Release Genetic Performance PotentialPart 1 Stress Free Early Management

Part1

Plan of Talk – Part 1

Introduction

Chick placement

Thermo neutral Zone– Temperature

– Humidity

– Ventilation

Lightening

Water

Feed

Plan of Talk – Part 1

Introduction

Chick placement

Thermo neutral Zone– Temperature

– Humidity

– Ventilation

Lightening

Water

Feed

Introduction

The objective of proper brooding is todevelop appetite as early as possible.

Cont. …

The proper management during thefirst 48 hours of chick age wouldmaximize;

1. Immunity

2. Performance

3. Livability

Achievement of these objectives comefrom absorption of yolk sac and fromfeed consumption.

Cont. …

The proper;

1. Chick placement

2. Temperature

3. Humidity

4. Air quality

5. Feeding program

6. Water management

7. Light management

are essential components of brooding to avoid stress.

Cont. …

It is essential to assess and correctearly management problems toachieve full genetic performancepotential and maximum immunity.

Cont. …

During the first days of life, chickens are still developing;

1. The immune system.

2. The thyroid gland.

3. Intestinal tract.

Cont. …

The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroxin (andultimately, T3), a hormone involved in;

1. Protein synthesis

2. Growth

3. Development of the skeleton

4. Development of the nervous systems

5. Tolerance of stress

Cont. …

These organs/systems help form thebasis of performance that reaches thegenetic potential.

Damage to these systems willirreversibly affect growth and feedconversion for the life of the flock.

Cont. …

It is essential to protect thedevelopment of these organs throughstress-free early management.

Cont. …

Avoiding stress through proper management is critical becausestress:

1. Induces the release of corticosteroids, an immuno-suppressing agents.

2. Encourages the growth of unwanted pathogens such asSalmonella, E. coli or Campylobacter.

3. Can turn very minor infections into life and performancethreatening infections.

Plan of Talk – Part 1

Introduction

Chick placement

Thermo neutral Zone– Temperature

– Humidity

– Ventilation

Lightening

Water

Feed

Chick Placement

If the flock comes from different agebreeder flocks, chicks should be groupedby breeder age as much as possible.

Expected delivery time of chicks shouldbe established so they would be

unloaded and correctly placed as quicklyas possible.

Cont. …

The longer chicks are in transport boxes, the greater thedegree of dehydration, which may result in:

1. Early mortality.

2. Reduced growth potential.

Chicks must be placed quickly, gently and evenly over thebrooding area.

Empty boxes should be removed from the house as soon aspossible.

Cont. …

Chicks should be left to settle for 1–2 hr in order to becomeaccustomed to their new environment.

After this time, make sure that:

1. All chicks have easy access to feed and water.

2. Chicks are active.

Regularly check this every 4–6 hr after placement for the first24 hr.

Plan of Talk – Part 1

Introduction

Chick placement

Thermo neutral Zone– Temperature

– Humidity

– Ventilation

Lightening

Water

Feed

Thermo neutral Zone

The thermo neutral zone is the place where

1. Temperature

2. Humidity

3. Ventilation

interact to produce a chick that is neither heat nor cold stressed.

Temperature

Cont. …

Definitions:

Ambient Temperature (Air Temperature)

Effective Temperature (Chick Feel)

Cont. …

Early in life, the chick is poorlyequipped to regulate its metabolicprocesses to raise or lower bodytemperature.

Maintain the correct temperature is acrucial factor in chick brooding,especially during the first 7-10 daysof the chick's life.

Cont. …

Maintain proper temperature levels and use good husbandrypractices to prevent long-term effects such as;

1. Low growth rate.

2. Reduced uniformity.

3. Poor feed conversion.

Cont. …

Temperature extremes

– lead to death.

Chilling or overheating

– Negatively affect young chickswithout causing death.

Cont. …

Temperatures of 35°C or higher cause a highlysignificant drop in cardiac output and bloodpressure.

