A fertile egg journey to a broiler at 6 weeks

Fam, here’s something many new farmers overlook…
A 6-week broiler actually starts its journey 9 WEEKS before you sell it.
Yebo, that bird you deliver at Week 6 started long before it even hatched.
Let me break it down clean-clean, week by week — so you can plan like a real farmer, not vibe!

🔥 HOOK: Before we dive in — where are you farming from? Drop your location in the comments and let’s map out our MeloChicks farmers across Mzansi and Africa! 🌍🐥

🐣 WEEK 1: Egg Selection & Storage

Good broilers start here. Eggs must be fresh (less than 7 days old), clean, the right size, and stored at ± 18°C. No stress, no shaking, no heat shocks. This one week already determines your hatch rate.

🧪 WEEK 2: Incubation Begins

Eggs go into the setter. Perfect temperature, humidity and turning. The embryo forms organs, veins, heartbeat. If your incubator game is sloppy, forget the rest — the chick will tell you later.

🤫 WEEK 3: Lockdown & Hatch

Day 18 lockdown. No more turning. Humidity up. Chicks pip, zip, and boom — by day 21 your babies arrive! This week decides chick quality.

🍼 WEEK 4: Week-Old Chicks Arrive on Farm

Now your broiler cycle is officially rolling. Heating, bedding, clean water with vitamins, and proper starter feed. No drafts, no wet litter — they feel everything.

🍗 WEEK 5: Brooding Week 2 (Weeks 1–2 on Farm)

Feathers grow, appetite kicks in, uniformity builds. This stage makes or breaks your FCR. Any mistakes here? You’ll see it MANY weeks later.

💪 WEEK 6: Growth Phase (Weeks 3–4 on Farm)

Birds move from “cute” to “business.”
Switch from starter to grower.
Good ventilation + clean drinkers = fast growth.
This is where you save or lose profit.

⚡ WEEK 7: Late Grower / Early Finisher (Week 5)

Birds bulk up. Monitor weight daily.
Watch for heat stress, blocked nipples, overcrowding, ammonia.

🎯 WEEK 8: Finisher Phase (Week 6)

The final push.
Feed is money now — no waste.
Weights should hit your target depending on your contract or market.

💰 WEEK 9: Harvest & Sale

This is the week your hard work shows.
You load birds, deliver, collect cash…
And immediately start preparing for the next cycle.
And guess what? That next 6-week broiler starts NOW — with the eggs being collected for your next hatch.