BROODING OF CHICKS AND IT’S MANAGEMENT

BROODING OF CHICKS AND IT’S MANAGEMENT

BY- OLYMPICA SARMA1, SHAHNUR RAHMAN2

1MVSc. Scholar, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding,

GADVASU, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004,

E-mail: olylucky15@gmail.com

2BVSc. & AH, Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science,

AAU, North Lakhimpur, Assam, 787051,

E-mail: shahnurrahman020@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION:

The period from hatching until the chicks no longer requires supplementary heat is called “Brooding period” and usually last for 3-6 weeks, depending on seasonal temperature and the type of housing. When the chicks are hatched, they need supplementary heat because they cannot maintain their own body temperature. The supplementary heat can be provided to the chicks by a broody hen or more usually by artificial brooders like gas, kerosene or charcoal stove. As the chicks grows, it’s downy coat is replaced by feathers and the brooding temperature can be gradually reduced until supplementary heat is discontinued at about 3-4 weeks. During the brooding period outmost care should be taken for the chicks. They should be provided with proper warmth, shelter, fresh air, proper food and clean water.

TYPES OF BROODING: There are two types of brooding, namely:

1. Natural brooding
2. Artificial brooding

Natural brooding: In this method of brooding the warmth is provided by the broody hens that are needed by the chicks. This method is practised where the numbers of chicks raised are few. Here the hen should be examined for her good health and free from lice, tick and other ectoparasite before placing the hen.

Artificial brooding: This method of brooding is practised on the farm where the chicks raised are in large number. It is done without the aid of hens. It is done by temperature controlled brooder.

It has many advantages like —

1. a) At any time of the season chicks can be reared.
2. b) Large number of chicks may be brooded at a time by a single person.
3. c) Sanitary conditions and temperature can be controlled and regulated.
4. d) Proper feeding can be done according to plan.

Artificial brooders and Characters of good artificial brooder:

Artificial brooders are many types based on size and the nature of fuel used. These are individual, multiple units or central heating system run by coal, wood, oil gas or electricity. Some requirements for good brooders are:-

• It should be a dependable mechanism.
• It should have proper supply of fresh air.
• It should maintain dryness.
• It should have adequate space.
• It should be easy for cleaning and disinfection.
• It should have protection against enemies.
• It should have safety from direct air and cold.
• And most importantly it should be economic.

Some common types of artificial brooder:-

1. Hover  brooder:

These types of brooders are used where electricity is available all the time. Here, 100 or 200 watt bulb is fitted in the hover. The temperature maintained is uniform. It requires very little attention and is convenient for operation. However in very cold weather it do not heat the house appreciably. Here wet litter problems may be there and frequent renewal of litter may be needed.

1. Infra red brooder:

Here infrared lamps are used. It should be kept 20-25 inches above the litter. This infrared lamp  do not heat the room but warm the chicks and provide comfort to the chicks. A single 250 watt infra red bulb will provide warmth for 60-70 chicks.

1. Central heating system:

This system is used in every large, highly commercial operations. Here different system have been developed which use coal, oil, gas or electricity. In this system heated air or water is circulated in pipe lines underneath the building to maintain warmth inside the house.

1. Gas brooding:

Here, commonly LPG or bio gas is used for generating heat. Here the heating elements is hung 3-4 feet above the chick level.

1. Kerosene or charcoal stove:

This system is mostly used where the electricity is not available. Here, kerosene or charcoal stove is used to generate heat. The stove should be covered with plate to dissipate the heat. Proper ventilation should be there to eliminate toxic gases.

Location of brooder house:

The brooder house should be isolated and away from other poultry houses. Minimum of 100 meters should be there between the brooder house and other poultry houses.

Preparation of brooder house:

Before the chicks are put in the brooder house everything should be ready. The house should be properly clean and scrubbed at least 7-10 days before arriving the chicks and allow it to dry properly. All the equipments should be cleaned properly. If the room is air tight proper fumigation should be done. Depth of litter should be 2-4 inches on the ground. For litter purpose we can use saw dust, dried crushed sugar, cane pulp, ground maize, ground nut etc. Spread some newspaper on the litter to prevent young chicks eating the litter materials. The temperature of the brooder house should be according to the need. If the room is small, the corner should be rounded off with card board to prevent chicks from piling up in the corner and the height of the chick guard should be 15cm.

