Winter Chicken Farm Management Plan and Precautions
Cold Protection and Warmth
Winter weather is cold and changeable, bringing much inconvenience to chicken production; low temperatures in particular have a very obvious effect on laying hens. Measures such as appropriately increasing stocking density, closing doors and windows, hanging straw curtains, drinking warm water and heating with stoves can be taken to keep out the cold and retain warmth, keeping the chicken house temperature at no lower than 3°C-5°C.
Moderate Ventilation
In winter, because temperatures are relatively low, the doors and windows of the chicken house are kept tightly closed and ventilation volume is reduced, but the waste gas excreted by the chickens and the harmful gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide produced by fermenting chicken manure still remain, which can easily trigger respiratory and other diseases in chickens. Therefore, the relationship between ventilation and warmth must be properly handled, and manure and debris in the chicken house should be removed promptly. When the weather is fine at noon, windows should be opened for ventilation so that the air inside the house is fresh and oxygen is sufficient.
Reduce Dampness
In winter, ventilation inside the chicken house is low and water evaporation is reduced; in addition, the warm air inside the house condenses into large numbers of water droplets when it meets the cold roof and walls, causing excessive dampness in the chicken house and creating conditions for the mass reproduction of bacteria and parasites. Therefore, management must be strengthened, care must be taken to keep the chicken house clean and dry, damaged water troughs must be repaired in time, water must never be added too much or filled too full, and splashing water on the floor inside the house is strictly prohibited.
Regular Disinfection
Disinfection work should run through the entire chicken-raising process. In winter, temperatures are relatively low and bacterial activity declines. However, the winter climate is cold and the resistance of chickens is generally weakened. If disinfection is neglected, it can very easily lead to outbreaks and epidemics of disease.
Supplementary Lighting
In winter the nights are long and the days are short, and laying hens may show a drop in egg production due to insufficient light. To overcome this natural deficiency, artificial supplementary lighting can be used to make up for it. Under normal circumstances, the total daily lighting time should not be less than 14 hours, nor should it exceed 17 hours. For example, if natural daylight during the day is 12 hours, then 2-5 hours of artificial supplementary lighting are needed each day.
Increase Energy
Chickens obtain heat energy by eating feed to maintain body temperature; the lower the outside temperature, the more heat energy the chickens consume to keep out the cold. According to measurements, feed consumption by chickens in winter increases by 10% compared with other seasons. Therefore, in winter the chicken feed must ensure sufficient energy; in addition to ensuring a certain proportion of protein, high-energy feed containing more starch and sugars should be appropriately increased to meet the physiological and production needs of the chickens.
Strengthen Constitution
In winter the resistance of chickens declines, so special attention must be paid to epidemic prevention and disease control work, with regular preventive vaccination. According to actual conditions, some preventive drugs can also be fed regularly, and the content of vitamins and trace elements in the feed can be appropriately increased.