Transcript Broiler Housing

Chicken Housing
Ms. Morris
Adapted from:
http://www.agriscience.msu.edu/specialprojects/poultryimprovement/day14.htm
Getting Ready for New Chicks




Remove any feeders, waterers, manure,
feed bags, etc from the chicken house
Clean building: sweep, etc
Wash all equipment and facilities with
soapy water two weeks prior to receiving
chicks
Disinfect (bleach) facilities and equipment
Brooder/Heat Lamps




We will be using heat lamps to keep the
chicks warm
Start lights before chicks arrive to maintain
a floor temperature of 90-95 degrees F
Place a cardboard chick guard around the
heat source. Use for approximately 7 days
Gradually reduce heat over a period of
weeks, making sure the chicks are warm
Too Cold or Too Hot?



Chicks are too cold if they huddle together
under the heat source. They will also chirp
a lot
Chicks are too hot when they lay down in
corners(or outer areas of chick guard)
Chicks are the correct temperature when
they form a ring on the floor under the heat
source
Litter



Cover floor with 2-3 inches of litter
TIP-Wood shavings are highly preferred
Using straw requires extremely good
management and may result with ammonia
burns on the feet, thus a loss of points at
the contest
Remove wet litter as soon as possible
TIP

With broiler chicks, the newspaper will be
so slippery that the chicks will develop
leg problems which may lead to poor
growth or death, thus resulting in loss of
points
Ventilation



Plenty of ventilation is very important or the
chicks may get either too hot, too cold, or
suffer from diseases associated with
ammonia orders and too high of humidity
Ventilation slots may be placed in the
house
A small fan may have to be installed
Is My Ventilation OK?



If the chicken house smells badly of
ammonia, increase ventilation
If the chicken house feels very humid,
increase ventilation
Chicks do not like drafts

If they appear cold due to drafts, plug some of the
slots in the house or reduce fan speed
Space Requirements




Day old chicks need 1/2 square feet per
bird up to three weeks of age
Chicks also need adequate feed and water
space
If they have to fight for feeder space, you
will be inhibiting growth, which will end up
in a loss of points at the contest
Allow for 20 linear feet per 50 birds
Insulation



Insulation may be necessary during this
contest
A building which is entirely heated is the
best situation
This may be impossible, thus insulation can
help keep the chickens warm
Lighting Requirements

Keep lights on in the chicken house 24
hours a day


TIP-This will help keep the chickens from piling up
if they get scared
TIP-It will also encourage the birds to stay awake
and eat, thus making them grow faster!!!