How to Improve Farming Efficiency When Raising Chickens in Winter and Spring

During the alternation of winter and spring, the weather is cold and green fodder is scarce. To achieve high efficiency when raising chickens at this time, the following points must be followed.

Keeping warm: Low temperatures have a very obvious effect on laying hens. You can use methods such as appropriately increasing stocking density, closing doors and windows, hanging straw curtains, and heating with stoves to keep out the cold and preserve warmth, so that the chicken house temperature is maintained at a minimum of 3-5°C. Ventilation: Because the temperature is relatively low, the doors and windows of the chicken house are closed more tightly and ventilation volume is reduced. Harmful gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide produced by the waste gas excreted by the chickens and the fermentation of chicken manure will accumulate in the chicken house, easily inducing respiratory and other diseases in chickens. The relationship between ventilation and warmth retention in the chicken house should be handled well, and manure and debris should be removed in a timely manner. When the weather is better, windows should be opened for ventilation to keep the air fresh and oxygen sufficient, preventing trouble before it occurs. But be very careful not to let cold wind blow directly, to prevent the chickens from catching cold. Disinfection: In winter and spring, the temperature is relatively low, and the activity frequency of bacteria declines, but the resistance of the chicken flock generally weakens. If disinfection is neglected, it can very easily lead to outbreaks and spread of disease, so disinfection work in the chicken house must be done well. Supplementary lighting: In winter and spring, the days are short and the nights are long, and laying hens often experience a decline in laying rate due to insufficient light. Artificial supplementary lighting can be used. The total daily lighting time should not be less than 14 hours, but must not exceed 17 hours. If the lighting time is too long, it will cause disorders in the chickens' physiological functions.