How to raise Cobb 500 broiler chickens at home?

Cobb 500 broilers have long been firmly established as the most popular meat breed of chicken on industrial farms in Europe and America. It is not surprising that owners of small private farms and ordinary land owners are increasingly showing genuine interest in Cobb 500. We understand the secrets of successful breeding: how to get a large bird from a chicken and what to follow in the growing process.

Broilers on the farm Source morsink.de

Origin

The Cobb 500 broiler breed appeared in the Czech Republic in the early 80s of the last century, as a result of crossing meat and meat-egg chickens. When breeding, the following popular lines were combined:

• Cornish (Cornish). Honored breed of meat chicken breeding. It developed in England after crossing the genes of local fighting chickens and birds imported in the 19th century from India and the countries of Southeast Asia.
• Plymouth Rock. Poultry for meat, dairy and meat production, obtained by US breeders in the second half of the 19th century. For crossbreeding, black Spanish roosters and chickens of several breeds were used (Dominican, white Cochin).
• Kuchinsky anniversary. Bred by breeders of the Kuchinsky breeding plant (in Balashikha) in 1990, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the enterprise.
• Pantsirevskaya black. The breed originates from the Volga region, where it was bred by crossing several productive breeds (New Hampshire, white Plymouthrock, Leghorn, Rhode Island, black Australorp).

Plymouth rock chickens Source kartinki24.ru

• Rhode Island. A breed bred in the state of the same name in the second half of the 19th century based on Mediterranean and Asian chickens.
• New Hampshire. Rhode Island birds were used for breeding.
• Zagorsk salmon. A chicken with light colored plumage in hens and roosters was bred in 1959 at the Poultry Institute in Sergiev Posad.
• Pervomayskaya. The bird was obtained in the 30s of the last century at the Pervomaisky state farm (Ukraine) by gradually crossing the Rhode Island, White Wyandotte, and Yurlovskaya Volosistaya breeds.

It is important to understand that broiler chickens have parents that are not broilers, but hybrids of other original forms. If a cross was created from two initial forms, then it is called two-line, from four - four-line.

Zagorsk salmon grazing Source 2img.net

conclusions

Broiler Cobb 500 can be grown not only in large poultry farms, but also in rural, or even urban, if it is a private sector, farmsteads. It is only necessary to create a microclimate in the room according to the description and recommendations, in accordance with the most important veterinary and sanitary requirements for keeping broilers in household plots:

1. It is better to place Broller birds in a chicken coop, the temperature in which will be within 30 degrees in the absence of drafts and a relative air humidity of 60%.
2. For the first two weeks, the lighting should be the whole day, but not too bright, as this can provoke cannibalism in phlegmatic broilers. Illumination should not exceed 5 lux. Also read about chicken cannibalism in this article.
3. You can feed feathered broiler chickens with purchased concentrated feed for weight gain, or you can prepare it yourself. But it should contain proteins, useful minerals, and vitamins according to the table.
4. To increase muscle mass, it is better to keep Cobb 500 without walking. In a closed, ventilated area.

Appearance and temperament of the breed

Thanks to this impressive background, Cobb 500 chickens have become one of the most productive hybrids. They are characterized as follows:

• The birds are large, with a massive body and large (due to developed muscles) chest. The hips are also well developed; The paws are strong and large.
• A sign of the purity of the breed is exclusively white plumage, without marks of a different color. The ridge is small and bright red, as are the exposed areas of skin on the head.
• The beak, paws and skin under the feathers are a pleasant yellow shade.
• Roosters and chickens are almost the same in weight, and their meat is of the same commercial quality.
• Chickens are distinguished by a calm, phlegmatic character; they calmly tolerate the presence of other birds and people during feeding or cleaning.

A close-up look Source pro-kyr.ru

Table of the ratio of weight and feed consumption of broiler chickens

Below is a table that clearly shows the relationship between weight and feed consumption for broiler chicken.

Cobb 500 broilers can be an excellent option for both a small farm and an industrial poultry farm due to the fact that these birds do not require long-term feeding to gain optimal weight, which is very effective in terms of cost-to-profit ratio.

Even in a small area during the summer season, 2-3 generations of Cobb 500 can be raised, the meat of which has excellent taste and attractive presentation.

Productivity of Cobb 500 and Cobb 700 breeds

A hybrid (cross) with such significant external data demonstrates a rapid increase in muscle mass, which allows obtaining a meat yield of up to 70-73%. When properly maintained, a chicken weighs:

• At the age of 40 days – 2.5 kg.
• At the age of 1.5-2 months – 3 kg.
• At the age of 3 months (11-12 weeks), the Cobb Broiler reaches its maximum weight (4.5-5 kg); then the weight gain sharply decreases and stops; It becomes unprofitable to maintain it any longer.

On average, a bird needs to be fed 1.5 kg of feed to gain 1 kg of live weight (by 1 month of age). However, indicators (weight gain and consumption) may vary depending on the growing method. For example, keeping males and females separately improves weight gain while reducing feed consumption.

