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Module #: 10a�GETTING A FLOCK STARTED�Broilers

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CHICKEN MEAT PRODUCTION

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ALTRICIAL VERSUS PRECOCIAL

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HOUSING

Indoor

Protects from predators
Protects from extremes in weather
Housing design to maximize

Temperature control
Air quality

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

OUTDOORS

Seasonal
More labor intensive
More predator problems
Possible disease problems

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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HOUSING

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WARM ROOM BROODING

COOL ROOM BROODING

With most commercial chicken meat operations the chickens spend their entire lives indoors. The one on the left is an example of warm-room brooding where the entire room is kept warm. These chicks have just been placed and water intake is the most important concern. The feeders are still lifted in the air and will be lowered when the chicks have had enough to drink. Dehydration can be a serious problem with newly placed chicks.

In the operation of the left, is a cool room brooder system. Instead of heating the whole room, brooders are provided that allow for areas of the room to be heated. The chicks are free to move to and away from the brooder and its heat. The cardboard encircling the area is a brooder guard that helps keeps the chicks close to the heat and eliminates any corners so that they are not able to pile in a corner and die. The water and feed is provided in an area just outside of the brooder.

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SWEETER HEATER

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EQUIPMENT

Waterers

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EQUIPMENT

Waterers

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EQUIPMENT

Feeders

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LITTER

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

Nontoxic to the birds (including being free of mycotoxins that can be produced during certain fungal contaminations)

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

Nontoxic to the birds (including being free of mycotoxins that can be produced during certain fungal contaminations)
Free of contaminants, such as pesticides and metals

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

Nontoxic to the birds (including being free of mycotoxins that can be produced during certain fungal contaminations)
Free of contaminants, such as pesticides and metals
Very absorbent

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

Nontoxic to the birds (including being free of mycotoxins that can be produced during certain fungal contaminations)
Free of contaminants, such as pesticides and metals
Very absorbent
Have a reasonably short drying time

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

Nontoxic to the birds (including being free of mycotoxins that can be produced during certain fungal contaminations)
Free of contaminants, such as pesticides and metals
Very absorbent
Have a reasonably short drying time
Have reduced thermal conductivity

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

Nontoxic to the birds (including being free of mycotoxins that can be produced during certain fungal contaminations)
Free of contaminants, such as pesticides and metals
Very absorbent
Have a reasonably short drying time
Have reduced thermal conductivity
Able to be repurposed after being used as bedding material (e.g., as a land application)

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LITTER

What makes good litter?

Nontoxic to the birds (including being free of mycotoxins that can be produced during certain fungal contaminations)
Free of contaminants, such as pesticides and metals
Very absorbent
Have a reasonably short drying time
Have reduced thermal conductivity
Able to be repurposed after being used as bedding material (e.g., as a land application)
Readily available and relatively inexpensive

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LITTER – PINE SHAVINGS

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LITTER – PINE SHAVINGS

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER – PINE SHAVINGS

PROS:

Non-toxic
Typically free of contaminants
Very absorbent
Has a reasonably short drying time
Low thermal conductivity
Able to be repurposed – fertilizer
Some places readily available and relatively inexpensive
Soft on chickens’ feet

CONS:

Price has been increasing
Needs to be removed and replaced periodically

Pine shavings

Other shavings have not be as readily available and some have specific problems, such as cedar shavings which have scented fumes that have been shown by some to be a health issue with animals. Cedar shavings are not recommended for use as a bedding material.

Coarse-cut shavings provide ideal litter material for chickens if free of contaminants and properly managed. Shavings are available all year, usually as by-products of furniture factories, sawmilling for the building industry, and surface peelings from wood turning. Timber used in machining these products is from several species of tree, is both local and imported in origin, and may be either softwood or hardwood. It may also have been treated with preservatives to protect the wood from such biological hazards as fungi, insect borers and termites. Chemicals used include borax (sodium borate, a salt of boron) and C.C.A. (copper chrome arsenate), which are used in both softwoods and hardwoods; and persistent organochlorine insecticides. All are harmful and may be retained in the edible tissues. Timber by-products are acceptable for use as poultry litter only if they have come from untreated timbers.

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LITTER - STRAW

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LITTER - STRAW

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER - STRAW

PROS:

Able to be repurposed as fertilizer
Can be low costing
Often readily available

CONS:

Can become moldy within days
Has a tendency to harbor mites
Needs to be chopped
Not a good absorbent
Clumps
When wet has moderate thermal conductivity

Chopped straw is widely used internationally as a litter base, especially in cereal-producing countries such as England, France, the USA, Canada and Ireland.

Wheat straw chops cleanly and is particularly suitable as a litter with its thick straw and ability to dry out quickly after cutting. This comparative dryness discourages the growth of fungi and reduces the likelihood of birds contracting aspergillosis (fungal infection).

The straw should be chopped into 1.45 inch pieces. As the straw tends to ‘ball’ rather than flatten out when spread, it is best to use a side-delivery hay rake or pitchfork it by hand to achieve an even litter of the recommended 2 – 2 ¾ inches depth.

