Define Brooding and discuss

different requirements of brooding

system
 Brooding
• Providing artificial heat to the chicks is called
brooding.
• Brooding is the art and science of rearing chicks.

• It is necessary because there is no

thermoregulation system in the chicks.

• Chicks are not completely able to maintain a

constant body temperature until they reach 2
weeks of age
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 The aim of brooding
• The general concept is to accelerate growth
rate in the first week to enhance structural
development and feed capacity intake.
• Allow good development of internal organs.
• Encourage early uniformity.
• To maximize genetic potential.
• To improve overall health of the bird
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 Types Of Brooding
Natural brooding
It is done with the help of broody hens after
hatching, up to 3 to 4 weeks of age.
Artificial brooding
• In artificial brooding large number of chicks are
reared in the absence of broody hen.
• Equipments used for brooding are called
brooders. Brooder comprises of three elements:
– Heating source
– Reflectors
– Brooder guard
 Brooding Set-up
2 common systems of temperature control used for
brooding broiler chicks
Spot Brooding(Canopy or Radiant Heaters)
The heat source is local so chicks can move away
to cooler areas and select for themselves a
preferred temperature
Whole-house Brooding
The heat source is larger and more widely spread
Its aim is to achieve same temperature throughout
the house
 Other Brooding Systems
• Broiler house under floor heating systems
• Hatching within broiler houses
• Hatch brooding systems
Types of Brooders
• Gas
• Box
• Water
• Radiant
• Infra-Red globe
• Electric lamp
 Requirements of Brooding System
• Temperature
• Air quality
• Water and Feed
• Light
 Proper management of these areas will be the key factor to
uniformity, which results in good performance.
 Day-old chicks must have following characteristics:
 active with bright eyes wide open
 strong and shiny shins,
 navels healed,
 without physical defects,
 no pathogens
 good maternal immunity.
 [Link]
Chick Temperature
The chick’s internal temperature is measured
from vent
It should be maintained between 39.4-40.5ºC
(102.9-104.9ºF)
below 39ºC (102.2ºF) is cold
above 41ºC (105.8ºF) will lead to panting.
 Litter temperature
• 32ºC (89.6ºF) with 30-50% relative humidity (RH)
in the litter at placement.
• Chicks are in constant contact with the floor, the
temperature of the broiler house floor is actually
more important than air temperatures.
• The young chick’s body is covered in down which
has a poor insulating value, so if temperature is
not controlled it will lose heat rapidly through
radiation and conduction.
• Litter should be preheated and stabilised 24 hours
before placement
 Air Temperature
• For the first two weeks the chicken house should feel too
warm for the caretaker
• At placement 40-50% RH, 33ºC (91.4ºF)
• At seven days 40-60% RH, 30ºC (86ºF)
• At 14 days, same RH, 27ºC (80.6ºF)
Monitoring Chick Behaviour
 If chicks are evenly spread, environment is comfortable
 If chicks are grouped together under heaters or within
brooding area then they are too cold
 If chicks are crowded near house walls or away from
heating source or they are panting,then they are too hot
Remove brooder guard after 7 to 10 days depending upon
the season.
 [Link] Quality
• Ventilation distributes heat throughout the house
and maintains good air quality in the brooding area
without air velocity at bird level.
• Inadequate minimum ventilation and the resulting
poor air quality can cause increased levels of NH3,
CO2, and moisture levels and an increase in
production related syndromes such as ascites.
An ideal for birds is
oxygen 19.5%
carbon dioxide less than 3000ppm,
carbon monoxide and NH3 less than 10ppm
dust levels less than 3.4mg/m³.
• In winter when we see chicks sitting near the
outside wall, we think first of high
temperature, but the problem can be carbon
dioxide. This is because the level of carbon
dioxide is too high inside this house, mainly
because of the low air exchange rate.
• The pressure in the house is too low, and with
leaks and cooler air falling near the sidewall,
the chicks will migrate to where more oxygen
is available near these leaks.
Always evaluate NH3 levels at bird height.
The negative effects of NH3 include
• foot pad burns
• eye burns and blindness
• breast blisters/skin irritations
• decreased weights
• poor uniformity
• disease susceptibility.
Always remember never to sacrifice temperature
for ventilation and never to sacrifice ventilation
for temperature.
 Water and feed management
• We can call water an ‘invisible’ player in brooding – it can
be both enemy and friend
• Water is an essential nutrient that impacts virtually all
physiological functions
• 40% water restriction decreases the feed intake (542-
338g), body weight (471-295g) and FCR (1.28-1.37) at 14
days.
• We need to guarantee 24ml of water per bird in the first
24 hours
• Water consumption will increase from
.01 liters/chick/day at one week of age to
.03 liters/chick/day at 4 weeks of age.
• Provide electrolyte, glucose and vitamins in the drinking
water for first 2 to 3 days to overcome stress.
• Provide crumbs C.P.21-22%
• 1tray/60 chicks
• Assess crop fill to determine appetite
development and check that all chicks have
found feed and water
• Check crop fill at 2 hrs,4,8,12,24,48
• After 4 hrs 80% fill and after 24 hrs 95-100%
• In the first 24 hours after placement a chick
needs to consume 20-25% of its own body
weight in feed and 40-50% in water
• The best way to improve flock performance is
not by increasing seven day weight of the
faster starting chicks, but by decreasing the
number of slower starters.
Light
• 23 hrs 1-7 days at 30- 40 lux
• 20 lux 8-14 days
Mismanagement during brooding
• High brooding temperature
– Dehydration
– Pasting
• Low brooding temperature
– Chilling or brooding pneumonia
– Smothering

• High Humidity
– Dampness
– Coccidiosis
• Low humidity
– Dryness of litter
– Respiratory problems