Brood and Grow
Chicks
What is Brooding?
• °refers to the period immediately after hatch when special
care and attention must be given to chicks to ensure their
health and survival.
Two types of brooding :
° NATURAL BROODING
° ARTIFICAL 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 baby chicks are
reared in the absence of broody hen .
Advantages of Natural Brooding
Labour requirement is low.
It is cheap.
No risk of power failure.
Maintenance cost is low.
Does not require special skill/expertise.
• Favourable conditions for hatching are naturally provided.
Brooder Management
°Newly hatched chicks need a source of heat that will prevent
their body temperature falling too low , because chicks do not
have feathers . Therefore, they cannot maintain body temperature
till the feathers grow .
• °Body temperature of chicks is 42°C(107.6°F).
Artificial Brooding
• In artificial brooding , heat sources for chicks are
brooders/heaters. The day old chick’s temperature is about 3°F
below that of an adult. Its body temperature starts rising about 4
days of age and reaches its maximum at 10 days. The chick
needs time to develop temperature control (2 to 4 weeks ) and
at 5 weeks of age. It is important to light the brooders 24 hours
before the chicks hatch or arrive. Determine if the brooders are
working properly , and adjust the temperature to 90(32.2°C) to
95 ( 35°C) °F.
In time of stress or vaccination reactions , increase
brooder temperatures about 5°C above the recommended
temperature until the chicks recover. Check the comfort
of the chicks several times each day , especially in the
evening .
• Place an adequate number of feeders and waterers
around each brooder.
What do chicks need during the first
week?
• TEMPERATURE
• HUMIDITY
• LIGHT
• WATER
• FEED
• VENTILATION
FEEDING REQUIREMENT FOR
BROODING OF CHICKS
• The feed should be a high protein starter ration
with at least 20% protein. Consumption will
increase from approximately 13 grams of
feed/chick/day at one week of age to
approximately 29 grams/chick/day at four weeks
of age.
HOW DO WE TAKING CARE OF OUR
CHICKS ?
• 1.Setting Up The Habitat.
• 2. Place the habitat in a protected space.
• 3. Line the Habitat
• 4.Control the temperature
• 5.Maintain the cleanliness of your chicks habitat .
• 6.Feed your chick .
• 7.Provide your chick fresh water.
• 8.Watch for illness.
• 9. Give your chicks a vitamins .
Grower management
• Grow chicks need good quality of feed .
Protein is needed for growth , keeping up
a good health status , for maintenance,
production , to grow feather and etc.
