When brooding commercial baby chicks in large numbers it is critical that you keep the temperature as even as possible throughout the brooding area, maintain the correct humidity levels, and be sure there are no drafts that can cause temperature changes. Doing so you can raise healthier chicks and have a lower mortality (death) rate.
Important Environmental Factors You Need to Control When Brooding Chicks
Age baby chicks develop the ability to regulate body temperature: 12-14 weeks.
Temperature fluctuations even by one degree can cause stress which can affect performance.
Body temperature of chicks:
Day old chick: Approx. 103 degrees F (39 degrees C)
Five day old chick: 106 degrees F (41.1 degrees C)-same as an adult.
Extreme temperatures (high or low) result in chick mortality (death).
Mild chilling or overheating can affect performance without causing death.
High temperatures for extended periods of time can reduce performance and cause death.
"Research has shown that chicks that are subjected to cold temperature have impaired immune and digestive systems. As a result, cold stressed chicks have reduced growth and increased susceptibility to diseases. Cold stressed chicks will exhibit higher incidence of ascites, a metabolic disorder that results in reduced performance, increased mortality and increased condemnations at the processing plant. In research studies where groups of chicks were brooded at either 80 degrees F or 90 degrees F, the chicks reared under the warmer temperature had better weight gains, feed conversion and livability. Chicks brooded under 80 degrees F experienced reduced growth compared to the high brooding temperature treatment. The chicks reared under those temperatures did not catch up in body weight and as a result weighed less at market age than birds that were brooded properly. Not only do chicks exposed to low brooding temperatures have reduce growth rates, but they will consume more feed to keep themselves warm, reducing feed efficiency and increasing feed costs" See Temperature Chart Here: http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1287(UGA). See Hyline Temperature Chart for Laying Birds below.
Temperature fluctuations even by one degree can cause stress which can affect performance.
Body temperature of chicks:
Day old chick: Approx. 103 degrees F (39 degrees C)
Five day old chick: 106 degrees F (41.1 degrees C)-same as an adult.
Extreme temperatures (high or low) result in chick mortality (death).
Mild chilling or overheating can affect performance without causing death.
High temperatures for extended periods of time can reduce performance and cause death.
"Research has shown that chicks that are subjected to cold temperature have impaired immune and digestive systems. As a result, cold stressed chicks have reduced growth and increased susceptibility to diseases. Cold stressed chicks will exhibit higher incidence of ascites, a metabolic disorder that results in reduced performance, increased mortality and increased condemnations at the processing plant. In research studies where groups of chicks were brooded at either 80 degrees F or 90 degrees F, the chicks reared under the warmer temperature had better weight gains, feed conversion and livability. Chicks brooded under 80 degrees F experienced reduced growth compared to the high brooding temperature treatment. The chicks reared under those temperatures did not catch up in body weight and as a result weighed less at market age than birds that were brooded properly. Not only do chicks exposed to low brooding temperatures have reduce growth rates, but they will consume more feed to keep themselves warm, reducing feed efficiency and increasing feed costs" See Temperature Chart Here: http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1287(UGA). See Hyline Temperature Chart for Laying Birds below.
Humidity Levels Must Be Monitored & Maintained at all times for successful brooding
Steady draft free heat at the correct temperatures (see below) will ensure a successful brooding experience. Keep a close eye on brooding chicks if they are showing signs of discomfort such as drowsiness, huddling together (they are too cold) or panting (they are too hot). If you observe these things you will need to check humidity levels, check for drafts and adjust the temperature. "A relative humidity below 30% will cause increased agitation of the chicks and may cause aggressive behavior. Conversely, excessive moisture may cause wet litter conditions, associated with high ammonia concentrations, poor air quality, enteric diseases, and respiratory problems. Ideally, the relative humidity should be between 40 and 60%. Humidity control becomes increasingly important when warm-room brooding in cold climates. To increase the relative humidity, water can be sprayed on the walk ways or floors. Humidity will normally be lowered to 30 to 40% by the end of the growing period" (Hyline).See more here: http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=2&p=29
See Hyline Temperature Recommendations for egg layers, informative video and more Below...
See Hyline Temperature Recommendations for egg layers, informative video and more Below...