The straw needs to be free from weed seeds and, more importantly, from harmful pesticides and chemicals.

Straw refers to any grass stubble material such as from barley, Bermuda grass, flax, oat, wheat, or rye, etc. However, wheat straw is by far the most commonly used as a litter material. There are several reports concerning its successful use a litter material. It has been described as difficult to manage and prone to caking. However, straw is being used successfully on a commercial basis in several areas of the country.

Poultry producer recommendations on the use of straw included:

• straw should be chopped to one inch or less,

• straw is best used as a top dressing over old litter,

• 1000 lbs of straw over old litter saved 15 ft3 of sawdust,

• chopped grass straw is a very effective litter material,

• straw is cheaper than sawdust,

• growers may need to run more gas brooder time to keep straw dry,

• length of straw is more important than type of straw,

• if the straw is too long it will bridge (mat over) quicker,

• pay back on using straw is quick.

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LITTER – PEAT MOSS

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LITTER – PEAT MOSS

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER – PEAT MOSS

PROS:

Typically non-toxic
Very absorbent
Moderate drying time
Has low thermal conductivity
Able to be repurposed as fertilizer

CONS:

Only available in certain locations

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LITTER – WOOD CHIPS

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LITTER – WOOD CHIPS

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER – WOOD CHIPS

PROS:

Non-toxic
Typically free of contaminants
Can be readily available in many locations
Has low thermal conductivity

CONS:

Not overly absorbent
Harder to compose as fertilizer
Hard on chicken feet

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LITTER - SAWDUST

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LITTER - SAWDUST

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER - SAWDUST

PROS:

Typically non-toxic
Typically free of contaminants
Absorbs moisture well
Dries relatively fast
Can be readily available
Soft on chickens feet

CONS:

Will be periodically eaten by chicks
Clumps

Sawdust

The use of sawdust has emerged based on the decline in the quality and availability of pine shavings. As the quality of pine shavings declines, the amount of sawdust in the shavings usually increases. In many cases, the switch from shavings to sawdust has occurred without input, and in some cases in spite of input, from poultry growers or the poultry industry as a whole. For broiler production, sawdust has generally received a satisfactory grade. Many producers are resigned to using sawdust because it is available from shavings suppliers and is cost competitive. In many cases it is the only litter material available. In addition, broilers usually perform well although there are some incidences of litter consumption. While it is usually possible, and desirable, to avoid hardwood shavings, hardwood sawdust mixed in with softwood sawdust is difficult to avoid or to even detect. In many areas of the country, growers are rearing their birds two or more years prior to clean out. After one or two flocks, many people cannot differentiate between originally based sawdust and pine shavings. For turkey poult brooding, however, sawdust is not desirable because poults are more prone to litter consumption and are more susceptible to contracting aspergillosis from wood products, especially sawdust, compared to broiler chickens. However, in many cases, turkey growers are using sawdust, or pine shavings that closely resemble sawdust, because other materials are not available, including good quality pine shavings.

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LITTER – CORN COBS

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LITTER – CORN COBS

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER – CORN COBS

PROS:

Free of contaminants
Semi-absorbent
Reasonable drying time
Low thermal conductivity
Able to be repurposed as fertilizer
A means to recycle a waste product

CONS:

Can have molds
Has to be chapped up so not readily available everywhere
Hard on chickens’ feet
Breast blisters can become a problem

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LITTER – DRY LEAVES

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LITTER – DRY LEAVES

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER – DRY LEAVES

PROS:

Typically free of contaminants unless trees have been treated
Can be readily available for backyard flocks, but not in large amounts
Can be repurposed as fertilizer

CONS:

Can go moldy so mycotoxins can be a problem
Not very absorbent
Breaks down easily
Has higher thermal conductivity

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LITTER – PEANUT HULLS

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LITTER – PEANUT HULLS

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER – PEANUT HULLS

PROS:

Medium absorbency
Has low thermal conductivity
Can be repurposed as fertilizer
Readily available in specific locations
Relatively inexpensive in these areas

CONS:

Have a potential to carry aflatoxin (mycotoxin)
Can be hard on chickens’ feet

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LITTER - SAND

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LITTER - SAND

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER - SAND

PROS:

Can be reused
Stays cool in summer
Can be readily available in some areas
Natural dust bath

CONS:

