Milford chronicle., 1955-05-13
Delaware's Best
Broiler Growers
(Continued from cage one)

tOOuJiuueu llOnl lo6C ohOJ
ry, assistant poultry specialist. All
kinds of feed and breeds of chicks
were represented. Under this pro-
gram. each dealer is permitted to
nominate one producer each month.
AT the annual DPIA Banquet next
year. the top producers will be
awarded certificates in recognition
of their ability to raise a superior
flock of broilers.
At least three-fourths square
foot of floor space per chick was
allowed in each of these fiocks.
Elmer Cooper had $40 So. TT. per
chick in the house where he got
the best results. Il used to put g.
900 chicks in this house" he said;
"now / start $500 chicks and sell
as many pounds of meat as l did
with the 5000" All broiler growers
IN the state are now allowing much
more room than they did few
years, ago.
Small pens are becoming more
popular. Its a little more work to
take care of the chicks in small
pens, but it seems to pay off," one
grower remarked. Most of the
above growers had only two or
three stoves in each pen; and 800
400 chicks per stove. Coal, gas and
oil stoves are the most popular.
One-gallon glass jars Zone per
100 chicks) was used for 10 days
to 2 weeks. Four-fOOt automatic
water troughs g to 6 pen 1000
chicks) were connected up when
the chicks were few days old.
Water fountains were cleaned once
or twice day.
Nearly all growers started feed
| ing on box lids. Some changed to a
small or 4 fit. metal feeder when
chicks were about one week old;
others waited till chicks were 2-3
weeks old and then started using
the 5 fit. metal broiler feeder. Num-
Der of feeders averaged Is per l.,
900 chicks; the largest number used
was 25 per 1000.
All of the chicks were debeaked,
either at one day of age in the
hatchery, or later On in the poul-
try house. About half of the above
growers vaecinated once for New
castle at 10 days of age; the others
vaccinated twice-at Al days of
age ard repeated at As weeks of
age. Part of them vaccinated for
tracheitis at As weeks of age.
More pellets are being fed. Some
of these flocks were fed mash for
three weeks; then pellets for the
rst of the growing period. All of
the growers fill the feeders less
than half full, to prevent feed
Iwastage by billing. Part of the
fiocks were fed only twice a day;
some were fed or times day.
Most of the flocks were fed a low
level caccidiostat.
All of these growers clean and
wash down their houses between
fiocks, scrub the equipment, and
put in new litter. They all start
their brooder stoves a day or two
ahead of time to make sure they
are operating properly; and set up
the equipment in advance. Ventila-
ton is checked constantly, and the
birds given food care
AS part CT this Grow Better
Broiler Program" all growers NOM
mated for the "Broiler Producer of
the Month Club are visited by the
County Agricultural Agent and Ex-
tension Poultryman. Dealers who
are interested in nominating one
of their growers should contact
their County Agent: New Castle
County, Edward Schabinger or
Ralph Barwick, Box $50. Newark;
Kent County, George Vapaa, Post
Office Building, Dover; Sussex
County, William Henderson or Ray
Lloyd, Post Office Building, George
town, Delaware.