Question

Difference between broilers and layers

Answer 1

Broilers & Layers significantly differ from each other.

• The primary striking difference is layers are females whereas broilers are unsexed comprising both males and females
• Broilers are reared for meat purpose whereas layers are reared for egg production.
• Broilers attain a body weight of around 2.2- 2.4 kg within 6 weeks because of their fast growth on the flip side layers attain a body weight of 1.5–1.8 kg at their sexual maturity (20-22weeks)
• Broilers are reared for a span of 38–42 days and then they are marketed and slaughtered for meat. Layers attain sexual maturity around 20–22 weeks and laying eggs up to 72 weeks of age and then they are either moulted or sold as spent hens.
• Commercially deep litter system of housing is best suited for rearing broilers whereas it is preferred to rear layers in caged housing systems.
• Usually broilers are reared in batches in an allin-allout system in a single rearing shed. Whereas layers are reared as per different growth stages in different sheds ie., Chicks(0-8weeks), growers (9–22 weeks) and layers (23–72 weeks).