BROODING REQUIREMENTS:

1. Temperature:

The temperature requirement for brooding varies based on weather condition or environmental temperature and general conditions of the chicks. During winter season temperature requirement is more and vice versa. The best result are obtained at 33 degree Celsius at chicks level for first 2-3 days and reduced by 2.5 degree Celsius every successive week till the room temperature is attained. A temperature of 21 degree Celsius appears to be the ideal during growing period. Too high or too low brooder temperature will cause poor growth and subsequently poor performance of the chicks and should be avoided. When the temperature is low, the chicks try to hurdle together and when the temperature is high chicks try to go away from heat source and will result in poor feathers growth.

1. Ventilation:

Fresh air is important for good health of the chicks. When the ventilation is poor, there is accumulation of poisonous gas like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and ammonia and also results in wet litter. High level of ammonia irritates the eyes and wet litter results in out break of coccidiosis. Therefore, proper ventilation should be there to supply fresh air and to keep the litter dry.

1. Humidity:

Humidity requirement for floor of brooded chicks should be between 30-75% RH. Too high or too low should be avoided. High humidity results in wet litter and can cause coccidiosis and low humidity results in dusty litter causing respiratory problems.

1. Space:

Here two types of space should be considered, one is space under house and other is floor space in brooding pens. Space under house depends on the type of house being used and sources of light used. With electric hover 10sq inch or 65.5sq cm per chicks is the minimum requirements and in hover using kerosene or coal, less heated area are under hover (7 sq inch or 45 sq. cm ) is sufficient.

Floor space requirements should be in the following ways: at 0-3 weeks of age 0- 0.5 sq. feet , at 4-6 week of age 0.5- 0.75 sq. feet and 6-8 weeks of age 0.75- 1 sq. feet per chicks is needed. It is important that the size of brooder house, the stove used in hover and the number of chicks brooded should be in proportion to the size of brooding pen.

Some general points to be remembered during brooding period:

1. Before arrival of the chicks to the brooder house all the arrangements should be done, spread the litter properly and heat up the house properly.
2. Before placing the chicks in the brooder house the chicks should be vaccinated against Ranikhet and Mareks disease.
3. Clean and refill the waterers every day with fresh water. Wet areas under the waterers should be avoided. As the chicks grow change the waterers and feeders accordingly.
4. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics should be avoided if the surrounding are clean and free from disease.
5. Add 8g of glucose per litter, electrolyte and vitamin mixture at recommend dosage in water for the first 3-5 days.
6. Temperature should be changed according to the environmental conditions. Normally it should be reduced as the chicks grow up.
7. Extend the chick guard as the chicks grows but remove them ultimately by 10 th day.
8. Proper ventilation facilities should be there to expel toxic gases like ammonia.
9. If any chicks die, they should be removed as soon as possible.
10. Complete record of brooding house performance is necessary.
11. Debeaking should be completed at 6th to 8th day of age.
12. If the outbreak of coccidiosis occurs, necessary action should be taken as early as possible.

CONCLUSION:

Since, the physiological conditions of the birds are not well developed in the early period of their life. Therefore, it is necessary to provide supplementary heat or artificial heat in order to maintain their own body temperature. The conditions for the brooding period should be well understood and should provide optimal brooding to the birds in order to maintain the performance of the birds and to improve the survivability of the birds in later life. Adequate brooding requirements should be provided to the chicks like temperature, humidity, ventilation and space and failure in providing the basic requirements will lead to decreased in food consumption, reduced growth rate, increase disease conditions and increase mortality. Hence, brooding period is necessary to maintain the normal body conditions in chicks.

REFERENCES:

1. https://www.livestocking.net/brooding-in-poultry-production – An overview by Akinbobola
2. Poultry production; Poultry Brooding by R. A. Singh
3. Slide share.com; small scale poultry keeping: Brooding and rearing chicken.
4. Avian ( poultry) production; Brooding and Rearing of poultry by D. Sapcota
5. Avian (poultry) production; Brooding (chicks) management by D. Sapcota
6. Image: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-broody-hen-Wyandotte-brooding-her-chicks_fig4_261251525

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