To many poultry farmers, brooding is found to be the most challenging stage of the cycle.
In brooding, we provide heat necessary to the birds for their growth. The heat can be provided using charcoal burners but ideal charcoal burners should have a chimney that leads smoke out and if not present, the charcoal burners should be lit from outside the poultry house because the smoke from charcoal affects the respiratory system of the birds.
Chicks management
During brooding, feeding and drinking space is important to minimize pressure on feeders and drinkers. It is recommended that 50 chicks for every 1 feeder and drinker.
Monitor the temperature of the brooder house using a thermometer or by simply watching the behaviour of the chicks. When the chicks are feeling cold, they cuddle in one corner to keep each other warm or they cuddle under the burner. When feeling hot, the chicks pant, loosing water hence do not gain weight. If a thermometer is used to monitor the temperature, it should be hang at chicks level.
During temperature monitoring, we do not allow to have more than a 2 degrees fluctuation in temperature as this causes pasted vents which makes it difficult for the birds to pass out stool and is a sign of dehydration.
Provide light to the chicks, the correct intensity being that enough for you to read a news paper and provide proper ventilation through curtain management.