Growing by leaps and bounds Source ytimg.com

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The hybrid has become a popular breeding object due to its unpretentiousness and high quality meat (it is tasty and juicy). Breeders have developed other broiler breeds with similar characteristics. For example, in the mid-90s, the Cobb 700 broiler, similar in parameters, was developed in Britain; The basis was the meat breeds of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and the famous Plymouth Rock.

When comparing these two hybrids, the Cobb 700 cross has a faster rate of weight gain. On the other hand, the Cobb 700, unlike the Cobb 500, gains less mass on average. The Briton also has other features:

• Light bones and large breast.
• When feeding, higher feed consumption per 1 kg of weight.
• Health problems: chickens have weaker immunity, and older birds may have joint problems.

Despite the fact that the Cobb 500 hybrid does not specialize in egg production, chickens can be used in this capacity in private farming. They begin laying eggs at the age of 6 months. Each year, one hen produces 100-120 eggs weighing 45-60 g (2-3 per week). After reaching the age of 1.5 years, the indicators begin to gradually decline.

Meat has high taste qualities Source chirik.info

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any breed, Cobb 500 chickens have their own advantages and disadvantages; characteristics of poultry farmers include the following positive aspects:

• Unpretentiousness. Poultry can be kept both on a farm and in a small household; she does not need walking, and the placement in the house is quite compact.
• The high survival rate of hatched chickens (reaches 85-90%) depends on the quality of the incubator.
• The poultry population is uniform in size (gives the same weight gain), regardless of gender. Birds have a calm disposition.
• Like all meat breeds, high growth rate; slaughter is possible starting from 1.5 months.
• Low feed costs per 1 kg of weight, so the cost of meat is low (lower than the Cobb 700 hybrid).

Broilers do not need walking Source chirik.info

• High commercial qualities of the carcass: tender meat, large breast, pleasant yellowish “homey” skin color, regardless of the type of food.
• Increased resistance to many chicken-specific diseases (especially parasitic ones).
• The following features are considered disadvantages:
• The breed is a hybrid, so it is impossible to breed such chickens yourself; you have to buy them.
• The maternal instinct of birds tends to zero, so the eggs have to be incubated.
• Cross is sensitive to low temperatures, so in the northern regions it is impossible to do without additional heating costs.
• Low egg production is a slight disadvantage for a breed bred for tasty meat.

Aesthetics of the future lunch Source cefalunews.org

Feeding

The weight gain of Cobb 500 broilers directly depends on the diet and nutritional balance. Experienced breeders prefer not to calculate the required amount of certain nutrients, but use ready-made, clearly balanced feed consisting of fiber and a grain mixture. When using it, within a month and a half it is possible to obtain a full-fledged chicken, ready for slaughter. In general, broiler feeds are noticeably different from laying hen feeds; they contain a lot of animal and plant proteins, as well as proteins. In addition, vitamins and minerals necessary for the growth of the bird are added to them.

Professional poultry farmers recommend using their own feed for each age. Thus, newborn chickens up to 10 days of age should be fed with the crushed “Start” composition, which is designed for the delicate stomachs of babies, contains a huge amount of protein and is easily digested. Then, until the 23rd day, the young animals are given “Growth”, containing a large percentage of proteins necessary for the development of muscle mass and good weight gain. Moreover, the feed contains a sufficient amount of calcium necessary for the proper formation of the skeleton. And from the 23rd day until slaughter, the birds are fed with Finish feed. The composition is quite high in calories and includes a lot of starch, fiber and fat, while the amount of protein is slightly reduced and corresponds to the recommended standards.

Approximate composition of the mash:

• 48% ground corn or cornmeal;
• 13% wheat;
• 7% meat and bone meal;
• 1% vegetable fat;
• 18% sunflower cake;
• 8% barley grain;
• 3% grass meal;
• 5% feed yeast;
• 0.1% salt.

When using such a mixture, it should be taken into account that a high wheat content somewhat impairs the digestibility of phosphorus and calcium. Therefore, if it is not possible to replace it with barley, the amount of phosphorus and calcium supplements is slightly increased. It is also recommended that protein-vitamin complexes be added to the prepared mash in a volume of at least 10% of the total amount of the mixture.

In order to reduce the cost of keeping broilers as much as possible and reduce feed consumption, kitchen waste and vegetables from the garden are included in the diet of birds. Some farmers have had successful experience feeding chickens with food made from boiled potatoes with the addition of vegetable peelings, grass meal and crushed grain. Naturally, with such feeding, weight gain indicators drop slightly, but in the event of an acute shortage of feed or other force majeure circumstances, it is still possible to feed broilers in this way.

Where to start: eggs or young animals

Considering all the features of the Cobb 500 breed, it will not be possible to breed broilers with outstanding characteristics on your own. Anyone who wants to get offspring from broilers will be disappointed, because they do not pass on their characteristics to their offspring. Children of Czech crosses will look like their grandparents, those who were involved in creating the hybrid.

