PRODUCING BROILERS FOR SHOW GUIDE FOR JUNIOR MARKET BROILER SHOWS

These things are a MUST do:

- Observe and follow all show rules and regulations regarding the purchasing and showing of Broilers
- Purchase Pullorum-Typhoid clean broiler chicks
- Use Honor® Show Chow® Branded Products
- Follow recommended management practices during the entire brooding and grow-out period
- Keep records on all expenses and receipts
- Cull birds accurately and select the show pen properly

House Set-up and Pre-brood

♦ Inform your Purina Feed Dealer 2 weeks prior to your needs
♦ It is best if you share your feed program/feed types with Purina Feed Dealer. This allows the dealer to plan his feed orders and ensure fresh, quality, feed throughout your growout period.
♦ Allow two square feet per bird that you start plus allow square footage for feeders and watering equipment
♦ Supply one feeder for every 20 broilers (this is a minimal requirement)
♦ Supply one watering unit for every 15 broilers (this is a minimal requirement)
♦ Place at least 4 inches of litter (pine shavings) throughout the house
♦ Adequate house lighting is needed – 24 hour light is necessary
♦ 40 Watt light bulbs (incandescent / fluorescent) are recommended
♦ Place 1-250 watt RED heat lamps per 25 broilers (this is a minimal requirement)
♦ Have house set-up complete and begin heating the house 3 days prior to receipt of the broilers
♦ Brood temperature (litter temperature) should be 90° F at floor level, 12” from the center beam of the brooder lamp
♦ Water temperature should be 80° F for the first 5 days.
♦ Bird performance will be negatively impacted if the broilers become too warm or cold
♦ Keep fresh air in the houses but avoid cold drafty air on the broilers
♦ Time spent in the broiler house is a major key to the success of your project!!
♦ The more the birds are stimulated, the better performance you gain at the show
♦ Each time someone enters the house, shake the feeders, and slowly walk around the house (stirring the litter), and making the birds get up and eat/drink/exercise. The more time spent in the house, the better the birds perform.
It takes TIME, TIME, TIME!!!!

Pre-brood Dates

2-Weeks Prior – Visit with your feed dealer about feeding plans and
1-Week Prior – Set-up and equip the broiler house with litter and all equipment.
1-Week Prior – Test all equipment including lights, heat lamps, feeders, waterers, etc.
3-Days Prior – Begin heating the broiler house – the key to a good start
1-Day Prior – Check progress of pre-brood temperatures. Make final adjustments if needed.
** NOTE: 1 hours prior to receiving birds, add feed to feeders
Prepare water and place in waterers. Remember water temperature needs to be 80 degrees Farenheit
Receive birds and confirm band numbers at time of placement in the house.
Call Ag Teacher/or 4-H leader within 24 hours of placing the birds if there are discrepancies with band numbers and/or bird health issues.

Week 1

Maintain brood temperature at 90 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter
Change water 24 hours after placement of birds and every 24 hours after that

Week 2

Maintain house temperature at 80 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter
Keep fresh water available at all times
10 days of age – spread wing bands open
Weather permitting allow fresh air into the house
Stir the air with a fan if weather does not permit you to ventilate with fresh air
Avoid creating a cool draft on the birds

Week 3

Maintain house temperature at 75 degrees farenheit
Feed 75% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter and 25% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting allow fresh air into the house
If weather does not permit fresh air ventilation, stir air with fan
Avoid creating a cool draft on the birds
Plan a day for week 4 to cull birds. Ensure the availability of additional people to help.
Look at litter condition – Add 2-3 additional bags or clean entire house out and replace with new shavings maintaining a minimal 4” base throughout the house

Week 4

Maintain house temperature at 70 degrees farenheit
Mix 50% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter/Game Bird Starter with 50% Show Chow Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating cool draft on the birds.
On or before 28 days of age, cull birds down to approximately 3 birds for every bird that will be entered in the show. Example: 1 pen of 3 broilers shown – Cull down to 9-12 broilers. The criteria used for culling is the same as for picking the show pen (see criteria below).

Week 5

Maintain house temperature at 68 degrees farenheit
Feed 25% Honor® Show Chow® Turkey Starter and 75% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating a cool draft on the birds.
Read show rules, regulations and guidelines to showing broilers.

Week 6

Maintain house temperature at 68 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating cool draft on the birds.
Evaluate litter condition – clean-out entire house if it was not done at three weeks of age. Add 3-4 additional bags of litter if the house was cleaned out at 3 weeks of age (depending on litter condition).
Begin to prepare for transport of birds to the show.
Locate card board box and purchase fresh shavings (shavings from house not recommended unless they are exceptionally clean)
Ensure availability of additional people to assist in holding birds for pen selection. If it is a morning show, select birds the night before. If it is an afternoon/evening show, select birds the morning of the show in cool weather only. During hot weather, select birds after 9:00 p.m. prior to show.