Doesn’t absorb well
Has to be sifted between flocks to remove fecal material

Sand

Sand as a litter material is not new to poultry production yet it is receiving renewed interests, especially in the southern U.S. Alabama researchers have reported successfully rearing several broiler flocks on sand compared to pine shavings. In multiple tests, broilers reared on sand performed as well as those reared on pine shavings. Foot pad quality and male broiler body weights were improved when reared on sand in some cases. Moisture and ammonia levels were similar to pine shavings with significantly lower levels of bacteria in the sand litter compared to shavings. Darkling beetle populations are reduced with sand litter. However, sand does not heat up as well in winter or as quickly in summer or winter compared to shavings litter. This requires more attention from the producer to make sure the floor temperature is correct before chicks are placed. Houses with space heaters tend to be more of a problem than houses equipped with traditional brooders, although the problem still will exist even with brooders. Most of the work with sand has been done in the southern U.S. and one can speculate that this effect of cooler floors may be more problematic for northern locations. In addition, it may be advised that the use of sand as a litter material begin during the summer rather than fall to facilitate the initial drying of the sand and to gain some experience in pre-heating the sand floor in preparation for the incoming chicks. While this is a noteworthy area of caution for starting chicks, it can be a benefit for older birds in warm or hot weather. The cooler floor temperature can act as a heat sink helping the birds during hot weather. Another potential advantage with sand is a longer time period before clean-out. If litter is removed every one or two years, sand offers an advantage because the clean-out can be stretched up to five years with sand. However, as the time that litter is kept in houses increases, which in some areas is already up to four or five years, this advantage decreases. As noted, some growers no longer plan for a total clean regardless of litter material, including sand, as long as flocks remain healthy. Growers using sand also wash the house once birds are marketed, the cake litter is removed thoroughly, sand added if needed, and then houses are set up for the next group of birds. However, this practice is not universal and may or may not prove to be practical. Certainly, sand litter would have to be totally removed in cases of disease out-breaks or if performance shows signs of a drop-off. Sand is currently under review in several areas of the country other than the south with mixed results. While broiler performance has been or better, in some cases, than for broilers reared on litter, other issues raised included poorer chick starts on sand compared to shavings and dustier air conditions. Other issues raised include that sand used as litter is not cost effective for all farms, the economics of using sand may depend on location of sand versus the farm, and sand is not compatible with composting, combustion, or pelleting. Continued field trials will help determine the best management guidelines for using sand as litter. Sand has been tried in North Carolina as a broiler litter but has not gained wide use.

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LITTER – SHREDDED PAPER

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LITTER – SHREDDED PAPER

PROS:

CONS:

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LITTER – SHREDDED PAPER

PROS:

Can be cheap

CONS:

Not very absorbent
Compacts easily

Shredded paper

Recycled paper products may continue to grow as a source for poultry litter as interest in recycling waste streams continues and tipping fees for landfill disposal continue to increase. Several products such as processed paper, processed newspaper, processed cardboard, recycled paper, shredded newspaper, and chopped newspaper have been used as alternative bedding materials. These recycled paper products that are being utilized are cheap and readily available, which make them an economical source of bedding for the poultry industry. Considering reports that the use of some paper products result in high litter moisture and caking levels which can, in turn, result in increased breast blisters or other carcass defects, it has been suggested that paper-based products might be most practical when used as a top dressing or mixed with other conventional wood-based beddings.

Shredded paper can be used as bedding material but again, isn’t a very good choice since it compacts easily and isn’t very absorbent. Depending on how it has been shredded and how thick it has been layered depends on how absorbent it is.

I wouldn’t recommend shredded paper but if you have a free supply, it can be used with care in nest boxes but does need a regular top up and rarely stays in the nest boxes for long.

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INITIAL CHICK CARE

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PREPARATION

Clean and disinfect the poultry house or brooding area, feeders, and waterers at least two weeks before chicks are due to arrive.
Repair windows, doors, ventilators, or any part of the poultry house or brooding area that needs attention.

Eliminate any drafts, especially those caused by cracks in the walls or poorly fitting doors and windows.

Put down the bedding material two days before chicks are due to arrive.
Turn on the heat lamp or brooder the day before chicks are due to arrive. This will give the brooding area time to warm up.

It is important to be prepared prior to the arrival of the chicks.

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Clean and disinfect the poultry house or brooding area, feeders, and waterers at least two weeks before the chicks are due to arrive. This helps control disease and prevent it from being passed from one flock to the next.

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Repair windows, doors, ventilators or any part of the poultry house or brooding area that needs attention. This is the best time to make the repairs is while it is empty. Eliminate any drafts, especially those caused by cracks in the walls or poorly fitting doors and windows.

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Put down the bedding material two days before the chicks are due to arrive. This will give it time to settle and warm up before the chicks are placed.

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Turn on the heat source the day before the chicks are due to arrive. Again, this will give the brooding area time to warm up.

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CHICK ARRIVAL

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CHICK ARRIVAL

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HOW CHICKS DRINK

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FEED

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BROODING TEMPERATURE

JUST RIGHT

TOO COLD

TOO HOT

AIR DRAFT

The big question is always what temperature should the chicks be provided with.

The temperature at chick level should be between 90-95F for the first week. It is reduced by 5F every week till 70F is reached, at which case the heat is no longer required.

But the best indicator of temperature correctness, is the distribution of the chicks.

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If the temperature is correct, the chicks will be spread throughout the brooder area. They will be active, eating and drinking.

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If the temperature is too cold, the chicks will be huddled under the heat source trying to get warm. The solution is to increase the heat.

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If the temperature is too hot, the chicks will be as far away from the heat source as possible. The solution is to decrease the heat.

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If there is a draft, the chicks will be trying to avoid it. So if they are huddled to one side of the brooder area, you need to find the source of the draft and remove it.

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