Management of Growing Chicken

1Dr. R Divisha , Dr. M Arul Prakash2 4 and Dr. C Soundararajan

1Veterinary Consultant, 2 3Assistant Professor, Professor 2&3Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Corresponding author email id: vetrd89@gmail.com

Growing chicken commonly referred to as pullets or cockerels are young chicken that are less than a year old, raised after brooding till sexual maturity (9-18 weeks of age). They are often reared as commercial egg-laying or meat-type breeding hens in cages. Generally, chicks are kept in specific areas designated for brooding within the poultry houses. As they grow older, the grower birds are removed from brooders and distributed as replacement pullets in the house. The main objective of grower period is to achieve target live body weight and flock uniformity.

General guidelines

1. Birds of uniform weight should be transferred to grower houses at 9 weeks of age to maintain flock uniformity; while doing so they should not be exposed to any kind of stress. 2. Vaccination of healthy flock with

Ranikhet disease Lasota strain vaccine at 6th and 12th months of age, deworming and other prophylactic or supplementary medications must be strictly administered; growers must be treated against endo- and ectoparasites regularly. 3. Recommended procedures such as debeaking, beak trimming and dubbing of cockerels should be carried out to prevent injuries among growers. 4. Sample weights of growing chicken should be taken once in a week to check if they meet the breeder recommendations. 5. Feather method of sexing or vent sexing is done to identify the pullets and cockerels.

Housing

1. Growers are maintained in pen and run system hence grower house needs to be properly cleaned and disinfected before introducing the birds from the brooder. 2. There should be sufficient cross ventilation within the grower house with ample floor space, feeding space (2040cm/bird) and water space (30-60cm/bird) provided for the growing chicken. 3. Suitable mold-free, non-toxic and non-caking litter material should be spread evenly to a depth of minimum 4 inches if reared in deep-litter system. A good litter management system helps prevent diseases like coccidiosis. 4. Feeders and waterers should be arranged and changed accordingly in the grower house. 5. The paddocks should preferably be rectangular in shape for the birds to run and exercise. 6. Lighting and temperature should be gradually reduced within the house as the birds grow. Only 12hours of natural lighting should be allowed; artificial lighting is not required.

Feeding

1. The dietary requirements of growers between 6-20 weeks old varies from that of chicks. 2. The feed intake during growing period ranges from 500g/day to 1000g/day. 3. The grower ration should basically contain around 16-18% protein with

essential feed additives such as vitamins, minerals and anticoccidials. 4. More number of feeders must be provided to make sure that all birds take feed simultaneously; feed and water should be changed at least thrice a day. 5. Feed deprivation to the weaker birds by dominant birds must be checked. 6. Restricted feeding should be adopted to prevent early sexual maturity, fattening of pullets and to improve the egg production. 7. Quantitative feed restriction: The quantity of feed is reduced below the standard requirements of the birds on daily or skip-a-day basis in a week. This is done by matching the average body weight of the flock with standard body weights provided by the breeder.

8.

Qualitative feed restriction: The quality of feed is reduced below the standard requirements of the birds by including unconventional or lesser-nutrient feed ingredients instead of a high energy or high protein diet. However, the quantity of feed is unrestricted. 9. Feed restriction during growing period saves feed cost as only calculated amount of feed will be offered. 10. Pullets accumulate less fat and hence produce more eggs by way of restricted feeding; weaker undergrown pullets can be identified easily and culled to improve the economy. r