Average Body Temperature By Age

Age of Chicks in Days Average Body Temperature

1 39.7

2 40.1

4 41

5 41.4

10 41.4

Recommended Brooding Temperature By House Type And Age

AgeBrooding temperature

Conventional House Controlled Environment House

1st week 32.2 29.4 - 31.0

2nd week 29.4 26.7 - 28.3

4rd week 26.7 23.9 - 25.5

4th week 26.7 23.9

5th week 23.9 21.1

6th week 21.1 21.1

Cont. …

If a house is too cold,

Chick's body temperature will decrease

Stunt chick growth and more susceptibility to disease.

If the house is too hot,

Chick's body temperature will rise.

Dehydration problems.

Cont. …

Avoidance of temperature stress, either hot or cold, is key toproper development of the thyroid and gastro-intestinal tract ofthe young bird.

Cont. …

The actual environmental temperature isthe single greatest determinant of chicktemperature, but it is influenced by bothhumidity and airflow.

Humidity

Humidity

Chicks does not have sweet glands.

Chickens lose heat to the environment by evaporation ofmoisture primarily from the respiratory tract.

The recommended RH:

First three weeks 60 to 70%

Next four weeks 40 to 60%

Humidity and Temperature

Humidity is the heat transfer agent.

Sufficient humidity must be present to transfer heat:

Away from warm chicks

To cold chicks

+ °C

- °C

Cont. …High RH

Increases apparent temperature.

Low RH

Decreases apparent temperature.

Increase the speed at which heat is lost from chicks in a cold environment.

- °C

Cause rapid overheating in a hot environment.+ °C

Humidity and Feed Consumption

Increased relative humidity results in depressed feedconsumption.

Dry-Bulb Temp / RH% 37 49 56 67 73 82

Feed Consumed in Gm

32.2 44 14

27.2 56 50

22.2 61 47

Ventilation

Importance of Ventilation

Air quality is critical during the brooding period.

Ventilation is required during brooding period to:

1. Maintain temperatures at the targeted level.

2. Allow sufficient air exchange to prevent accumulation ofharmful gases such as:

1. Carbon monoxide.

2. Carbon dioxide.

3. Ammonia.

Air Flow

Establishing minimum ventilation rates fromone day of age will ensure fresh air is suppliedto chicks at frequent, regular intervals.

Stirring fans can be used to maintainevenness of air quality at chick level.

Cont. …

Functions of Air flow

1. Distributes temperature uniformly throughout theenvironment.

2. Removes excess heat especially in stacked chicks.

Cont. …

Low Air Flow

Gases such as carbon dioxide and ammonia are heavier thanoxygen.

If they are present in the house, they will tend to sink to floorlevel, displacing oxygen.

This results in:

1. Ammonia blindness due to high ammonia concentrationat the floor.

2. Ascites due to low oxygen at floor level.

Cont. …

Too Much Air Flow

Chill chicks

Air Velocity and Cooling Effect

Air Velocity FPMFeet Per Minute

1 Week Old°C

4 Week Old°C

7 Week Old°C

100 -2 -1

200 -6 -3 -1

300 -12 -6 -3

400 -8 -4

500 -10 -6

Estimate Wind Chill Effect Broiler Chick

Air Velocity FPM 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk

100 2 1.75 1.5 1 0.5 0.25 0

200 6 5 4 3 2 1.5 1

300 12 10 8 6 5 4 3

400 14 12 9 7 5 4

500 10 9 7 6

Minimum Ventilation Rate

The most practical way to calculate the air-flow is by the rule ofthumb provide 0.22 cubic feet of air-flow per minute perkilogram of body weight of the chickens in the house for each 1F of temperature of outside air.

