Equipment for checking brooding set-up

Correct brooding conditions are important for getting chicks off to a good start. You can accurately assess the conditions into which the chicks are being placed by having the correct equipment at your disposal. Below is a list of equipment that can be used to monitor brooding conditions.
calendar icon 6 July 2020
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Chick Placement

Recommended environmental conditions at placement:

  • Air temperature (measured at chick height in the area where feed and water are positioned):
    • 30oC/86oF for whole-house brooding
    • 32oC/90oF at edge of brooder for spot brooding
  • Litter temperature:
    • 28-30oC /82.4-86.0oF
  • Vent temperature:
    • 39.4-40.5oC/103-105oF
  • RH:
    • 60-70%

Air speed

  • Maximum of 0.15 meters per second (30 ft per minute)

CO2

  • <3000 ppm

Feed:

  • Dust-free crumble or mini-pellet. A total feed amount of approximately 40g/1.5oz per bird should be measured out and fed on the paper prior to chick placement.

Water temperature:

  • 18-21oC/64-70oF

Drinkers

Feeders:

  • Feeder trays: 1 per 100 chicks for broilers or per 80 chicks parent stock and/or on paper occupying at least 80% of the floor.

Litter depth:

  • 2-5cm/0.8-2 inches

Light intensity:

  • Broilers: 30-40 lux (2.8-3.7 fc)
  • Parent stock: 80-100 lux (7.4-9.3 fc) in area with food and water and 1-2 lux (0.09-0.2 fc) in rest of house.

Feed form:

2 hours after chick placement

Crop fill

  • Target crop fill 75% of chicks sampled should have a full crop

Check water levels in supplementary drinkers and feed amounts on paper

  • Are chicks feeding and drinking?

4 hours after chick placement

Crop fill

  • Target crop fill 80% of chicks sampled should have a fill crop

Check water levels in supplementary drinkers and feed amounts on paper

  • Do feed and water lavels need topped up?
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