Hyline Hatchery Recommended Brooding Temperatures for Commercial Layers
Photo Courtesy of Hyline. http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=2&p=29
Energy Conserving Brooding Temps-Some Lower Temps Put Birds at Risk of Ascites and High Mortality Rates While others were acceptable
Laboratory studies on broiler birds conducted because of the 1970's energy crisis determined that brooder temperatures could be lowered slightly will little effect on the bird's health. The laboratory recommended that initial brooding temperatures for broilers be reduced to 29.4 C from 32.2 or 35 C. This study was conducted to see whether the recommended brooding
temperature of 29.4 C the 1st wk, 26.7 C the 2nd wk, and 23.9 C the 3rd wk would be satisfactory for broiler production when compared with higher brooding temperature regimens starting at 32.2 or 35 C. because environmental temperature has been implicated in the ascites syndrome.
The acceptable lowered brooding temperatures when compared with the usual higher temperature regimens of did not adversely affect broiler performance at 6 wk of age.
Acceptable Lowered Brooding Temperatures:
Week 1: 29.4 C
Week 2:26.7 C
Week 3: 23.9 C .
"Mortality due to ascites and total mortality significantly increased for broilers brooded in the negative control temperature regimen of 26.7 C the 1st wk, 23.9 C the 2nd wk, and 21.1 C when compared with some or all of the higher brooding temperature regimens. Heat loss calculations based on a commercial setting show an 18% savings in liquified petroleum (LP) gas usage for chicks brooded at 29.4 vs 35 C and a savings of 10% in LP gas usage for chicks brooded at 29.4 vs 32.2 C on a winter day" (Deaton JW, Branton SL, Simmons JD, Lott BD).
temperature of 29.4 C the 1st wk, 26.7 C the 2nd wk, and 23.9 C the 3rd wk would be satisfactory for broiler production when compared with higher brooding temperature regimens starting at 32.2 or 35 C. because environmental temperature has been implicated in the ascites syndrome.
The acceptable lowered brooding temperatures when compared with the usual higher temperature regimens of did not adversely affect broiler performance at 6 wk of age.
Acceptable Lowered Brooding Temperatures:
Week 1: 29.4 C
Week 2:26.7 C
Week 3: 23.9 C .
"Mortality due to ascites and total mortality significantly increased for broilers brooded in the negative control temperature regimen of 26.7 C the 1st wk, 23.9 C the 2nd wk, and 21.1 C when compared with some or all of the higher brooding temperature regimens. Heat loss calculations based on a commercial setting show an 18% savings in liquified petroleum (LP) gas usage for chicks brooded at 29.4 vs 35 C and a savings of 10% in LP gas usage for chicks brooded at 29.4 vs 32.2 C on a winter day" (Deaton JW, Branton SL, Simmons JD, Lott BD).
Small Scale Poultry Brooding & Rearing Chickens
The period from hatching until the chickens no longer require supplementary heat is called the ‘brooding period’ and usually lasts for 3–6 weeks, depending on seasonal temperatures and the type of housing. See .pdf http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/203521/small-scale-brooding-rearing-chickens.pdf
Hot Deals on Brooder Thermometers |
References:
1. House temperature and relative humidity. Retrieved on Oct. 9, 2017 from Hyline. http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=2&p=29
2. Deaton JW, Branton SL, Simmons JD, Lott BD. The effect of brooding temperature on broiler performance. Poult Sci. 1996 Oct;75(10):1217-20. PubMed PMID: 8893297.
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1287
3. Environmental Factors to Control when Brooding Chicks. Retrieved on Oct. 10, 2017 from UGA Extension. http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1287
4. Brooding temps for small Flocks https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/production/poultry/brooding-temperatures-for-small-poultry-flock
1. House temperature and relative humidity. Retrieved on Oct. 9, 2017 from Hyline. http://www.hyline.com/aspx/redbook/redbook.aspx?s=2&p=29
2. Deaton JW, Branton SL, Simmons JD, Lott BD. The effect of brooding temperature on broiler performance. Poult Sci. 1996 Oct;75(10):1217-20. PubMed PMID: 8893297.
http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1287
3. Environmental Factors to Control when Brooding Chicks. Retrieved on Oct. 10, 2017 from UGA Extension. http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1287
4. Brooding temps for small Flocks https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/production/poultry/brooding-temperatures-for-small-poultry-flock
