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Isolation and restricted access to the brood/ grow area are important to prevent and control poultry diseasesThere are different diseases affecting the birds at different ages.. The “all-in all-out” brood/grow program provides excellent means for isolation and allows for effective cleanup in the event of a disease outbreak. It also permits uniform programs for lightThe light is crucial for achieving the egg size that market requieres control and vaccination. Traffic between the brood/grow area and laying houses should be avoided. Brooder houses must be kept free of wild birds and rodentsMice and rats as they can be a major source of pathogens and parasites.
The relative humidity (determined with a wet bulb thermometer), should be maintained on an optimal level, i.e. between 60 and 70 %. Humidity is usually not a prob- lem after 6 weeks of age because it is easier to maintain a satisfactory moisture level at lower temperatures. Besides, the older, larger birds also exhale a considerable amount of moisture into the atmosphere.
Preparations before the chicks arrive:
When the day old chicks arrive on the farm, they have been intensively handled in the hatchery and often had a long transport to their final destination. Give them 24 hours lightThe light is crucial for achieving the egg size that market requieres in the first 2 or 3 days after arrival,to help them recover and provide enough time to eat and to drink. Sometimes after arrival and housing some chicks continue to sleep, others are already looking for feed and waterThe water is as important as the feed.
The activity of the flock will always be irregular. Especially in this phase, poultry- men may have difficulties interpreting the chicks behavior and their condition. There is a practically proven procedure in splitting the day into phases of resting and activity using a special designed intermittent lighting programYou need to decide the lighting program in the rearing, not in the production. The target of such a pro- gram is to synchronize the activity of chicks in order to make it easier for the staff to assess the condition of the flock more accurately and to stimulate feed and waterThe water is as important as the feed intake through group behavior.
Therefore, H&N International advises to give chicks a brief period of rest after the arrival at the rearing farm and then start the intermittent lighting programYou need to decide the lighting program in the rearing, not in the production of 4 hours lightThe light is crucial for achieving the egg size that market requieres followed by two hours of darkness.
This program can be used for up to 7 or 10 days after arrival. Then switch to the regular step down lighting programYou need to decide the lighting program in the rearing, not in the production. The benefits of using such a program are:
MortalityMore than a 0.1 weekly mortality in the first week is reduced.
Provide edditional feed trays within the brooder ring until all chicks start eating from the regular feeding system. Automatic watering systems vary in their ability to provide adequate waterThe water is as important as the feed for day old chicks. Supplement all systems with waterThe water is as important as the feed jugs until the chicks are drinkingRecord the water intake is a must for a successful production. from the regular waterThe water is as important as the feed system. It is important that birds are grown on the same type waterThe water is as important as the feed system as they will use in the laying house. This will help prevent dehydration at housing time.
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