A Detailed Guide to Winter Broiler Chicken Farming Management Methods

Broiler chickens offer substantial economic returns. In rural areas of our country, almost every household raises broiler chickens, but poor management in winter can lead to broiler deaths. Today, the editor will introduce the management methods for raising broiler chickens in winter.

1. Chicken coop

Winter temperatures are very low, and broiler chickens have weak resistance to low temperatures, so we must strengthen the sturdiness of the chicken coop, promptly repair any places in the coop that may let in cold drafts, prevent the broiler chickens from catching colds, replace the litter in the coop, take good measures to protect against cold and keep warm, and reasonably control the ventilation of the chicken coop in winter.

2. Disinfection

When temperatures are too low, the flock basically cannot be free-ranged, so in winter they spend most of their time in the coop. Therefore, before overwintering, we must do a thorough disinfection of the chicken coop, clean or replace all the living utensils used by the flock, such as water troughs and feed troughs, to reduce pathogens and lower the incidence of disease in the flock.

3. Disease prevention

Although the incidence of disease in the flock is not high in winter, it is also a peak period for some diseases, such as colds. Based on factors such as weather conditions, the surrounding environment, and the characteristics of various disease outbreaks, we must do a good job of preventing all diseases, administer vaccines properly, and prepare prevention and treatment medications, so as to leave nothing to chance.

4. Drinking water

Drinking water for broiler chickens in winter is relatively important, because when temperatures are lower, the water temperature also drops accordingly. So when providing water, we must control the water temperature well, raising the water temperature to normal levels. The water requirement in winter is relatively large, with water intake roughly twice that of feed. Water should not be supplied in excessive amounts, because it may cause dampness in the chicken coop.

5. Ventilation

Winter is the season with a high incidence of respiratory diseases, especially for broiler chickens around one month old. Because winter is relatively dry, there is a lot of dust in the chicken coop. Many people, in order to prevent colds, do not ventilate the coop, causing the flock to inhale too much dust and trigger disease. Therefore, while ensuring the temperature, we must strengthen the ventilation of the coop so that it has enough oxygen and the incidence of disease is reduced.

6. Ammonia removal

If the humidity in the chicken coop is too high, a large amount of ammonia gas is usually produced. Ammonia gas is extremely harmful to the growth of broiler chickens. To avoid this situation, we should reduce watering work in the coop, keep the coop dry, prevent the litter from becoming too damp, and also use deodorizers in appropriate amounts to reduce ammonia in the coop.

7. Preparing supplies

Before overwintering, prepare the feed and litter needed by the flock. Feed is essential for broiler chickens, and litter must also be replaced promptly during the farming process. The litter should be clean and free of contamination, and must not be damp. The feed can be the usual feed used for feeding, and it should be stored in a dry place to prevent moisture from causing the feed to spoil.

The above are the winter broiler chicken farming management methods compiled by the editor. We hope they can help you!