Automatic weight separation of broiler chickens

1. The individual weight gains of 371 broiler chickens in a commercial flock were monitored to establish individual growth patterns.

2. The relationship between early and final body weight was investigated for individual chickens.

3. The feasibility of automatic separation of birds into different weight groups was evaluated and consideration given as to whether this technique could be used for sex‐separation of an as‐hatched flock.

4. The results suggest that the present commercial practice of male selection at flock depopulation may be less reliable than many producers believe.