Producing Broilers & Turkeys For Show 2009 Show VIP By: Keith Staggs Show Poultry Ambassador

Outline Housing / Equipment Getting Started Pre-Brood Set-Up Feed Type & Feeding Schedules Culling Birds & Pen Selection

Housing Should Be Totally enclosed Flooring - concrete or wood Solid wall Open sided (Chicken wire w/ Plastic Curtains) Flooring - concrete or wood Minimize access to outside predators

Solid Wall - Forced Air Ventilation

Open Sided - Natural Ventilation

House Lighting 40 Watt light bulbs – No more / No less Incandescent or Fluorescent lights only House lighting should be evenly distributed Eliminate Shadows / Dark Spots

Incandescent or Flourescent

Housing - Floor Space Start the birds in the area in which they will grow and live Do not reduce floor space as bird numbers decrease: Culling Mortality

Floor Space - Broilers 2 ft.2 per chick at one day of age Culling allows increase in square footage 2 ft.2 = 15 ft.2 per bird at 4 Weeks of age

Floor Space - Turkeys Flock = 2 ft.2  1 Day to 4 Weeks Flock = 6 ft.2  4 to 8 Weeks Hens = 10 ft.2  8 Weeks to Show Toms = 15 ft.2  8 Weeks to Show

Two Feet Square

Floor Space

Floor Space

Gold Fish Story

Industry Perspective

Feed & Water Equipment

Equipment - Feeder & Water Minimum Recommendations: 25 birds per feeder 15 birds per waterer Supplemental feeders & waterers for brood Clean waterers daily

Feeder Space is Crucial

Supplemental Feed / Water

Feeder Space

Equipment - Heating Lamps Use the following per 25 Birds 2 - 125 Watt 1 - 250 Watt Note: This is a Minimum Requirement Red Livestock / Pet Lamps Clear lamps create health issues Create brood temperature first week

Bird Temperature Requirements Week 1  900F (Brood Temp = Floor temp) 12” measured from center of light. Week 2  800F (Room Temp) Week 3  750F (Room Temp) Week 4  700F (Room Temp) Week 5  680F (Room Temp) NOTE: Room Temp is measured 6” above bird level

Temperature Control / Regulation

Temperature Control / Regulation

Adequate Temperature Control

Adequate Temperature Control

Inadequate Temperature Control

Use Thermometers Correctly

Incorrect Thermometer Use

Pasted Vents – Excess Heat Exposure

What Housing IS IS NOT

What Housing IS IS NOT

What Housing IS IS NOT

Set-up & Pre-Brood Set-up house  1 week prior to hatch Heat house  3 days prior to hatch Record temps  1 day prior to hatch Add feed and water 1 hour prior to receipt of chicks / poults Water temp. = 800F for the first week

Pre-Brood

Pre-Heat the House

Feed Type & Feeding Show Chow Branded Products Feed Continually Freshen Feed Daily Change Feed Out Every Third Day Raise feeders & Waterers to be even with the birds back throughout the grow-out

Avoid This!!

Encourage This!!

Broiler Feeding Schedule Week 1 → 100% HSC TS Week 2 → 100% HSC TS Week 3 → 75% HSC TS – 25% HSC BC Week 4 → 50% HSC TS – 50% HSC BC Week 5 → 25% HSC TS – 75% HSC BC Week 6 → 100% HSC BC Week 7 → 100% HSC BC NOTE: HSC TS = Honor Show Chow Turkey Starter HSC BC = Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete

Roaster or 6-Week Feeding Schedule Week 1 → 100% HSC TS Week 2 → 100% HSC TS Week 3 → 50% HSC TS – 50% HSC BC Week 4 → 25% HSC TS – 75% HSC BC Week 5 → 100% HSC BC Week 6 – Till Show → 100% HSC BC NOTE: HSC TS = Honor Show Chow Turkey Starter HSC BC = Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete

Turkey Feeding Schedule Week 1 – 12 → 100% HSC TS Week 13 – 14 → 75% HSC TS – 25% HSC TGF Week 15 – 16 → 50% HSC TS – 50% HSC TGF Week 17 – 18 → 25% HSC TS – 75% HSC TGF Week 19 to Show → 100% HSC TGF NOTE: SCTS = Honor Show Chow Turkey Starter SCTF = Honor Show Chow Turkey Grower / Finisher

Finish Feeding If you choose to do so Rule # 1 – KEEP IT SIMPLE!!! Keep it fresh! Do not cook it! Do not add whole or cracked grains Feed as supplement – 15-20 min./feeding Spoon in on top of feed in feeders If droppings become loose – STOP!!! NOTE: This does not win the Show!

Vitamins & Electrolytes Antibiotics They have a specific purpose V & E – Hydration of birds & vitamin Supplement Antibiotics – treat bacterial infection If the condition noted above is not present – these products are not needed Preventative measure for these products are no benefit to the bird!

Physical Stimulation Several times per day No strenuous activity Adjust your schedule No strenuous activity Walk to feed and water – No Laps around house!! Minimize Stress Too much excitability causes mortality

House Clean-outs No Defined Schedule Monitor Ammonia and Air Quality Bird density determines clean-out frequency Monitor Ammonia and Air Quality If you smell Ammonia upon entering house – MAKE ADJUSTMENTS Maintain Dry Litter Wet litter encourages Ammonia, Bugs, Bacteria, etc.

Culling & Pen Selection

Culling WHY? Remove Unthrifty Birds Reduce Competition of Flock Separate Male / Female (sexed show) Reduce Feed Expense Create Additional Floor Space

Culling How?? Look for same qualities/characteristics that you would when selecting the pen for show! Length of Breast Width of Breast Depth of Body Taper of Breast Muscle

Length & Width

Depth & Taper

Purina’s Winning Matrix

Land O’Lakes Purina Feed HAS YOUR FEED!! Honor Show Chow Turkey Starter Honor Show Chow Turkey Grower Finisher Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete

Benefits Provides Increased Moisture and baseline nutrition to chicks / poults during transport Attracts birds to feed  Increased Consumption Reduced Ph level  better nutrient absorption

Feeding Recommendation Top dress Oasis for four (4) consecutive days each week. Sprinkle lightly on all feeder space Finish Feeding – If you choose to do so Top dress on finish feeding mixture once per day Feed four (4) days each week after

Oasis is Working!!

Packaging Pricing 1 Bag = 22 Lbs 1 Box = 2 – 22 Lb. Bags $75.00 / Bag (Retail) $150.00 / Box (Retail)

Birds that look like this….. Produce

THE WINNING RESULTS

Thank You! Questions? Texagg94@live.com