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Feather Sexing
Some genetic varieties of Broilers can be sex differentiated at one day old by examining their primary wing feathers. Not all varieties can be feather sexed; this service must be confirmed with our sales personnel on the day of the hatch. Some large commercial scale farms brood cocks and hens in separate pens, as it has been found that cocks on average will attain market size marginally sooner than the hens, plus the separated sexes will be more uniform on the processing line (individuals within a sex will be within 4 oz of each other). The main disadvantages of this strategy are the additional cost of sexing in the Hatchery, the additional cost of having 2 pens for one flock, and the additional farm management needed to extract the possible marginal gains.
Colour Sexing
Brown Layer Cocks and Hens are always separated in the Hatchery - brown layers are easily differentiated by colour (hens are brown while cocks are generally much lighter). We cull layer cocks and do not offer them for sale to our customers, as they are poor growers and do not (obviously) lay any eggs! Some broiler varieties available in the US are also bred to be colour sexed, however these are not available to us in Barbados therefore we cannot offer this service.
Debeaking
Debeaking, the process in which the tips of the beaks are trimmed to prevent 'picking' within the flock, was once common practise in Hatcheries as Farmers wanted their flocks free of picking behaviours that cause mortality. There are several methods of beak trimming, but the one most commonly used in our hatchery is 'Hot Blade' where a heated blade is used to trim and cauterise the beak in one step. Cauterisation (sterilisation of the wound) prevents further infection, but also destroys the tissue that is responsible for regrowth of the beak tip - if done properly, one beak trim will be sufficient for the life of the bird. Debeaking is now considered to be too stressful for broilers, as with adequate management many of the undesired behaviours addressed with debeaking can be otherwise controlled. Since the life of a broiler is around 6 weeks, and debeaking causes at least 2 weeks of stressed recovery and reduced weight gain (due to sensitive beaks) we do not usually recommend debeaking. We are, however, fully equipped to perform the procedure should you require it.
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Brooding Suggestions
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 Anflox - Antibiotic administered at 2 ml per gallon of drinking water for the 1st 3 days of brooding. Can be substituted with Neochlor for smaller volume of chicks.
 Vitalyte Plus - Vitamin mix, add 1 package to 100 gallons of water or ¼ teaspoon to a one gallon bottle. Vitalyte Plus can be mixed with Anflox, i.e. applied in the same drinking water. Use for the 1st 5 days of brooding, then again prior to any change of feed type.
 Vitamin E - Not always necessary, however if Vitamin E deficiency has been noticed in other chicks prior to placement of day old broilers, apply 3 oz (100 ml) of vitamin E liquid to 128 gallons of drinking water. (1 teaspoon to 5 gallons).
Recommended Feeding for Layers
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| 0-6 weeks old |
Chick Starter / Broiler Starter |
| 6 weeks to start of production |
Growing Ration |
| After 5% production |
Cage Layer |
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