Week 7 (continue through till show date)

Maintain house temperature at 68 degrees farenheit
Feed 100% Honor® Show Chow® Broiler Complete
Keep fresh water available at all times.
Weather permitting, allow fresh air ventilation. Stir the air with a fan. Avoid creating cool draft on the birds.
Monitor litter condition – the cleaner the house litter, the cleaner the birds will be at time of show.

Pen Selection

Do not over handle the birds.
Too much feeling, squeezing, and hanging upside down creates stress on the birds and causes birds to soften and possibly die.
Remember, prior to pen selection look for defects that would result in disqualification. Remove those birds (if any) and select the top birds for a pen to show.
Mark bird on the leg with magic/paint marker. Mark the first choice pen of birds all the same.
Mark alternate birds with a different color or mark for quick identification.
Avoid tie wraps, string or leg bands for identification purposes.

Criteria for Pen Selection:

Length of breast bone – Measure from the “V” in the breast to the end point of the breast (keel) bone.  The longer the breast (keel) bone the better!
Depth of body – The measurement from the front of the breast to the backbone should be considered. Deep bodied birds will exhibit more muscle mass!
Width of the breast muscle – Using your hand, measure the width of the breast muscle.  Wide breasted birds are desired!
Tapering of the breast – measure the amount of taper (loss of muscling) as you evaluate the breast muscle toward the back of the breast (keel) bone. Minimal amount of taper is best!

Win a FREE coop, flock and feed for a year!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Promotion open to legal U.S. residents, 13 years of age and older as of 7/18/11. Sweepstakes starts 7/18/11 and ends 9/18/11. Internet access, valid email address and Facebook account required to enter. Visit www.facebook.com/purinapoultry and www.facebook.com/chickenchat for complete details and official rules. Void where prohibited.

Raising show broilers doesn’t require any “magic”, “secret recipes”, or “hocus pocus”.  It does, on the other hand, require some intelligent planning and work.  Creating a schedule that includes pre-delivery setup, do’s and don’ts for arrival day, effective feeding schedules for meat birds, and proper meat bird culling and selection for show is vital.

Of course we offer a complete line of Honor Show Feeds in addition to all of the accessory products you’ll need when raising champion show broilers.

Honor Show Chow Turkey Starter is currently in store priced at $21.18

Honor Show Chow Broiler is currently in store priced at $21.39

Mention discount code CFS/WFS and receive $1.00 off each bag purchased.

For a complete day by day guide to raising champion show broilers, click here!

Organic Chicken Feed from Hiland Naturals in Millersburg, Ohio provides Feeders Supply Companies with the necessary product for the natural raising of poultry chicks. 

According to Dan Masters, the organic feed consultant for Hiland Naturals, broilers fed organic or Non-GMO (genetically modified product) grow out healthier and faster than when fed out with other products. 

Hen and Chicks

Many people think that the only way to feed birds naturally is by providing them a certified organic product.  But, according to Dan, the Non-GMO product is just as healthy for only a fraction of the cost. 

For more information on Hiland Naturals Organic or Non-GMO feeds, contact Willis Feeders Supply – 936-890-5549 or Hiland Naturals 330-893-2016.

For a long time, people who wanted to start a chicken coop had to renovate an old shed or buy a pre-built one. A pre-built coop costs $500 upwards and this does not include the cost of installation. The cost of a pre- built chicken coop with installation is usually over $1000. According to Jim and Ann, who have put together ‘The DIY Chicken Coop Guide’, you can build your own chicken coop for just $100 if you do a little extra work of collecting materials.

The process of making the shed is explained in a manner that it will be easy for anyone to follow. People who don’t necessarily consider themselves the do it yourself type can also follow the step-by-step instructions and if you need support with the process, that is also available.

With the help of the diagrams and schematics you will be able to see how the coop is built. Video library provides you with videos related to chicken coops. You will also be able to pre cut and pre label your wood with the help of the wood cutting diagram shown in the guide.

The material used in the building of these coops is also important because you want to save as much money as possible. The guide shows you how to build the coop from inexpensive materials that can be easily bought from your local hardware store.
Also, special consideration has been given to keep the chickens safe from predators. The shed is raised from the ground level to provide protection and another benefit of this is that they will not be affected by the cold damp soil.

You can also give the shed your own touch by customizing and you can also scale the plans to accommodate more chicken if required.

The products that you will be able to get in this package are: ‘The DIY Chicken Coop Guide’: this guide shows you how to build small, medium and large sized coops.  Special Reports are included with this package:

• Chicken City Ordinances Guide: From this guide you can learn what the rules and regulations are in your area for building coops
• 6 Things You Must Do Before Building a Chicken Coop: This book explains all the things that you need to do before starting your DIY project
• Talk Chicken A-Z: Understanding your flock – which breed is best for your lifestyle and climate
• How to Build An Incubator: The challenge of hatching and raising chicks
• How to Build A Brooder: The requirements of raising chicks to maturity

There is also bonus material available for you which includes a Video Library.  The price of the whole package is $39.97. In case you don’t find the plans useful you can return the package within 60 days and get a full 100% refund.