Practical Tips for Increasing Efficiency in Raising Chickens in Winter and Spring

During the transition between winter and spring, the weather is cold and green fodder is scarce. At this time, to achieve high efficiency in raising chickens, 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 minimum temperature in the chicken house is maintained at 3-5°C. Ventilation: because the temperature is relatively low, the doors and windows of the chicken house are closed tightly, and ventilation volume is reduced. Harmful gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide produced by the waste gas exhaled by the chickens and the fermentation of chicken manure will accumulate in the chicken house, easily inducing respiratory and other diseases in chickens. It is necessary to properly handle the relationship between ventilation and warmth in the chicken house, and promptly remove manure and debris. When the weather is better, windows should be opened for ventilation to keep the air fresh and oxygen sufficient, and prevent trouble before it happens. But be very careful not to let cold wind blow directly, to prevent the chickens from catching cold. Disinfection: in winter and spring, temperatures are relatively low, and the activity frequency of bacteria declines, but the resistance of the chicken flock generally weakens. If disinfection is neglected, it can 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, days are short and 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 disorder in the chickens' physiological functions.