Project: Broiler production

Problem statement:
While it is recommended that broiler be given 30cm²l1 square ft. per bird (Henry,
2005) recent research seems to indicate that increased spacing leads to greater
body weight (livestock.net 2014). Past research has shown that broiler growth
performance is affected by floor spacing where they are rears (agar vial et Al
2003). To improve the dressed weight of broilers reared at the poultry unit at the
St. Andrew Anglican secondary school batches of birds will be grown at different
spacing for 7 weeks before slaughtering.

Aim of project:
To compare the dressed weight of chickens grown at floor spacing of 1 sq. Ft per
bird vs chickens grown at floor spacing of 3 SQ ft. per bird.

Experimental design:
-50dy old chicks were bought and separated randomly into 2 batches of 25 chicks
in each batch.
- each batch is exposed to the same care and treatment except that batch 1 was
reared with a floor spacing of one square foot per bird and batch 2 was reared with
a floor spacing of 3 square ft. per bird.
- the amount of feed and water provided to each batch will be the same and both
batches will be fed and provided water around the same times daily.
Batches will be reared on a deep litter system composed of sawdust and wood
shaving.
-At the End of 7 weeks, the chickens will be killed dressed and weighed.
Average dressed weight for each batch will be calculated and compared.
Description of activities:
*Cleansing and disinfecting the pen: shovels and spades were used to remove old
litter in the pen. Chlorine bleach water was then used to disinfect the pen. Done
once.
*Construction of brooder: in each section of the pen, a circular enclosure was made
using cardboards and chicken wire. In each enclosure 25 chicks were randomly
placed.
A 60w bulb was placed over each brooder at a height the chicks were comfortable
with.
-sawdust was placed on the floor of each brooder. A chick feeder and a chick
waterer were placed in each brooder. Done once.
*Providing feed and water to chickens: Chick feeder were filled with broiler starter
twice each day for the first three weeks for each batch.
During the fourth (4th) week, grower was gradually mixed with starter for both
batches. Finisher was then placed in the hanging feeder. From weeks five to seven
(5th to 7th) for each batch, water was provided twice per day.
*Turning litter: rake and shovels were used to turn the litter, three (3) times during
the seven (7) weeks of rearing. This keeps the litter soft, spongy and minimizes
damage to the breast and legs of chickens.

*Slaughtering and dressing of chickens:

After placing chicken in plastic cones, their necks were cut off and they were
allowed to bleed. The birds were then dipped in hot water (70° - 75°c) for a short
time and then de-feathered by hand. The birds were then cut open, the guts
removed and the carcass washed. The liver, gizzard, heart was carefully removed
and replaced into the birds after cleaning. The legs were then cut off at the knee
joints, cleaned and placed back into the birds. The birds were then placed in 6lb
plastic. Bags, weighed and stored in the school's freezers. The weight of each bird
was recorded separately for each batch. Done once.

Equipment and materials:

-50 one day old chicks
-Saw dust
-Feed (starter, grower, finisher)
-stress mix (vitamins/mineral supplement)
-2 60w bulbs
-2 chick waterers
-2 chick feeders
- 2 large waterers
-2 large feeders
- Rake
-Shovel
-Spades
-Broom
-Knives
-Large pot
-6lbs clear plastic bags
-Bleach
-Plastic barrel
-Large plastic bucket

Data collection:
Batch 1 = 3.5, 3, 3.5, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3.5, 3.5, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 4, 4, 4.5, 5, 4, 4.5, 4, 4
Batch 1 Average = 3.95
Batch 2 = 5, 4, 4.5, 4, 4.5, 3.5, 5, 4.5, 5, 4.5, 4, 4, 4.5, 4, 4, 5.5, 4.5, 4.25, 4.25,
4.75, 4.5, 4.5, 5, 5
Batch 2 Average= 4.45

Presentation of data:
Chart, graph. 3 pictures with notations of what each picture shows.

Interpretation: The average weight for batch 1 is 3.95 however batch 2 average
weight is 4.45. This information would conclude that batch 2 had more larger
weights than batch 1.