A ventilation system should be installed in the chicken coop, which is designed to replace the air flows in the room. It is equally important to control the temperature regime for broilers, without which the livestock may die.
Temperature range for broilers
Growing broilers is a profitable business. Already in the third month of life of individuals, the weight of a chicken can exceed 2.5 kg. Active growth of birds is impossible without proper care from the owner. The more comfortable the conditions of their keeping, the greater the weight of the carcass. Chicken cages should be equipped with everything you need: feeders, drinkers, bedding.
Why you should control the temperature in the chicken coop
Newborn chicks need warmth from the very first days of their lives. Their weak immunity perceives any external influence as a threat. Lack of heat often leads to illness and even death of the livestock. Birds do not lose their attachment to warmth at a more mature age. In addition, the modern development of farming has undergone a number of revolutionary changes. The advent of incubators and brooders helped replace the incubation of eggs. There is also no need to raise newborn broilers next to the mother. Laying hens are best kept separate from the brood.
The main goal in broiler farming is to get tasty meat or eggs. The task of the farmer is to contribute to this as efficiently as possible, therefore, even before the birth of the chickens, eggs are incubated, and from the first days of their life - aging in a brooder. It is the climatic conditions that affect how the broiler will develop and what its state of health will be, so it is necessary to know how to create the correct temperature regime for the chickens.
Is it worth insulating the chicken coop
For the safe keeping of broilers, it is necessary to provide them with the most comfortable living conditions. One of the most important points is the insulation of the chicken coop. Immediately after the brooder, the chicks are placed in a cage or chicken coop. For birds to grow healthy, it is necessary that the walls of the building are warm and windproof. But before starting work, you should know about some of the features of insulation:
- Installation work can be carried out both indoors and outdoors.
- The materials used for construction must be safe for the health of birds, and also protect them as much as possible from the negative effects of high and low temperatures, as well as precipitation.
- It is necessary to insulate not only the walls, but also the floor with the roof.
- Hard-to-reach places (under the roof, material joints, etc.) must be insulated from moisture.
Those farmers who do not have a finished building for insulation have a chance to create the highest-quality chicken coop by choosing the most suitable place for it. Many poultry farmers save the floor of the building from the cold by lifting it on wooden logs. It is equally important to choose the best place for natural light (window), as well as for electric lighting devices, because daylight hours and its control are equally important for the correct keeping of birds of any age.
When raising broilers in a chicken coop, farmers should cover the floor with straw or sawdust. Such materials will help maintain the temperature regime for broiler chicks and create the comfort they need. In addition, the complete arrangement of everything necessary is a long process that depends not only on the climatic characteristics of the region, but also on what breed the farmer chooses for keeping.
Effect of changes in temperature and humidity on the growth and productivity of birds
The need to use insulation flooring depends on the change in ambient temperature during the life of a bird from its first days of existence until the moment when it is hacked to death. Keeping temperatures within normal limits can be challenging, especially during the winter. From the beginning of frost until spring, poultry farmers equip chicken coops with electric heaters, but for safety reasons, they are not recommended to be installed on the floor. The most suitable height is 1 m from the floor covering.
The temperature regime for domestic chickens of different ages has its own characteristics. For convenience, each farmer can use reference materials. The temperature-humidity table helps poultry farmers to maintain the productivity of birds, and therefore their health.
Age, weeks | Indoor temperature, ° C | Air temperature, under the heating source, ° C | Air humidity, % |
1 | 26-28 | 30-35 | 40-60 |
2-4 | 22-26 | 24-29 | 60-70 |
5-6 | 20 | 60-70 | |
7-9 | 18 | 60-70 |
Thus, the minimum air temperature safe for the health of birds is 20 ° C. Humidity of 60% is equally important. At such a low temperature for keeping chickens, some individuals may freeze or overheat. Even from the first days of its existence, it is not difficult to notice discomfort. If the chickens rub against each other in small heaps, they are cold. If the chicks are thirsty and keep their beaks open, they feel hot.
The temperature regime also affects the egg production of chickens. At low temperatures, they rush weakly, but as soon as the climate becomes comfortable, the process is restored. Incubation will not be superfluous. The proper temperature level will save future chicks from death. Also, high temperatures negatively affect the brood. The productivity of birds can decrease by 30-40%, but also recover when the temperature regime is adjusted.
Climatic regime for young animals
For any bird, constant warmth is essential for effective growth and development. The temperature regime for broilers also has its own characteristics, which depend on the age of the birds. These include:
- When rearing chicks up to 10 days old, a constant temperature of 30-32 ° C must be maintained. You should also control daylight hours. Many farmers don't turn off their lights around the clock. This is due to the poor orientation of birds in space.
- After 10 days, the air temperature must be lowered by 1 °, and this must be done daily for the next week.
- In a month from birth, the chicks are completely transferred to a twenty-degree mode.
In order to avoid mistakes in raising chickens, it is best to use reference materials.
A table of the ratio of temperature and humidity for any age will help keep chickens healthy, which will affect the quality of their productivity. Monthly birds are already considered fully prepared for cellular maintenance and less dependent on additional heat sources.
The temperature regime for growing broilers is considered favorable only if the poultry farmer himself takes into account moisture indicators at a particular temperature. A properly equipped ventilation system can help in this. Without changing the air, chickens can become infected with diseases of the digestive tract, and metabolic processes in the body can also be disrupted.
Walking and its meaning
When raising chickens, it is important to provide them not only with a comfortable temperature and the right amount of feed, but also with a sufficient amount of fresh air and sunlight. Before sending youngsters for a walk, you need to know at what age these walks will be useful. Many poultry farmers recommend sending chicks outside as early as 5th birthday. Walking young animals also has its own characteristics:
- the duration of the first walk is 2 hours;
- every day, spending time on the street increases by 15-20 minutes;
- in frosts, the duration of the walk is reduced to an hour;
- the place for walking should be cleaned from debris;
- in the summer, a month from birth, birds can spend the whole day outside until the evening coolness;
- the first walks of young animals in the cool season require additional heating of birds with heating pads.
We must not forget about the safety of the livestock while walking. An important condition for this is the creation of an aviary. But before taking on its construction, you need to make sure that it is appropriate for use. Some broiler breeds do not require walking and are kept only in cages or small chicken coops.
The temperature regime for growing broilers that should be walked outside will be more moderate if the organization of the mobility of the enclosure is properly approached. Chickens love to walk on the ground overgrown with grass. They get their own food, which often leads to the cleaning of the entire territory allotted for birds. Moving the enclosure (with wheels installed) will make it easier to care for broilers.
Broiler temperature
TEMPERATURE MODE FOR BROILER CHICKENS
Microclimate control when growing broilers!
Overheating protection and other walking features
Keeping broiler chickens is a simple task, if you know about all the features of bird care. One of the most important issues is the safe organization of chick walking. It has its own characteristics:
- While walking, chickens should be protected from the scorching summer sun, as well as from precipitation. The best solution to the problem is to install awnings.
- Chicks that are not covered with plumage are not allowed to walk (sometimes they are allowed to be released, but only in dry weather).
- Birds under the age of 1 month are not recommended to be released outside in strong winds. Temperature changes that occur during this period can harm the health of birds.
It is also important to consider the health of the birds before walking them.
There is no need to release the active and weakened. They should be taken out in a separate cardboard or plastic box. In the cold season, the box should be insulated with a heating pad or plastic bottles with warm water.
Caring for small birds is a simple activity that requires increased attention from the breeder. Broilers can also be kept at home, and if the poultry farmer has small children, it will be interesting for them to participate in caring for the chickens. In addition, they will gain invaluable experience that they can use in the future.