Poultry Management
What this domain tests
Poultry Management tests incubation, brooding, feeding, vaccination, housing and the economics of layer and broiler flocks. Questions often ask for a management calendar or a feed conversion ratio (FCR) calculation.
Core rules
- Incubation: 21 days for chicken, 28 for duck, 28 for turkey, 17–18 for quail.
- Brooding: 33–35 °C in week 1, reduce 2–3 °C per week to 21–24 °C; provide 23 hours light and 1 hour dark in the first week, then reduce.
- Space: about 1 sq ft per broiler and 2 sq ft per layer in deep litter.
- Vaccination: Marek's at day 1; ND F1 at day 7; IBD at day 14; ND booster at 4–6 weeks; fowl pox at 6–8 weeks.
- Feed: broiler starter 22–24% CP, grower 20–22%, finisher 18–20%; layer feed 16–18% CP with 3.5–4% calcium.
Worked example
A broiler batch of 1,000 birds consumes 3,200 kg feed and yields 1,800 kg live weight. FCR = feed consumed ÷ live weight = 3,200/1,800 = 1.78. If the target is 1.65, the gap of 0.13 suggests feed wastage, disease or poor brooding. Check feeder height, litter condition and brooder temperature before blaming the feed.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing incubation periods; overheating the brooder; vaccinating sick birds; wet litter; overcrowding; not preheating the shed; mixing layer and broiler feed.