How To Calculate CFM

Bird Age Body Weight NO. of Birds Total Body Weight CFM/Kg Total CFM

1 0.075 10,000 750

0.5

375

2 0.225 9,900 2,228 1,114

3 0.680 9,850 6,698 3,349

4 1.086 9,800 10,643 5,322

5 1.708 9,750 16,653 8,326

6 2.040 9,650 19,686 9,843

7 2.480 9,550 23,684 11,842

Chick Felt at Air Temperature 32°C

Age in WksTarget

C

Air Velocity FPM

100 200 300 400

1 33 30 26 20

2 30 30 27 22 18

3 29 30.5 28 24 20

4 28 31 29 26 24

5 24 31.5 30 27 25

6 22 32 30.5 28 27

Chick Felt at Air Temperature 22 C

AgeTarget

C

Air Velocity FPM

100 200 300 400

1 33 20 16

2 30 20.25 17

3 29 20.5 18 14

4 28 21 19 16

5 25 21.5 20 17

6 22 21.75 20.5 18

Plan of Talk – Part 1

Introduction

Chick placement

Thermo neutral Zone– Temperature

– Humidity

– Ventilation

Lightening

Water

Feed

Lighting Program

Historically, lighting programs have consisted of continuouslight regimens to maximize daily weight gain.

These regimens consist of:1. A long continuous period of light.2. A short dark period (e.g. 0.5–1 hr) to allow birds to

become accustomed to darkness in the event of a powerfailure.

Cont. …

Lighting programs have been designed to:

1. Modify growth

2. Minimize FCR

3. Reduce mortality

Lighting

Light duration: 23 hr light

Light intensity at the feeder level:

– 20–25 lux, at placement.

– To be reduced by 3- 5 lux at 28 days.

Light intensity should be uniform throughout the house.

Plan of Talk – Part 1

Introduction

Chick placement

Thermo neutral Zone– Temperature

– Humidity

– Ventilation

Lightening

Water

Feed

Water

Ideally, the chicks should be placed at the farm and providedwater and feed in less than 8 hours from hatch.

Longer delays could lead to dehydration and chick weightshrinkage.

Cont. …

A newly hatched chick is 85% water.

When 10% of this water is lost, itbecomes a cull chick.

When there is 20% dehydration, thechick could die.

It is important to hydrate the chickadequately and promptly.

This will promote feed consumption andbetter body weights.

Water Quality

Drinker lines should be flushed and sanitized prior to chickarrival.

Water quality, purity, and temperature must be checked inadvance.

Water temperature range 18–24°C

All chicks must be able to eat and drink immediately onplacement in the house.

Water – Adding Sugar

Add some sort of sweetener substance, like sugar to the water(4% solution) for the first few hours of life.

1. Sugar helps replenish depleted chick energy, and stimulateschicks to consume feed.

2. Sweet water may loosen up the impacted intestine andprepare the gut linings for the incoming feed.

Water – Adding Vitamins

After the addition of sugar, it isrecommended to add a vitaminsupplement to the water for thefirst three days of life, to boost thechicks' vitality.

Water – Adding Chlorine

With the exception of water vaccination time, drinking watermust be adequately chlorinated.

The chlorine level at the drinker level should be

1. 1PPM-nipple drinkers

2. 2PPM-plasson drinkers

3. 3PPM-trough drinkers

Plan of Talk – Part 1

Introduction

Chick placement

Thermo neutral Zone– Temperature

– Humidity

– Ventilation

Lightening

Water

Feed

Feed

Prior to chick delivery, a final check must be made of feed andwater availability and distribution within the house.

Feed must be within the comfort zone of the chicks.

Cont. …

Supplemental feeders should be filledand placed in the brooding area in aproper ratio (e.g. with box lids – 1/100chicks).

Feed

Proper physical composition (goodcrumbles, not pellets or mash) willencourage uniform distribution ofnutrients and efficient consumption bythe chicks.

Proper nutritional composition will givethe chicks a good start.

Feed

To monitor if chicks are consumingadequate feed, it is recommended toselect chicks and palpate their crops.

The crops should be quite full.

If the crop feels half empty or empty,there must be something wrong inthe management.

The Good Start

If water and feed are consumed in sufficient amounts andcorrect brooding temperature and air quality are provided,

A broiler chick should be able to quadruple (4x) the post-hatch body weight by seven days of age. Day Old Chick =40g

7 Days old chick =160g