abundant cool water, add electrolytes,
implement cooling strategies
The Importance of Quality Inputs Throughout the Cycle
Successful broiler production begins with quality day old broiler chicks from reliable
suppliers like Alfa Chicks serving greater regions in South Africa. But quality inputs
matter throughout the cycle.
Feed Quality: Your feed represents 60-70% of production costs and directly determines
growth rates and efficiency. Meadow Feeds is a supplier of high quality feeds and one
that we recommend.
Cleaning Products and Disinfectants: Working with specialized poultry cleaning and
disinfectant suppliers like Bitek ensures germ free, clean environments for chickens to
grow in.
Health Products: Having access to quality vaccines, medications, and nutritional
supplements from specialists like Super Agri Science provides insurance against
disease and stress challenges. Preventive health management costs far less than
treating disease outbreaks.
Technical Support: The best suppliers don't just sell products – they support your
success with technical advice, educational resources, and problem-solving assistance.
Alfa Chicks' long history of hosting farmer's days and providing ongoing support
exemplifies this approach.
Record Keeping and Continuous Improvement
Every production cycle teaches lessons. Capture those lessons through systematic
record keeping.
Essential records include:
• Daily feed consumption
• Weekly weights
• Daily mortality with symptoms
• Environmental conditions (temperature ranges)
• Health interventions and outcomes
• Total costs by category
• Marketing details and revenue
Analyze this data after each cycle. What went well? What could improve? How did this
cycle compare to previous cycles? What was your actual cost per kg produced?
This analysis drives continuous improvement. Farmers who carefully track and analyze
data consistently outperform those who rely on impressions and memory.