Broiler Management: The First 24 Hours

Very innovative information for broiler mangement.

This is an excellent and informative article of statistical relevance on Broiler management. The article clearly illustrates the huge role of America in global Broiler production if she produces 50% of global output. With a world population of 6 billion it will mean that per capit annual world available Broiler will be 5. In reality, this statistical situation is never attainable in many parts of the world and especially in the third world countries. The glearing difficulty of achieving a 2.5 kg per capit Broiler in many Africa countries is a pointer to the lopsidedness of broiler meat production worldwide. America as the food basket of the world has a leadership responsibility of ensuring even distribution of broiler meat globally through technical support programme and capacity development to improve efficiency. In this regard, the escalating cost of feed raw material is a matter for closer attention.

This is a well presented article with critical information on Broiler production. If we can reduce the incidence of Nutritional Dip in the first 24-48 hours, then the birds will start on a better plain of nutrition to perform to there genetic potential. The problem with sugar in water supplements provide Energy to the chicks, but also encourage growth of micro-organisms which in turn can compromise and challenge the chicks immune system. This was the main factor in developing a Liquid Called Ashkan Poultry Tonic with Nucleotides, approved in South Africa, to deliver in a water soluble and bioavailable source of Vitamins, Trace elements, Amino acids, electrolytes, essential fatty acids and Nucleotides to help the chick to kick Start its metabolisim and immune function. This product does not block drinkers and is totally water soluble. This helps with performance in the first 24 hours and hence final performance results.

This article provide a detailed information about broiler production. You can give Glucose instead of Sugar in drinking water. You also start early feeding to avoid strees. You should also maintain humidity in the shed 65-70% to avoid dryness in the house which may leads to dermititis. Avoid dust by spraying water on the liter which is a source of respiratory distress.

Excellent article and all praise to authors who converted this highly technical and researched material into simple language to make it easy for ordinary poultry farmers. Their study on different brooding temperature is great and one can see, a little difference in temperature in the first week can make a big difference in the end result. But it is never felt good when someone try to promote his commercial products by using the comment board.

The nutritional requirements for first two days of chicks life is different from rest of life. Significant improvements can be made in immunity development, mortality reduction and weight gain when this need is correctly addressed. Novus International has developed innovative program for meeting the requirements of the chick in first 48 hrs of life with clear demonstrable affects. Contact us. Rgds. Dina Joardar, Regional Poultry Specialist Novus International, Bangkok.

It's very interesting and clear that monitoring the birds in the beginning of the flock period is essential. Especially the monitoring of water and feed consumption, but also to keep track on the bodyweight and how the birds are gaining.

See for this subject in our article: Why Weigh Broilers (click on the title). 

Excellent management article on broiler production. Adding a probiotic in the water also helps in gut health of the chick, along with sugar. All said and done, the manager -who is responsible- should have good sense and keen observation. Dr Sushanth Rai Raisons Breeders INDIA

Dear Dr., Thank you for your interesting article. It is an important to give more attention to one-day-old chicks to get better results at marketing. To Dr SUSHANTH RA, I don't prefer antibiotics after the spread of probiotics in the last years. It's now recommended that probiotics are better than antibiotics to get a healthy chick with low costs and safe for human nutrition. Best regards, Dr Khalid Mahrose Egypt

Really a wonderful article to read. Especially the effects of temperature on body weight and FCR differences were informative.

This is an excellent article on broiler production. Its amazing to discover that United States of America produces 50% of the world population of broilers. This article should not be limited to research institute alone, but should be disseminated to other farmers, especially in the developing countries.

This is a must read article for any broiler farmer that want to be successful.

Information about water is commendable. Nice article, sir.

Nice article, but short on air humidity, especially if low (as I had problems in broiler reared in cages)...

Simply brilliant. It is a pointer to the fact that the start determines the end result. For the broiler to end healthy, quality attention MUST be given during the first 24 hours of life. I surely have learnt from this. Tobalase, Adegbite Lagos, Nigeria.

Vary good article for the poultry profesionals Thanks

The article rightly enlightened the importance of first day of life broiler chicks, rather than working very hard in later days to achieve the optimum performance. So, the producer should be right on target before he gets the chicks in his facility.

Nice article

Hello Dr. Butcher. I am one of yours student from Romania and i am very happy to see you .On the first period of chicks life , from your oppinion what do you prefere- timer ventilation or variable ventilation? Thank you.