Breeding modern broiler crosses can be very profitable. After all, such a bird gains muscle mass very quickly. During the season, you can grow 2-3 broods for meat. One of the most interesting crosses at the moment are Cobb-500 broilers. Reviews from homeowners and farmers are wonderful.
Advantages of the breed
One of the characteristic features of this cross is a very attractive presentation of the carcass. Cobb-500 breed broilers are distinguished by yellow skin of a pleasant shade. In most other hybrids, the carcass is either white or has a bluish color.
Of course, this is not the only advantage of the cross-country cobb-500. The undoubted advantages of this bird, among other things, include very fast growth at low feed costs. Slaughter chickens of this breed is allowed at the age of one month. At this time, their weight, with proper balanced feeding and good conditions, can reach 1.7-2 kg. The optimal slaughter period is considered the age of 35-42 days.
Another advantage of this cross is the lack of the need to use any expensive feed. The main part of the menu of this bird is usually a special compound feed with all the necessary additives. If it is not possible to buy it, a diet for Cobb-500 broilers can be developed independently.
The advantages of the breed, farmers and owners of personal plots include strong legs, a wide chest, as well as excellent survival rates.
general description
Plumage Cobb-500 broilers, reviews of which are excellent, are pure white. One of the distinguishing features of this particular cross is thick, well-developed legs, always yellow. Scallops and lobes in both hens and males have a healthy bright red color.
Cross reviews
Cobb-500 broiler chickens, the characteristics of which (their differences from other crosses are discussed above) which allow us to judge them as very hardy and productive, are currently bred in many household farms. The opinion of the farmers about them was actually very good. The chickens of this cross grow well, are practically not susceptible to disease and do not require any special care. The only thing is that you need to approach the development of the diet with all responsibility. If there is too little protein in the feed, these chickens will not grow large. And since they are quite expensive, the costs may simply not justify themselves. That is, the potential of the bird must be fully utilized.
In addition to all the advantages listed above, the advantages of this cross owners of household plots include uniformity in the herd. That is, the whole bird from one brood has 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 eloquently talk about this.
Basic feeding rules
The diet of these chickens is compiled in such a way that they receive a sufficient amount, firstly, of proteins, and secondly, of minerals. In addition, like any other broiler, cobb-500 should receive all the necessary vitamins.
In addition, if you want to get broilers of this particular breed, it is important to remember one rule. If any form of wheat is present in the diet, this will reduce the level of digestibility by the bird of potassium and phosphorus, which are very necessary for it. Therefore, the disadvantage will have to be made up for with special additives.
Of course, all feed given to chickens should be fresh. Cobb-500 broilers should not be fed rotten vegetables, moldy foods, or expired supplements. A balanced menu is the basis for the success of a procedure such as broiler chickens. We feed well - we get a lot of meat. With a lack of protein, the result will surely disappoint.
Finished feed
As already mentioned, Cobb-500 broilers are usually grown on balanced, balanced feed. As a rule, Pk-5 (for chickens) and Pk-6 (for adult chickens) are used in home gardens. Experienced poultry farmers are advised to purchase ready-made feed for broilers of this breed only from trusted manufacturers. Using a poor-quality product can significantly reduce bird productivity.
Homemade feed
The broiler menu differs from the hen's diet primarily in its high protein content. Cobb-500 can be fed with any grain and crushers. However, you should definitely add fishmeal, whey, meat waste, etc. to the menu, that is, protein-rich foods.
You can add any vegetables to the mixers for this bird. Especially useful for meat crosses is red carrots. As for potatoes, it is better to give it to broilers only in raw form. 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, hens do not feel very well.
Vitamins A, E and D must be added to feeds. Without them, it will be impossible to achieve a good result of productivity. The easiest way to make a multivitamin "mess". To prepare it, you need half a liter of sunflower oil. 10 ml of a solution of each vitamin is added to it and everything is mixed well. You can store oil in the refrigerator. Give it twice a week for 1 tsp. per 1 kg of feed.
Of course, chickens should definitely feed chalk and salt. Small shells and eggshells will also be very useful. It is necessary to put in the cells or shed and containers with small pebbles. Sand broilers can not be given.
Types of content
To get a good result for the meat yield, chickens of this breed should create optimal conditions for growth and development. Typically, in homestead households such types of kobb-500 broilers are used as:
- Cellular. A small space limits the activity of chickens, and they gain weight better.
- Floor. This method is mainly used in cases where there is enough space in the barn and the number of animals is not too large. For walking these chickens is not recommended. This can significantly reduce muscle growth rates.
Judging by the reviews of farmers, the second way of keeping allows you to get better carcasses. In addition, chickens are less and less likely to get sick. However, the cellular method can significantly save space. Especially when using two- or three-tier structures.
Basic content rules
Chickens of this breed are placed in a well-ventilated and very warm room. Windows in the barn is not necessary. Until the age of fifteen days, the lighting in the house should be around the clock. Broilers eat a lot at this time and in the dark they may simply not find feeders. Further, the duration of daylight hours is reduced to 18 hours.
The success of such a procedure as growing Cobb-500 broilers depends in many respects on how clean the room in which they are kept will be. Dirt and large amounts of uncleaned feces can lead to an outbreak of an infectious disease. For the same reason, drinking feeders should be kept clean. They should be washed daily, avoiding the fading of water or acidification of the feed.
It is 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 could not climb into it with legs.
In the event that there is no window in the barn, it is necessary to arrange at least the simplest ventilation. If the air in the room where the chickens are contained is too high an ammonia content, the bird will lose its appetite. In addition, the case will certainly increase. Broilers do not tolerate stuffiness very poorly. Also, one should not allow even weak drafts in the room. The optimum temperature in the chicken coop is considered to be 28-33 gr.
Hatching egg
Raising such a bird as Cobb-500 broilers (reviews make it possible to judge it as not too whimsical) is not particularly difficult at home. But to breed it, like any other hybrids, will not work. Crosses are bred by crossing immediately a large number of breeds of chickens. Unfortunately, their qualities are not passed on to their offspring. In the best case, you can get young animals with productivity similar to one of the parent breeds.
There is only one way to breed this breed of chickens at home on their own. To get young animals you just need to buy a cobb-500 broiler hatching egg. The cost of one piece is not too high - about 30-35 rubles. Young animals, even a daily allowance, of course, will cost more.
Incubation of broiler eggs of this breed is carried out in the usual mode, in compliance with the set temperature and humidity conditions.
Chick Care
At first, cobb-500 chicks are fed almost the same way as laying hens: cottage cheese, boiled egg, finely chopped wheat (65% of the total), etc. On the third day, green foods and red carrots are included in the diet. At 10 days of age, chickens are given fishmeal, oilcake, potatoes.