Brooding Management for Healthy Day-Old Chicks

During the infant days, chicks go through a process of building essential mechanisms as they grow, and they will be vulnerable to disease outbreaks. It is therefore essential to raise them in the brooder, which is completely isolated from other facilities, especially in the first 2 weeks. Strict security measures should be taken, with no traffic between houses holding young chicks and older ones.

Visitors are not allowed into the brooder unit unless appropriate regulatory steps are taken. This isolation is necessary for the vaccination program that provides the chicks with optimum immunity against diseases.

Brooder House Preparation

The brooder house, equipment, and materials should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized well ahead of the delivery of day-old chicks. All brooding equipment and installations should be set ready for their functions beforehand to provide the required microclimate in the unit. A few days before chick placement, clean, mold-free fine litter (usually sawdust) is spread evenly (8cm thick) on the brooder floor and fumigated. The brooder is then covered with cardboard and sealed with masking tape.

The heating system and lighting energy supply should be continued without interruption. This will warm the house and provide favorable living conditions for the chicks.

Waterers should be filled several hours before the placement of chicks so that the water warms up. Arrange the chick feeders and waterers within the brooder guard using conventional brooders.

Caring for Day-Old Chicks

(a) Heat source:

Warm the room overnight or hours before the arrival of chicks.

A controlled and constant source of heat (charcoal pots or electric bulbs) is necessary to maintain the chick's body temperature at the proper level.

Brooder thermometers must be tested for their accuracy, although the chick distribution and behavior are ideal indicators of an optimum brooding environment. When the temperature is normal, the chicks will be evenly distributed within the chick guard, but when it is too cold, they will cuddle into clusters, and when the temperature is too hot, the chicks will run/retreat to the periphery of the brooder.

Maintain optimum temperatures during the entire brooding period. It is recommended that the temperature be set at 32 - 35°C with the thermometers placed at chick height.

The temperature should be reduced by 3 °C per week until 21°c has been reached. Don't allow the temperature to drop to 18°C, especially during the first week. Adjusting brooding temperature may be required depending on the chick's health and activities, for example, by reducing or increasing the heat sources.

(b) Brooder Guards:

In order to confine chicks to a comfort zone of the brooding area, it is recommended that the brooder guard be used.

The brooder guards prevent chicks from wandering away from feed and water. The brooder guard should be between 41 and 46 cm high and be placed 75 - 132 cm from the edge of the brooder, depending on the season of the year and the in-house conditions.

Plywood is ideal, but cardboard is cheaper and ideal for use as brooder guards, especially in cold conditions, while 1 1/2 mesh may be preferred in the hot season. However, it is essential to dispose of cardboard after each brood. The mesh and plywood can be reused after proper cleaning and sanitizing.

Remove the brooder guards when the chicks are 10-14 days old.

(c) Chick Waterers (Water Trays/Drinkers):

Water should be the first nutrient that chicks have access to.

 Provide a clean supply of fresh and safe water mixed with glucose to provide energy to chicks.

The waterers (water trays/drinkers) may be filled several hours before the chicks are delivered so that the water warms up to room temperature.

Place the waterers/drinkers on tiles between feeders, or one automatic chick fountain per 100 chicks during the first 2 weeks of brooding.

The chicks should be allowed to drink for 2-3 hours before they are introduced to feed after the brooder guard has been removed. Use automatic waterers or drinkers, but still maintain the chick waterers until the chicks get accustomed to the new drinking style.

Remove one chick waterer per day so that all the chick waterers are removed by the 4th day.

Wash the waterers daily.

When stressful conditions are encountered, consider using vitamins or even antibiotics (Oxytetracycline chick formula) through drinking water from the 5^th -the 7^th days.

(d) Chick Feeders:

On arrival, the chicks may be introduced to chick mash or pellet starter sprinkled on the cardboard floor. Then use chick feed trays at a ratio of three to 100 chicks for the first 7 days. Frequent feeding of smaller amounts of feed reduces feed wastage while increasing chick activeness.

After the brooder guard is removed, gradually change over to automatic feeding equipment. This can be done by first positioning the feeders near the trays, then removing the trays once per day until all are done.

(e) Bird population Density:

Brooding batches should not exceed 500 birds per brooder. Make sure a sufficient number of brooders are available. Overcrowding contributes to increased stress, leading to a non-uniform flock and may result in disease problems.

(f) House Ventilation:

While maintaining optimum temperatures, good ventilation is vital. Controlled ventilation depends on the outside temperature and prevailing weather conditions. Fresh air is essential for the healthy growth of chicks.

Good ventilation should be able to remove excess moisture, ammonia, and dust while providing ample fresh air to the chicks.

