Care and Management of Broilers during Winter Season

Introduction

Increasing population demands a sustainable and cheap source of nutrition. Poultry egg and meat are convenient, cheap and good source of nutrition. Along with nutritional benefits, poultry farming is providing employment to thousands of people and it is one of the attracting sector for entrepreneurs. At village level contract poultry farming is more adopted where farmer manage a flock of birds provided by company. In this type of farming feeding, housing and watering is managed by farmer while chicks, feed, vaccination and transportation are beared by the company. The company provide fixed price per kg of live weight to farmers. Instead of fascination associated with this farming there are several factors which decrease the profitability of this farming. Lack of scientific knowledge, proper training and improper management increase the mortality of chicks hence decrease the profit margin. In this article we discuss about the necessary action which should be taken to rear broiler under winter conditions.

Preparation of shelter before arrival of chicks

• The shed should be cleaned thoroughly 7 days before arrival of chicks. All the walls, spider webs and wire mesh should be cleaned.
• Walls, roof, floor of shed should be sprayed with disinfectant solution after drying of shed.
• Shed should be covered with plastic curtains to prevent the wind seepage inside the shed.
• After securing the shed from air, fumigate the shed using formalin and potassium permanganate (Kmno₄). Close the doors for 24 hours and let the shed fumigate. 150 gm ofKmno₄mixed with 280 ml of formalin is sufficient to sterilize 1000 ft³ space.
• After fumigation open the room and curtains for 48 hours to release formaldehyde gas from shed.
• Clean the foot bath and put disinfectant in it.

Preparation of brooder for chicks

• After preparation of shed, limit the entry in shed. Workers associated with brooding should be only allowed in shed.
• Brooder can be prepared one day before the arrival of chicks.
• Place the chick guards in circular fashion around heat source. Put the bedding material in the brooding area upto 6 inches. In winters extra 1-2 inch bedding material provide comfort to birds.
• Cover the bedding material with newspaper and place chick waters and chick feeders/trays.
• It is very important to maintain the temperature during brooding, farmers should arrange alternate heating source in case of electricity failure.
• Temperature and space require of chicks during brooding is given in table 1.

Feeding, Watering, Medication, Vaccination and general management of chicks

• After arrival of chicks, provide them glucose water to regain the energy and to release the stress faced during transportation.
• Exercise the chicks within brooder for absorption of yolk.
• For first day provide crushed maize on newspaper, and from day second provide feed in chick feeders or egg trays. Vaccination and medication schedule of chicks is given in table 2.
• Broilers gain weight very rapidly, because of rapid gain they are unable to bear body weight which may leads to lameness and paralysis in birds. To avoid the lameness and paralysis calcium should be provided to birds.
• The height of feeders and waterers should be adjusted to level of brim of birds to avoid sitting of birds near to waterers and feeders.
• Coccidiostats may be given to birds to prevent or treat the coccidial infection. Sudden death and abnormal behavior may be reported to veterinarian as soon as possible to avoid high mortality.
• Rack the litter everyday to avoid caking of litter. Litter should be dry during winters as birds avoid to rest on wet litter.

Proper knowledge of brooding, housing, feeding, vaccination and medication may help farmers to manage their flock properly. Proper management of broiler leads to timely weight gain, reduced mortality which ultimately increase the profit of farmers.

Dr. Anmol Pareek, Assistant Professor, LPM, RPS College of Veterinary Sciences, Mahendergarh

Dr. Aditi Gupta, PhD Scholar, LPM, F.V.Sc&AH, SKUAST-Jammu