- Choose a location to weigh and collect your sample, ideally using a catch pen that the birds walk into freely. Top breeders recommend weighing a total of 1–2% of a flock, spread out across two or three random locations towards the middle of the house.
- Set up the scale. The BAT1 is easy to install – simply hang it on a hook or chain in any part of the poultry house you choose. The scale is fully portable and is battery-powered, so no need for power cables. Its durable design means it is easy to transport and can handle even the roughest conditions.
- To best organize your weight data, use the keypad to designate which location you are going to weigh in (the scale can store up to 80 unique locations).
- Choose the hook, cone, or plate best suited for the age and type of birds being weighed.
- Put a bird on the scale and wait for the scale to beep. Once it does, the weight of the bird will be displayed on the screen for you and recorded to the scale’s internal memory with a timestamp.
- Since manual weighing involves physically handling each bird, it’s also the best time to record fleshing scores and sort birds by weight. The BAT1 makes this as easy as the push of a button and automatically adds this data to its internal memory for later use.
- As you weigh the birds, the BAT1 scale will automatically begin calculating useful statistics for you, such as: number of birds weighed, average body weight, body weight range, uniformity, coefficient of variation, and more. These statistics will be displayed for you on the scale and also saved to its internal memory for easier reporting.
- Once you’re done weighing, simply plug the scale into your computer and copy all your weight data to the free BAT Software. Now you’ll be able to look at all your weight data in greater detail, compare growth curves and identify potential issues before they become costly problems.
- For added functionality, BAT1 scales can also be integrated directly into your farm management system via BAT Link software or a WiFi connection, letting you see your collected weight data right alongside all your other important metrics.
December 29, 2024
How to Weigh Birds with BAT1