(g) Lighting source:

Check all bulbs to ensure that they are functioning; use continuous lighting for the first 4 hours to help chicks locate feed and water. Bulbs should hang at 1-2m high.

(h) Records keeping:

Keep accurate records of the chicks placed in the brooder, culled, feed consumed, vaccination program, and data on feed formulation. Make a note of unusual accidents that may occur, for example, disease outbreaks, medication, and preventive measures to combat stress.

(i) Pre-Season Debeaking:

De-beak at the age of 8-10 weeks; use debeaking scissors or a hot knife to cut half of the upper beak and a bit of the lower beak, leaving the lower beak longer than the upper.

(j) Vaccination:

It should be based on the prevalence of particular diseases, strains of viruses, field challenges, and security measures in each geographical area. The breeder's vaccination schedule should be followed.

Factors to Remember when Vaccinating Birds;

1. Follow the manufacturer's manual /instructions when storing and reconstituting vaccines.
2. When administering vaccines through drinking water, it is recommended that dry skimmed milk be added to the water before adding the vaccine. This protects the vaccine against the adverse effects of any sanitizers and disinfectants that may be present.
3.  Maintain current and accurate records of vaccines, including serial numbers, expiry dates, times of vaccinations, the technician, and the flock numbers.
4. Disinfect or burn all the used open vaccine containers to prevent the spread of viruses.

(k) Sanitation and Security:

It is important that a strict sanitation and security program be developed and followed in order to prevent the spread of poultry diseases.

Before placing chicks, the house and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Old litter from the previous flock of birds should be removed, and new sawdust and mold-free litter introduced.

Litter should be disposed of in areas far from poultry units.

Waterers should be cleaned daily.

Dead birds should be picked up promptly and disposed of in at least an acceptable manner.

Repair all openings that permit the entrance of rats and mites inside the house.

Debris and unused equipment should be removed from inside and around the outside of the house, as they serve as breeding hideouts for rodents.

Wild birds are a potential source of diseases and parasites common to chickens; they also cost the producer by eating the feed or birds themselves.

Make sure that all the doors and windows are screened to prevent the entrance of wild birds.

Do not allow visitors and domestic animals to enter the poultry house.

Signposts notifying the public to keep out of the house should be put in place where they can clearly be read.

If it is necessary for the visitors to enter the house, they should wear clean overalls or overcoats and boots, and headgear. This is especially important if persons have prior contact with poultry elsewhere.

Service personnel should wear boots, overalls, and headgear when visiting each flock.

Proper maintenance or use of disinfectant and foot baths must be regularly practiced. It should be scheduled to visit a healthy flock first.

(l) Husbandry Practices:

In general, brooding management goes a long way in the productive life of the chicken.

During the brooding period, check the chicks' activity and mortality, house conditions at least 3 - 4 times a day.

Chick activity and mortality are good indicators of the level of management.

(m). Structural Aids:

Nest boxes and laying nests come in various types for poultry. Some examples include trap nests, individual laying nests, rollaway nests, and communal nests.

Trap nests are commonly found in experimental stations and breeder farms to monitor the number of eggs laid. They are individual laying nests with a closing front part that allows for controlling the laying performance of each hen.

Individual laying nests are designed for individual birds and typically have dimensions of 40cm in height, 30cm in width, and 35cm in diameter.

Rollaway nests feature a slanting floor and no litter, causing eggs to roll away and settle in a collecting area. Communal nests, on the other hand, are shared by multiple birds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proper care and management of day-old chicks is crucial for their healthy growth and development. Creating a controlled and isolated brooder environment, implementing strict security measures, and following recommended practices are essential steps in ensuring the well-being of the chicks.

Maintaining the right temperature through appropriate heat sources, using brooder guards to confine chicks to the designated area, providing clean and warm waterers, and introducing chick feeders gradually are important aspects of brooding management. Monitoring bird population density, ensuring good ventilation, and providing adequate lighting are also key factors to consider.

Keeping accurate records of chick placement, feed consumption, vaccinations, and other relevant data is essential for effective management. Vaccination programs should be tailored to the specific needs and prevalent diseases in the geographical area, and proper storage and administration of vaccines should be followed.

Maintaining sanitation and security is vital in preventing the spread of diseases. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the brooder house and equipment, proper disposal of litter and dead birds, and implementing measures to prevent the entry of pests and wild birds are necessary steps.

Regular monitoring of chick activity and mortality, along with adherence to recommended husbandry practices, helps ensure optimal management during the brooding period. Incorporating structural aids such as nest boxes and laying nests can contribute to efficient egg production in the future.