Raising poultry birds from day-olds has always been an act most poultry farmers avoid. This is becoming a general attitude among most farmers nowadays. Even those that do raise theirs from a day-old are opting out of doing so. This is caused by so many challenges being faced by farmers from day-olds to the third week of their age.
Some Common Challenges Faced During the Brooding of Chicks
There are a lot of challenges encountered during the brooding of chicks, which usually lead to the total loss of the birds or the nursing of diseases among the flock throughout their lifetime. Some challenges include:
Heat Regulation: Most farmers find it difficult to get the accurate room temperature of the brooding house, which leads to the birds' clustering or running towards the wall to find a breezeway. This can lead to casualties and disease breeding amidst them.
Poor Litter Quality: The use of wood shavings has been the most common litter used in poultry farm management. Some farmers used other means like rice husks, shafts, etc. Most fail to understand the main reason behind litters in brooding, which is to absorb moisture released by the birds.
Ammonia Production: Excess moisture released by the birds through their droppings or clustering can lead to ammonia buildup, mostly if the shavings fail to absorb moisture. Likewise, the means of heat used are significant. Some use lanterns, stoves, charcoals, etc., and it's best to always check if there is no smoke produced from them.
Feed and Water Quality: The chicks need very high quality and chlorine-free water. They require regular water to avoid dehydration and a drop in their immune systems. Feeding assists a lot during this time frame. Starvation of the birds will lead to malnutrition, which is very dangerous to their health.
Lighting: It's best to give the birds a source of light for a full week to enable them to eat enough, grow feathers, and strengthen their immune systems.
These challenges are the most common issues faced by farmers during brooding, and they lead to complications. To avoid any of these issues and have a successful brood, some measures need to be established, which include:
✓ An excellent medication chart that will help to guide you throughout your production season. This is not only for the next 4 weeks, but for the whole production.
✓ Constantly check the birds to avoid clustering and to observe any changes in character.
✓ Always clean the surroundings of the feeders and drinkers to avoid any ammonia buildup. They constantly use these locations, and deposit their droppings there, leading to buildups of ammonia.
✓ Remove any sick birds or anyone acting strangely amidst them, to avoid the spread of disease and to have a good observation of what's about to come.
✓ Clean the navel of the chicks with spirit, or any mint upon arrival to avoid infection and reduce the mortality rate.
A successful poultry farm is not only in the management but also in your attitude and consistency. Your experiences and questions will be appreciated. Do share them for all to learn in the comment box.
