Brooding time in poultry chicks
How much time does brooder take?
Brooding is defined as the management of chicks from one day old to about 8 weeks of age, and it involves the provision of heat and other necessary care during chicks’ early growing period. Brooding units are designed to house chicks from one day old until they no longer need supplementary heat (0-8 weeks). Growing pens are used from the end of the brooding period until the broilers are sold or the pullets moved into permanent laying houses (up to 20 weeks). Laying pens or cages are used for pullets and hens from the time they start laying until they are culled and sold at the end of the laying period (up to 78 weeks).
Management of Chicks in the Brooder
Adjust the temperature as per the requirement of the chicks. In the case of oil heating, see that there is no defect in the stove or lamp. Chicks should not have access to the heated parts of the lamp at any cost.
Avoid a damp poultry house. You can use a deep litter system.
Discourage litter eating by the chicks, scatter mash over egg case flats when the chicks are first taken out of their boxes.
Provide balanced standard mash.
Keep provision for the entrance of fresh air.
Provide clean, fresh water in front of the birds at least twice daily. (Read about the importance of water in poultry farming)
Chicks, after 3 weeks old may be provided chopped green grasses (to increase Vitamin A intake)
Clean the brooders including feed hoppers daily.
Follow a regular vaccination program.
Avoid overcrowding as this will lead to slow growth and mortality. (Read 10 ways of preventing or reducing a high mortality rate in poultry farming)
Keep the brooder in such a place that cold wind and rain does not get in.
Daily inspect the condition of birds and their faces for any sort of abnormality.
Keep in touch with any veterinarian for help at the time of need.
It is always advisable to check the fittings, temperature control, feed, and water trough arrangement before shifting the chicks in the brooder.
The time a brooder takes depends on the following:1. Type of chicks.
2. Quality of feeds.
3. Location of the brooder.
4. Weather changes.
Broilers are brooded for about for about 10 to 14 days.
Layer chicks are brooded for about 4 to 6 weeks.
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| brooding in hen |
If we see that the weather is still cold, we cannot withdraw heat from the brooder. We cannot fully open the tarpaulins on the brooder. We rather reduce the number of heat sources starting from week 4 but not total withdrawal...
During a hot season, layer chicks can be
brooded for 4 weeks and heat withdrawn. But of course at night we put back the tarpaulins to reduce coldness in the house.
A brooder that's located in a swampy area or near water bodies is managed differently from that which is on a very dry land! Swampy places are always cold so you need to keep the place warm!
A farmer who keeps his chicks in a cage brooder withdrawals heat even at week 3. But this cannot be done for deep litter brooder.