Cockerel Management in Poultry

Cockerel Management in Poultry: Brooding, Feeding, Debeaking and Vaccination

Cockerel management involves the rearing of male chicks obtained from layer hatcheries for meat production. Although these chicks are not required for egg production, they can be raised under appropriate management practices to obtain additional meat production.

The brooding management is the same as that for broiler or layer chicks. Male chicks obtained from layer hatcheries are usually discarded as unwanted waste. Instead, they can be reared up to the 10^th week for meat production.

The vaccination schedule is also the same.

All chicks should be debeaked either on the 6^th or 14^th day. They may be fed broiler starter and finisher mash, and their body weight at 10 weeks (market age) will be 0.75 to 1 kg.