Five Common Issues During Brooding

Excellent article and consideration. Yes, this period is the most important period of the life of the chicken. My only consideration is related to the time to start eating (It is important that chicks find feed and water in the first 48 hours). We recommend that the chicken need to start eating and drinking (or vice versa?) as fast as it is possible, after placement. After 24 hours we recommend checking the crop and 90 to 95% of the birds need to show that they are eating.

I agree fully with Dr. Dolo Yaya. When chicks come from the hatchery they first need to drink and the nipples need to be easily triggered by a small chick of 40 g on average body weight. Chicks will drink in the dynamic way which means that they push the nipple to the side and water will flow from the side of the nipple pin downwards.

Only at a later age will the chicks or birds start triggering the nipples in a static way, meaning pushing them upwards, but that also depends on the brand type of nipple used. Enough pressure will let a water drop accumulate at the tip of the nipple which will attract the chicks. Water is definitely the driver to good feed intake and good weights at 7 days of age with low mortality. What has happened over time is that the industry has been focusing on lowering labor costs and upping the numbers of birds per house and we like to have everything ready at the reception of the chicks.

In many operations, the emphasis is more on feed availability on paper and not enough water at disposal of the chicks. Many times I see that nipples are stuck due to the cleaning process when nipples are not activated enough to avoid them getting stuck when debris can clog them. How about flushing the nipples a few hours before arrival so that the hot water is out and cool water is available when chicks start activating the nipples. Again: Water intake is the driver for good feed intake.

Good article. But let us not forget lukewarm medicated water with vitamin A, B complex and probiotic before 12 hours of chicks arrival.
Keep the brooder house lights on and brooder light on 12 hrs before the arrival of chicks provide feed also, at that time, ensure that brooder temp is 95 F. During this time, with good ventilation, provide caged wall at every 10 ft distance to avoid free movement of chicks.

You will see much better performance and reduced mortality.

 
Regards,
Dr. Chandra.

For me,  I prefer about feeding, medication watering first. With proper distribution of light intensity and temperature of both water and litter. Followed with a little bit of air exchange to avoid carbon dioxide concentration. First 60 hrs. with no more brooding area to keep them feel warm by crowding activity too by adding more adaptive feeder.

Placement of day old chicks will be very easy if there is feed on the papers when they arrived the brooding house with ideal heated floor. The birds which get the feed will look for water. Hungry birds will not drink enough.

Also, all the birds have a yolk sack of full nutrients. They do not need extra supplements via drinking water. They should absorb the yolk sac immediately. If they do not get the feed absorption of yolk sac will delay. Don't forget that everything you add to the drinking water will change the taste and palatability of water. maintaining pure drinking water is the best.

Especially the day old birds need a 70% relative humidity during first days not less than 60%. Also, the bird itself needs 60% RH during whole life not less if you want to get a good performance.

While I appreciate comments, my own experience had been better performance with medicated water with VitA , B complex both are sweet in taste and probiotic at Luke warm temp.
One can try this have an observation.
Regards,
Dr. Chandra.

Good article, all the comments are valuable. Regarding the comments by Sushil, I add here that the day old chick has to pass through hatch, vaccination, grading, travel, loading unloading so many stress. Therefore the first drink with some multi vitamin is good to help reduce the stress.

Thanks, Dr. Elahi for your comments.I also support your views.

Regards

Dr. Chandra.

I appreciate you, dear farmers. For me have been using sugar in drinking water for first 3 days and not vitamins followed by plain water. What is your take on that farmers? 2g/litre of water.
However, I agreed with precious comments on brooding basics discussed.
From my experience, I can ever slaughter at 33 days with ALM of 1.65g-1.7g.
Poultry industry in Uganda is growing at a great rate.
Thanks.

OK, Doctor, there is a point have learnt. Have been messing up. Then after first days of placement, how often do I give vitamins to my chickens? We tend to think feed additives are enough in the feed to help in the grow-out period.
Dear Dr. I would like you to enlight me as to what extent mycotoxin (aflotoxins) in feed affect birds performance and mortality rate. Recently, I got a case on my broiler farm, Birds showed typical signs of IBD but of all postmortems no lesions in the bursa. There were blood spots in connective tissues, intestines, uretes swollen kidneys.But physically bird we in sleeping posture of IBD affected chicken with standing neck and head feathers.Lab results showed IBD, NCD AND IB negative.
Then suspected aflotoxins or salt poisoning, are these two characterised by massive mortality?
Thanks.

1) Ensure proper cleaning and disinfection before arrvial of chicks.
2) Procure Good quality Day old chicks from reputed Hatchery.
3) Maintain proper temperature,ventilation and relative Humudity.
4) Give Balanced chick crumbles feed for proper body weights.
5) Crop scoring monitor is must.observe feed and water consumption to prevent dehydration.