Brooding is a critical phase in the life of a chick, laying the foundation for its growth and development. Poultry experts have extensively researched and analysed brooding parameters that significantly impact chick performance.
This blog post will highlight the key factors, including food, lighting, air quality, water, sanitation, and space, which should be optimised to ensure the best possible outcomes for chick growth and overall health.
According to Dr. Scott Gillingham, a poultry veterinarian involved in the poultry industry across Canada for over 30 years who recently discussed the importance of brooding parameters for optimal chick performance, he noted that biosecurity is critical and that an integrated approach is necessary when evaluating the brooding chamber.
The acronym FLAWSS (food, lighting, air, water, space, and sanitation) is used to evaluate the brooding chamber.
Dr. Gillingham noted that the feed should cover 50-70% of the brooding space and that 40-50 grams of feed should be dispersed on the paper per chick.
He also noted that the lighting should be at least 10 feet above and that the intensity should be bright.
Dr. Gillingham also discussed the importance of evaluating chick temperature, weight, and crop fill. He noted that the chicks should have a temperature of 103-105 degrees and that the average weight should be 40 grams with a bell curve of plus or minus four grams. He also noted that crop fill should be 60% after two or three hours and 80-100% after 24 hours.
Dr. Gillingham also discussed the importance of stockmanship and noted that antibiotics should only be used with the professional support of a veterinarian. He noted that the goal for seven-day mortality should be less than 1% and that the pattern of mortality should be evaluated to determine where improvements need to be made.
Overall, Dr. Gillingham discussed the importance of brooding parameters for optimal chick performance and noted that anything done in the first seven days will have a positive impact on the health and comfort of the chick.
