3. BROODING
Provide artificial heat to the chicks
with the help of brooder is called
brooding.
It is necessary because there is lack of thermoregulation
system in the chicks.
Chick are not completely able to maintain a constant body
temperature until it reach 1 and 2 weeks of age
3
5. 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.
Add to maximize genetic potential.
To improve overall health of the bird
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7. 1. PANCAKE BROODER
A old rule of thumb
Temperature at floor level under the edge of a hover or
pancake brooder should be 90⁰F (32⁰C) at day one,
Reduce approximately 5⁰F (2.8⁰C) per week,
Held at 70⁰F (21⁰C) from 5 weeks until market.
There is a room of error with pancake brooder since chicks
can move toward or away from the heat source to seek a
comfortable temperature.
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8. 2. FURNACE BROODER
Forced air furnace brooder and other whole-room heating
systems do not allow chicks to select a comfort zone. There
is no room for error when these systems are used.
Temperature must be exact since the chicks will not be able
to find a cooler or warmer area.
Recommended starting temperature at chicks height for
houses with forced air furnace is 88⁰F (31⁰C).
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13. 3. RADIANT BROODER
Radiant brooder have becomes popular in recent years.
Radiant brooder are efficient and effective for brooding chicks
since they concentrate heat on the floor of the poultry houses.
Studies have shown that radiant brooder can reduce fuel cost
by 15 to 30 % compared to conventional hover brooders and
forced-air furnaces.
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17. CORRECT BROODING MANAGEMENT
1. Clean Environment
2. Pre – Heating = Minimum – 1 hour before chick placement =
36 to 40 0 C at floor level.
3. Correct Curtain Management
4. Litter management – To attain adequate thickness,
requirement is ½ bag of rice hulls/square meter. It must be
dry but not dusty. Prevent/minimize wetness/caking
5. No tunnel ventilation please.
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18. PRE HEATING
Heating of house particularly floor before arrival of chicks
is called preheating.
Firing brooder and running furnace are used to preheat
the broiler houses, especially in cold weather.
Circulating fans located so as to move hot air off the ceiling
and back down to the floor are helpful in warming up the
floor.
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19. FLOOR TEMPERATURE
Chicks are in constant contact with the floor, the
temperature of the broiler house floor is actually more
important than air temperatures.
Floor temperature in houses with forced-air furnace are
particularly prone to being too cold if the house is not
preheat well before chicks arrive.
Furnaces heat air quickly, but it take many hours to heat the
floor, sidewalls and ceiling.
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20. MEASUREMENT OF FLOOR TEMPERATURE
A thermometer placed on the litter or infrared non-contact
thermometer can be used to determine if the floor is cold.
Floor temperature should be 83⁰ F (28⁰ C) or warmer in
furnace-heated houses.
Floor temperature in pancake and radiant brooder-heated
houses will vary any where from 75 to 140⁰ F (24 to 60⁰C),
depending on whether temperature is measured directly
under the brooder or in another location in the houses.
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21. ASCITES DUE TO BROODING TEMPERATURE
Increased mortality, primarily due to an increased incidence of
ascites, has been noted in broiler brooder at low temperature.
Cold weather and cool brooding temperatures are known to be
factors that increased feed intake and higher oxygen demand.
The increased need for oxygen of broiler at low temperatures,
coupled with the requirement to metabolize increased
quantities of feed consumed to maintain body temperature, set
up an ideal situation for ascities to become a problem.
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22. UNLOADING CHICKS
Chicks can easily become overheated during transport from the
hatchery to the broiler farm and especially while awaiting
unloading after reaching the farm.
Overheating can causes serious dehydration, heat stress and
possibly affect the disease resistance of the chicks.
It is essential that chicks be unloaded from the chicks transport
vehicles and distributed in the broiler house immediately upon
arriving at the farm.
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23. Arrangement should be made to have adequate help at the
farm when the chicks arrive to facilitate rapid unloading.
Chicks should be dumped from chick boxes as gently and as
low to the floor as possible.
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24. TEMPERATURE SETUP
The behavior of chicks should be observed closely for the
week.
Much can be learned concerning their comfort by watching
and listening.
Thermometers are necessary to aid the grower in
maintaining correct temperatures; however, temperatures
should be adjusted based on chick behavior as well.
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25. LIGHT FOR BROODING
During the first week, chicks should have a
minimum light intensity.
The light intensity can be reduced to help
control cannibalism.
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26. CONDITION OF BIRDS
If chicks are gathered around the brooder or make cluster,
house temperature must be increased
If chicks are gathered around the edge of chick guard, its
mean house temperature may be too warm
When chick are moving freely, dancing, drinking water and
taking food then the temperature will moderate.
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28. PARTIAL HOUSING BROODING
It is use to conserve fuel used to heat the broiler house and
to reduce labor involved in keeping feeder trays filled, many
producers brood chicks in only a portion of broiler house.
Studies have shown that during cold weather, partial house
brooding can reduce fuel usage by as much as 30%.
Saving during warm weather are considered less.
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29. In most cases, a brooding curtain is placed from floor to
ceiling across the width of the house at the midpoint of
the building.
29
30. In most cases, producers brood in the center portion of
the house and place curtain across the width of the
house at ¼ and ¾ the length of the houses.
Some producers begin brooding in just a third of the
house for a few days, then progress to two third of the
house for several additional days.
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31. PRECAUTIONS
Care must be taken to ensure that chicks have adequate
feeder and watered space if partial house brooding is used.
Brooding curtains should be removed and chicks allowed
access to the entire broiler house at 7 to 10 days during warm
weather and at 10 to 14 days during cold weather.
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32. EFFECT OF BROODING TEMPERATURE
AND BODY WEIGHT
730
740
750
760
770
780
790
800
810
95 90 85 80
b
o
d
y
w
e
i
g
h
t
brooding temperatue
Body weight at the end of brooding
body weight at the end of brooding
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