A broiler weight chart is useful only when it identifies the strain, sex, age and management conditions behind the target. Ross, Cobb, Arbor Acres, Hubbard, Marshall and other commercial broilers do not share one universal weekly weight.
Copy the weekly objective from the current guide for the exact chicks supplied. Enter your farm’s measured average beside it and calculate the difference.
Day 0: 42 g | Day 7: 202 g | Day 14: 507 g | Day 21: 950 g
These are Aviagen performance objectives for this specific strain and production context, not a universal target or a guarantee for every Nigerian farm. Use the current document supplied for the chicks you bought.
Weekly broiler weight chart template
| Age | Official strain target | Farm average | Difference | Uniformity or weight spread | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placement | Enter supplier figure | Weigh chick sample | Calculate | Record range | Check chick quality |
| Week 1 | Enter target | Enter actual | Actual − target | Record | Review brooding and crop fill |
| Week 2 | Enter target | Enter actual | Calculate | Record | Check feed, water and health |
| Week 3 | Enter target | Enter actual | Calculate | Record | Review phase and access |
| Week 4 | Enter target | Enter actual | Calculate | Record | Check FCR and litter |
| Week 5 | Enter target | Enter actual | Calculate | Record | Confirm market plan |
| Week 6 | Enter target | Enter actual | Calculate | Record | Review cost per kg gained |
| Week 7–8+ | Enter target if supplied | Enter actual | Calculate | Record | Judge market weight and efficiency |
Where to obtain weekly targets
Request the hatchery’s current performance objective for the product delivered. Official resources include Ross 308 and Cobb. Use the correct regional document and unit system.
Targets describe performance under stated conditions. They are not guaranteed results for every Nigerian farm.
How to weigh broilers correctly
- Check and zero the scale with the crate.
- Select birds from different parts of the house.
- Weigh enough birds to represent both large and small groups.
- Use the same day and similar time each week.
- Divide total sample weight by birds weighed.
- Record the lightest, heaviest and average bird.
Average weight = total sample weight ÷ number of birds weighed.
Calculate growth against target
Weight difference = actual average − target average.
Percentage of target = actual average ÷ target average × 100.
A shortfall is a warning to investigate, not proof that feed is the cause. Check the whole system.
Uniformity matters
An average can hide many undersized birds. If a few heavy birds lift the mean while most birds are small, feeder access, brooding, health or chick quality may be uneven. Record the weight spread and inspect where smaller birds gather.
Why a flock falls behind
- Poor chick quality or delayed placement.
- Cold, hot or uneven brooding conditions.
- Insufficient feed or water access.
- Wrong feed phase, poor quality or excessive fines.
- Heat stress, poor ventilation or wet litter.
- Coccidiosis, enteric disease or other illness.
- Overcrowding and weak uniformity.
- Inaccurate scales or unrepresentative sampling.
Connect weight with feed and FCR
Weight alone cannot show efficiency. Record feed consumed for the same period and calculate FCR.
Plan feed with the Poultry Feed Calculator. Calculate conversion with the FCR Calculator.
What to do when birds are below target
Confirm the scale and sample first. Review feed stock, water intake, temperature, ventilation, litter, mortality and droppings. Do not add antibiotics or growth promoters without diagnosis. Use the broiler slow-growth checklist.
Sources and context
- Aviagen: Ross 308 AP Broiler Performance Objectives (2022)
- Poultry Science: commercial Ross 308 AP performance is influenced by breeder age, management and slaughter age
Sources and context
- Aviagen: Ross 308 AP Broiler Performance Objectives (2022)
- Poultry Science: commercial Ross 308 AP performance is influenced by breeder age, management and slaughter age
Final guidance
Use one verified strain target and one consistent weighing method. Record actual weight, uniformity, feed, mortality and FCR. The chart should help the farmer decide what to inspect next, not create a false guarantee.
