Article
Brooding Management in Commercial Broilers Zulfqarul Haq1, Azmat Alam Khan1, Nazir Ahmed2 and M. Iqbal Yatoo1. 1 2
Division of Livestock Production and Management, F.V. Sc & AH, Shuhama
Directorate of Extension,Shalimar, SKUAST-Kashmir. Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, India
Introduction
3. Brooder guard
Brooding is a period immediately after the hatch when special care and attention is given to chicks to support their health and survival. A recently hatched chick has not yet developed their own mechanism to regulate its own body temperature hence, it cannot maintain its body temperature properly for the first weeks and it is subject to chilling in the winter season when extra heat is not provided from externally. Brooding is an art and science of rearing large number of baby chicks in the absence of a broody hen. A newly hatched chick has not developed the thermoregulatory mechanism fully and takes about two weeks to develop this mechanism and homeostasis. Therefore, they cannot maintain the body temperature properly for the first few weeks of life and may be subjected to chilling, if not properly taken care of. Hence, artificial brooding is mainly aimed at, providing the right temperature to the chicks. In addition to the temperature, adequate floor, feeder space, water space, relative humidity, ventilation and light should be provided for optimum comfort and growth of the chicks.
Heating source may be electrical, gases like natural gas, LPG and methane, liquid fuel like kerosene, solid fuel like coal, wood can be used as a heating material
Classification of brooding Brooding is classified into natural and artificial brooding. Natural brooding is done with the help of broody hens after hatching, up to 3 to 4 weeks of age. In artificial brooding large number of baby chicks are reared in the absence of broody hen. Equipments used for brooding are called brooders. Brooder comprises of three elements: 1. Heating source 2. Reflectors
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Types of brooders The primary object for brooding is to provide the right temperature especially the temperature to the growing chicks. The different types of heat to the baby chicks will be following.
economical on a longer run, due to their durability and lesser power consumption. ii) Heater coils Heater coils of various watts capacities with thermostats reflector hoods and hanging chain are available for providing heat to chicks. These coils are more suitable for cold climates, because they give more heat. Separate tube lights have to be provided for lighting the house. iii) Gas brooder
iv) Kerosene stove
In places where natural gases or liquefied petroleum gas is available at a cheaper rate and reliably, gas brooding can be practiced. With the help of a regulator or central control unit, the heat intensity can be regulated.
v) Charcoal stove
iv) Kerosene stove brooding
vi) Centralized heating system
Kerosene stove can be used to warm up the brooder houses. To dissipate the heat uniformly into the brooder house, a metal vessel or plate filled with sand or water may be place over the stove. This is suitable in places, where electricity failure is quite often.
I) Incandescent bulbs and other types of bulbs ii) Heater coil with thermostat iii) Gas brooder
vii) Battery brooder viii)Biogas brooder i) Bulb type brooder Different types of electrical bulbs, which will generate heat besides light will use. The most commonly used bulbs for brooding will be 100-200 watts incandescent bulbs. One to two watts capacity is used for each chick , depending on the outside temperature. Incandescent bulbs will burn out soon and has to be replaced periodically. Moreover, it needs higher electricity and may not be economical in places where the electricity charges are higher. Certain farmers use infra-red bulbs, spot lights, reflector bulbs and focus bulbs; which will generate more heat than incandescent bulbs. Even though these bulbs are costlier, they are
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v) Coal or charcoal brooding Instead of kerosene, coal, charcoal or lignite can be used as fuel for stoves. These stoves will not only gives better heat, but also found to be cheaper. Hence, it is more common in rural areas, where power failure is too frequent. vi) Centralized heating system This system of brooding is followed in environmentally controlled poultry houses; where the room temperature is maintained at an average of 32°C during first week of age. This temperature will be gradually reduced Poultry Planner | Vol. 23 | No.04 | April - 2021
