If a farmer can get the first two weeks of raising birds right, then  farming business will be enjoyable.

Brooding broiler chicks involves providing the optimal environment and care to ensure their health and growth from day-old to four weeks. Here’s a detailed guide on the essentials of brooding:

 1. Preparation of the Brooder House

• Cleaning and Dïsinfëçtion: Thoroughly clean and disinfect the brooder house a week before the chicks arrive. Remove any old litter, wash down the surfaces with a pressure washer, and apply a disïnfëctânt effective against common poultry disëáses like Vïrkøn S or a blëâch sølütion. Allow the house to dry completely before adding new litter.

• Litter Preparation: Spread a 2-3 inch layer of absorbent litter material (such as wood shavings, rice hulls, chopped straw, or newspaper) on the floor. The litter should be dry, free from mold, and dust-free to provide a comfortable bedding for the chicks and absorb moisture.

• Heating Source: Install heating equipment like infrared heat lamps, gas brooders, or electric heat plates. Position the heat source to provide an even distribution of warmth. Maintain a temperature of 32-35°C (90-95°F) at chick level for the first week. Use a thermometer to check the temperature in multiple locations within the brooder.

Make sure you hear up your brooding pen at least one hour before the chicks arrival.

READ ALSO: How to Sustain a Disease Free Poultry Farm

 2. Setting Up the Brooder

• Temperature Regulation: Monitor the temperature closely. Place thermometers at chick level in different parts of the brooder. Reduce the temperature by 2-3°C each week until it reaches 21°C (70°F) by the end of the fourth week. Ensure the chicks have a warm area and cooler areas to move to if they get too hot.

• Brooder Guard: Set up a circular brooder guard (18-24 inches high) to prevent chicks from straying too far from the heat source. This also helps prevent crowding and sufføcátion. The guard should have a diameter of about 5-6 feet for 50 chicks. As the chicks grow, expand the brøøder guard to give them more space.

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 3. Receiving the Chicks

• Immediate Placement: Upon arrival, quickly and gently place the chicks under the heat source. Ensure they are spread out evenly to avoid crowding. Allow them to settle in for at least an hour before introducing food and water. During this time, monitor their behavior to ensure they are comfortable.

• Water Provision: Provide clean, fresh water immediately. Use shallow drinkers to prevent drowning. Add electrølytës and vitämïns to the water, such as a commercial electrølytë solution, to combat stress from transportation. Ensure the water is at room temperature to encourage drinking.

• Feeding: Start with a high-quality chick starter feed that contains 20-22% protein. Spread some feed on paper sheets or chick paper to encourage pecking and eating. Use shallow feeders to make it easy for the chicks to access the feed. Gradually introduce them to the regular feeders over a few days.

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 4. Daily Care and Monitoring

• Check Temperature: Observe chick behavior to adjust temperature. Chicks huddling under the heat source indicate they are cold, while those far from it indicate they are too hot. Chicks evenly spread out and actively moving around show the temperature is just right.

• Water and Feed Management: Clean and refill waterers and feeders daily. Ensure feed is always available but prevent wastage by not overfilling the feeders. Check for wet litter around waterers and clean immediately to prevent mold and báctérial growth.

• Health Checks: Look for sigñs of illness like léthárgy, ruffled feathers, or pästy vënts (a condition where droppings stick to the chick’s vent area). Isolate and tréät any sïck chicks promptly. Consult a véterinärian if necessary for a proper diágnøsis and tréâtmént plan.

• Ventilation: Ensure adequate ventilation without creating drafts. Proper airflow helps maintain air quality and prevents rëspirátory issüēs. Use fans or open windows, but make sure there are no direct drafts on the chicks.

READ ALSO: Sudden Death Syndrome in Broiler

5. Lighting

• First Week: Provide 24-hour light to encourage eating and drinking. Use bright, white light to mimic daylight. Position the lights evenly to avoid dark spots in the brooder.

• Gradual Reduction: Gradually reduce light hours to 18-20 hours by the end of the fourth week. Dimming the lights slightly at night can help establish a natural day-night cycle.

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 6. Space Requirements

• First Week: Provide 0.5 square feet per chick to give them enough room to move around and avoid overcrowding.

• Gradual Increase: Increase space to 1 square foot per chick by the end of the fourth week. As the chicks grow, expand the brooder area to ensure they have enough space to develop properly.

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 7. Equipment and Hygiene

• Feeding and Drinking Equipment: Ensure all equipment is clean and functional. Dîsïnfëct feeders and drinkers weekly with a suitable disïnfëctânt. Rinse thoroughly before refilling.

• Hand Hygiene: Practice good hygiene by washing hands before and after handling chicks. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available to reduce the risk of dīsëäse transmission.

READ ALSO: Vaccine Failure in Poultry

 8. Record Keeping

• Daily Logs: Maintain records of temperature, mørtälity, feed and water consumption, and any héälth issüēs. Regularly reviewing these logs helps identify trends and potential problems early.

• Growth Tracking: Weigh a sample of chicks weekly to monitor growth rates. Compare their weights to standard growth charts to ensure they are developing properly.

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 9. Handling Stress

• Minimize Handling: Handle chicks as little as possible, especially during the first few days to reduce stress. When handling is necessary, be gentle and calm.

• Reduce Noise: Keep the brooder environment quiet to reduce stress. Avoid loud noises and sudden movements around the chicks.

 

By following these detailed steps, you can ensure a successful brooding period for your broiler chicks, leading to healthy growth and development.

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