The earlier they reach the desired weight, the more profitable it will be for the farmer because they will cut costs on the extra feed and other inputs needed to keep them longer. In Kenya, most broiler farmers keep them under confinement, with the target of getting them to the market between 6 to 8 weeks. They are just products of selective breeding between different chicken breeds. A misconception is that broilers are genetically modified organisms(GMO). The broilers come in both make and female, with the male gaining more weight than the females. They cannot fly away from predators, or forage for their own food.
They are calm and friendly, best suited for keeping under confinement. It comes in color white, with the skin colour being yellow. Researchers set out to breed a bird that would gain weight quickly and had a body frame that would support the meat e.g broad breasts.Īfter years of work, the Cornish Cross was developed and has become the most common breed used in commercial broiler production. They took a long time to gain the desired weight. Before this, indigenous breeds were kept for meat. The commercial broiler industry did not exist before the 1930s.
