Step #1 Before Chick Delivery: Broiler Management By Age (Mini-Series)

This is a quick guide to preparing your broiler farm premises for the delivery of a new batch of chicks.

As recommended by, Aviagen Abor Acres broiler breeders,

The following steps will help you:

• successfully transition your broiler chicks
• make the rearing environment optimal
• avoid mistakes leading to ill-health or mortality

So,

If you want proven techniques for preserving the health and growth potential of your broiler flock,

Then this guide (and mini-series) is just for you.

Key management tips for preparing before a broiler chick delivery #

(Source)

Insights #

Clean and set #

Biosecurity.

The offensive front of every poultry farmer is maintaining good flock health.

Chicks, just arriving from the hatchery are the most vulnerable to ill-health.

Because of youth,

They are most sensitive to change and their bodies have not yet the resilience to deal effectively with threat.

Cleaning and setting your farm for their arrival therefore nullifies any lurking dangers.

Heat and air #

Heat is a great contributor to bird comfort.

Chicks, again, because of their hypersensitivity to environmental conditions,

Suffer badly when exposed even to momentary extreme temperatures.

So setting a consistent room temperature and also ventilation in advance of their arrival primes your farm for success.

Hot spots #

Around the periphery of your poultry house set up hot-spots for ‘spot brooding’.

These warm zones which are 2-degrees Celsius warmer than the 30-degree Celsius general house temperature will encourage chicks to gather and feed/drink.

Targets #

Keep a checklist of target conditions including:

• temperatures:
  • air temp = 30 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • spot brooding = 32 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • floor = 28 – 30 degrees Celsius (78 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit)
  • water temperature = 18 -21 degrees Celsius (68 – 74 degrees Fahrenheit)
• humidity
  • 60-70% (relative humidity RH)
• depth of litter
  • 2 – 5 cm (0.8 – 2 inches)

Fill up #

Avoid making your chicks wait and be prepared.

Have all feeding and drinking equipment already loaded in anticipation for accepting the chicks.

Flush #

Flush out all waterer system lines before the chicks arrive to ensure they work and will deliver much-needed water.

Litter #

Spread litter evenly across the floor to ensure the chicks feel able to freely use the entire floor space.

Now over to you… #

Are you about to receive delivery of broiler chicks?

Have you already received broiler chicks at your farm and need pointers for improvement?

Either way, I’m interested to hear from you.

Leave a comment.