Five tips you must master to raise broiler chickens in winter

1. Choose good chicks and feed them properly. As the saying goes: A good beginning is the key to success. This is especially true for broiler chicken farming. When choosing chicks, choose a trustworthy manufacturer, select healthy chicks, and ensure pure varieties. Feed less and more frequently, and feed once every 2 hours within a week. After 10 days, the feed should be controlled reasonably, firstly, to allow the chicks' stomach to have a buffering rest period, and secondly, to facilitate development. Ensure 24 hours of light for the first 3 days, and then gradually reduce the light appropriately.

2. Pay attention to heat preservation and reduce stress. In winter, the external environment temperature is low and the temperature difference between day and night is large. If you don't pay attention to heat preservation, the chickens will easily pile up to keep warm, causing mutual harm and increasing feed consumption. Temperature has a major impact on feeding. It is recommended that the temperature of the brooding house be kept at 33-35°C for the first three days of the chicks, and the ambient temperature should be around 20°C. Most people prefer to feel comfortable after entering a shed. Temperature distribution: When cultured in layers, the temperature at the top is high and the temperature at the middle and lower parts is slightly lower. Observe the status of the chickens at any time: whether they are opening their mouths, scattered, turtle-shaped or stretching their legs, and the activity of the chickens, etc.

3. Hygiene and environmental purification and disinfection. Reduce or kill pathogenic bacteria. Before entering the chickens, the shed should be properly smoked and disinfected. The disinfectant can be peracetic acid and 2-4 caustic soda solution. The broiler house should be kept in good sanitary condition, and the dust should be cleaned and the floor should be swept in time. Breeders should strengthen disinfection before entering the house every day, step in caustic soda water, change shoes and hats, and wear work clothes. Pay attention to disinfectant spraying and clean water lines at appropriate times every day. Disinfect the aisles and doorways of the chicken house with caustic soda. Disinfect and clean the water line → Soak for 24 hours, rinse with clean water 2-3 times, until there is no smell, then drink.

4. Humidity control. In order to keep the broiler chickens warm in winter, the chicken house must be tightly sealed. Especially during the brooding period, the temperature is high, which can easily lead to excessive humidity in the shed and dirty air, which can in turn induce E. coli or respiratory infections. Humidity generally exists in combination with temperature, and the humidity of the brooding house is preferably 55-70. In addition, increase the humidity reasonably in winter. When the shed is too dry, water the floor and walls in a timely manner. Mix appropriate disinfectants into the water. Pay attention to whether the humidity in the shed is too high or too low, which can easily induce respiratory tract infections and gastritis in broilers.

5. Timely epidemic prevention. Choose a good vaccine to improve the immunity of chickens. Take timely and effective epidemic prevention and pay attention to vaccine handling. Infectious bronchitis Ma5 by intranasal instillation or eye instillation at 1 day old. Intranasal instillation or eye instillation at 7-10 days old, New City vaccine (New Welling). At 14-18 days of age, the bursal of Fabricius vaccine (Fabelin) should be given by mouth or instillation of Ma5. At 20-22 days of age, the vaccine should be given by intranasal instillation, drinking water or eye drops, Metrone vaccine. When 25-28 days old, give the bursal of Fabricius seedlings by mouth or drinking water.