Therefore, broilers have to be purchased in two ways: in the form of hatching eggs or young stock. The choice is influenced by the desire and capabilities of the owners. Cobb chickens should be purchased from trusted sellers; They can easily be transported and adapt well to new conditions.

Many owners prefer to buy day-old chicks, since their quality and health can be clearly assessed. If the breeder violated the incubation regime, this will affect the quality of the chickens. Healthy babies have clean and fluffy down, their navels are clean and closed; They are active, in search of food, and squeak quietly.

Chickens need warmth Source ytimg.com

Eggs are cheaper, especially if you buy them in bulk from a poultry farm. It’s worth raising Cobb 500 chickens yourself if you have a quality incubator; in this case, up to 85-90% of the chickens will hatch from the laid eggs. A foam incubator is not suitable unless you like the lottery: it is very easy to overheat the eggs in it, and this leads to the death of the embryos, even if the overheating is minimal.

The eggs are kept in the incubator for 21 days, maintaining a temperature of +37-38°C. Moderate humidity and ventilation are important, but without air cooling and drafts. Under such conditions, the eggs are held horizontally or with the blunt end up. After hatching, the young animals are provided with the following conditions:

• The first two weeks. 24-hour (non-dazzling) lighting and an air temperature of +30 °C are required.
• Starting from the 15th day, daylight hours are set at 18 hours, and the temperature is gradually reduced.

Grown-up young animals are prepared for standard conditions Source vkurse.kz

About incubation

There is a great demand for day-old chicks; they can be purchased from private breeders. But honest sellers are not always found. To ensure that your money is not wasted, you need to familiarize yourself with the bird’s certificate. Eggs must be marked with the name of the cross, as well as the date of harvest.

You can lay eggs under brood hens or in an incubator, but initially they are heated to a temperature of +25 degrees. The young will be born after 21 days. We must not forget about temperature control; it is optimal to maintain the indicator from +37.6 to +37.8 degrees.

Features of keeping a cross at home

The broiler is a fast-growing bird, so it needs to create certain conditions and feeding. Correct content requires the following conditions to be met:

• Feeding. The bird will not be able to gain its full weight on a normal diet. She needs special feed with a high protein content (at least 21%). You should not save money and buy food that contains less protein (15-17%), chickens grow poorly on it and often get sick. Selecting food on your own is troublesome and unprofitable, because weight gain will slow down.
• For drinking, ordinary tap water (if not chlorinated) or from a well or borehole is suitable; There is no need to boil it, just as there is no need to add potassium permanganate.
• In order for the hybrid to gain weight faster, its walking is limited. The optimal location would be a closed poultry house or cage housing; Moreover, the grouping per square meter should not exceed 30-35 kg of live weight.

Types of food for different ages Source stroy-podskazka.ru

How to keep

There are two methods used to keep broilers: intensive and extensive.

Cellular method of maintenance

• With the first method, young animals are kept from the moment of birth in a cage or on deep bedding. Complete dry feed is used for feeding.
• The second method uses chicken coops, cages and walking areas. It is the extensive method that is used by owners of small farms. The diet is very varied.

For cage rearing, 17 birds are placed per square method. But with a dense load, meat products will be tough.

Floor maintenance method

Owners of private farms prefer to keep young animals using the floor method. You can use the following as bedding:

• sawdust;
• straw;
• wood shavings;
• peat.

To maintain hygienic conditions, it is necessary to regularly clean damp areas and add new bedding. With the onset of summer, broilers are sent to walking areas. But even on the street you need to make sure that there is no draft; you can use window frames for barriers.

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Chicken diseases

Cross Cobb 500 has the advantage of good disease resistance. However, if the conditions in the poultry house are not observed, the following problems are possible:

• Avitaminosis. Occurs if unbalanced feed is used or there is not enough feed. To prevent this situation, it is enough to feed the chickens with special feed and follow the daily norms.
• Aspergillosis. The disease is caused by a fungus and affects the respiratory tract when the contents are disturbed (cold, humidity, dirt). Treatment is carried out by a veterinarian.
• Bronchial pneumonia. Heavy, wheezing breathing can occur as a result of a cold. Treatment requires veterinary care and antibiotics.
• Dyspepsia. Most often it occurs in chickens due to spoiled feed. The bird refuses to eat, the droppings change color and consistency.
• Salmonellosis. A bacterial infection, often caused by food or water. The disease is most dangerous for chickens under two weeks of age; treatment is not always effective.

Hybrid with great potential Source 24aul.ru

Briefly about the main thing

Cobb 500 is a profitable option for those who are going to raise chickens for meat. The hybrid comes from several early maturing breeds, distinguished by high quality meat. A massive bird with white plumage is distinguished by its rapid weight gain, provided that it is properly fed and maintained.

At home, broilers are raised in two ways, purchasing hatching eggs or chickens. Maintenance does not cause much trouble, the main thing that needs to be done is to limit walking, observe temperature and light conditions, and use feed specially designed for broilers.