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Brooding By: Johnny Mark M. Bolante
Brooding Is a process of providing chicks with sufficient heat to help maintain their body temperature. The brooding period starts right after the chicks are taken out of the incubator. Brooding may be either natural or artificial.
Factors for successful brooding Temperature The best temperature for the first week is 95ºF(35ºC). After the first week, reduce the temperature by 3ºC every week until the chicks are able to live without extra heat. If too hot, the chicks will pant, spread their wings and move away from the source of heat and stay close to the edges of the brooder. If too cold, the chicks crowd around the heater. Adequate light – a well lighted brooder attract and encourage the chicks to keep close to the source of heat, feed and water. Adequate ventilation – a constant flow of air within the brooder compartment is necessary to supplies plenty of oxygen and facilitate the removal of carbon dioxide and moisture.
Adequate space - increase the floor, feeding and drinking space as the chicks grows older. Avoid overcrowding which leads to poor developed chicks, high mortality and cannibalism. Healthy and good quality chicks – a healthy chicks have a fluffy feathers, bright eyes and alert active appearance. Avoid chicks with wet vent. Proper sanitation – a clean and dry brooding quarter will prevent contamination of the chicks from parasites and diseases. The brooder should provide protection from animal enemies such as rats, dogs and cats.
System of brooding Litter floor brooding Litter is the layer of absorbent materials spread on the floor for the brooding pen. These materials may be rice hulls, wood, shaving or sawdust. Elevated wire or slat brooding The chicks are kept in elevated pens or compartment with floors made of wire mesh or wooden or bamboo slats.
Tips on handling chicks before and during brooding Clean and disinfect thoroughly the broodi house one week before the arrival of the chicks. - enclosed the brooder house protects the chicks from the other animals. - enclosed the brooder house with curtain made up of empty feed bags to avoid draft. - a spread of newspapers should be spread out to serve as a feeder. 2. Place the chicks in the brooder upon arrival. 3. Check the chicks regularly. 4. Use chick guard to keep the chicks close to the heat. Fresh feed and water are available. Reduce the temperature gradually in the brooder as the birds grow older (3ºC)/week) Always provide more and larger feeder and waterer as the flock grows older. Vaccinate the birds against avian pest. Cull and properly dispose all weak, deformed and sickly chicks. Burn or bury immediately dead birds.
Preparation of brooding quarter Repair - Check the building carefully for leaking roof, faulty or broken wiring and other condition needing repair. Old litter– removed old litter and replace a new litter. Avoid filing up and leaving used litter on one side of the poultry house because it will give a foul smell if it gets wet and will attract flies. Cleaning and disinfecting Clean the floor thoroughly. Wet the floor to be soften whatever materials have hardened on it, then scrap or sweep them away. After the whole building has been clean, then disinfect the building. Setting the brooder room prepared the heating unit of the brooder room by setting on to check the condition of the artificial brooder.
Handling of chicks Place the boxes containing the broiler chicks on the floor of the brooder. Spread out the boxes to allow adequate air supply and keep the chicks from suffocation. Open the boxes and separate the weal chicks from the active ones. Remove and properly dispose dead chicks found in the boxes. Immediately release the chicks into the brooder compartment. Dispose empty boxes properly. Check the condition of the newly arrived chicks more frequently during the first 48 hours. Provide broiler chicks with 5% sugar solution for drinking within 3 hours of arrival. Thereafter, give them fresh feeds and water. Vitamin-mineral supplements with antibiotics may be added to the drinking water during the first 3-5 days to enhance chick’s vigor. Regulate the brooder temperature, as the broiler chicks grow bigger. Provide additional units of larger feeders and waterers as the chicks grow bigger. Vaccinate the broilers against poultry diseases. Cull and dispose properly all weak, deformed, and sickly chicks. Immediately burn or bury dead birds. Consult veterinarian if mortality and morbidity of the flock goes higher than the acceptable level.
Prevention and control of cannibalism POSSIBLE CAUSE: -overcrowding - poor ventilation - inadequate feeders and drinkers - imbalance or poor diet PREVENTION: - provide adequate floor space - provide proper ventilation - provide sufficient feeding and drinking spaces - give good quality feeds and balanced diet. CONTROL: - Isolate immediately injured birds - treat wounds of injured birds with pine tar - debeaking.
Feeds and feeding Feeding The primary function of poultry is to convert the nutrients in the feed into eggs and meat for human consumption. Objectives: To secure the most economical gains in weight during growth To secure economical production of eggs through out the year. Types of commercial poultry feeds: • Pre-starter (chick booster) – this feed is given from day old to 30 days old. It must contain 22% crude protein. • Starter - this feed is given from 31 days old birds to 60 days old and must contain 20% Crude protein. • Grower – this feed is given to 61 days old birds to 90 days old • Finisher – this feed is given to 91 days old to market weight.
Forms of poultry feeds Mash- it is the easiest poultry feed to prepare and cheaper than other feed forms because all ingredients are ground and mixed together. Pellets – the compress mash feed with a small chunks cylinder size feed. Crumble – is given pellets with a granular size form.
FEEDING GUIDE AGE (DAYS) 1 – 7 8 – 14 15 – 21 22 – 28 29 – 35 36 – 42 43 – 49 50 - 56 GRAMS/BIRDS 85 125 225 345 429 637 723
