Detailed Explanation of Key Points in Commercial Broiler Chicken Farming Technology
Commercial broiler chickens have the characteristics of a short rearing cycle and fast growth. The key to raising commercial broiler chickens well lies in feeding management and environmental control. During the rearing process, meticulous operation should be emphasized, disinfection of all facilities in the chicken house should be thoroughly carried out, and then a scientific feeding management model should be applied to give full play to the best rearing advantages.
????Preparation Before Chicks Arrive
For commercial broiler chickens, the preparation work before chicks arrive is very important. The best rearing method should consider an all-in-all-out model. After each batch of broiler chickens is marketed, the chicken house must be comprehensively disinfected, and residual manure should be removed in a timely manner. After cleaning the chicken house, a 3% sodium hydroxide solution and a 0.4%-0.5% Weili Mie solution can be used for spray disinfection 2 to 3 times. After disinfection, the chicken house should be left empty, with an empty period of more than one week. If air circulation is poor, the empty period can be appropriately extended; if there is residual manure, chicken feathers, and other debris around the chicken house, it should also be cleaned up in a timely manner, and after cleaning, lime powder should be used for disinfection. Two days before the chicks arrive, the temperature inside the chicken house should be raised to about 33°C, mainly to ensure the temperature of the brooding room.
?Key Feeding Points ⟧7⟧Control stocking density. In most areas, commercial broiler chickens are raised on wire floors, while some use free-range floor rearing, but when entering the brooding room, the stocking density of chicks must be strictly controlled. If the density is too high, it is easy to cause crowding, uneven feeding, and affect the growth and development of chicks; if the density is too low, it wastes facilities and is also not conducive to heat preservation. Farmers should control density according to the rearing space, because controlling stocking density is a necessary means to improve the healthy growth of commercial broiler chickens.
Control the stocking density. In most regions, commercial broiler chickens are raised on wire floors, while some are raised free-range on the ground, but when the chicks are moved into the brooding house, the stocking density of the chicks must be strictly controlled. If the density is too high, it easily causes crushing and uneven access to feed, affecting the growth and development of the chicks; if the density is too low, it wastes facilities and is also unfavorable for keeping them warm. Farmers should control the density according to the rearing space, because controlling the stocking density is a necessary means of improving the healthy growth of commercial broiler chickens.
Temperature and humidity regulation. The temperature and humidity of the chicken house also have a great impact on the growth rate of commercial broiler chickens. Throughout the entire growth process of the chickens, ventilation needs to be strengthened, and temperature and humidity must be strictly controlled. If the temperature is suitable, the chicks sleep quietly, are evenly distributed, and have a good appetite; if the temperature is low, they huddle together and chirp; if the temperature is high, they frequently drink water. The temperature and ventilation of the chicken house inherently interact with and influence each other, and ventilation is very critical during the rearing process. Based on the author's rearing experience, it is recommended to ventilate the chicken house at noon on sunny days in winter, which can ensure that the temperature of the chicken house is not affected. Generally, the ventilation time should be kept at 10 minutes to 20 minutes, and ventilation time needs to be increased during hot summer weather. The relative humidity in the brooding room is high early and low later. In the early stage, 60%-70% is more suitable; after 10 days of age, maintain 50%-60%. Excessive humidity can easily cause coccidiosis.
Feed as early as possible. Commercial broiler chickens grow quickly. In order for the chicks' digestive organs to develop and the immune system to mature as soon as possible, the chicks should be allowed to eat as early as possible and obtain nutrients through the feed in the digestive tract. After hatching, chicks need an adaptation process to obtain nutrients from feed. After hatching, chicks still have 4 grams to 7 grams of yolk in their bodies, which serves as the only nutritional supplement before feeding and before adapting to the digestive tract. However, the time for providing nutrition is limited. If the chicks cannot adapt to the nutrients contained in the feed in the shortest time, it will inevitably affect future growth. Therefore, when the chicks enter the brooding room, they should be fed and given water in a timely manner.
Feed delivery method. Commercial broiler chickens require different feeds at different stages of growth and development, and the nutritional composition and particle size requirements in the feed are also different. As commercial broiler chickens, the discomfort shown during feed replacement is very obvious, and indigestion may occur, or the feces may contain green color. In severe cases, it can also cause feed waste and induce disease. Therefore, special attention should be paid when replacing feed. Feed should be replaced gradually so that the chicks have an adaptation process. If negligence easily causes symptoms, timely control should be carried out through drugs such as Jianwei Xiaoshi San and Pingwei San to avoid unnecessary stress reactions.