Five Key Points for Increasing Efficiency in Raising Chickens in Winter and Spring

At the transition between winter and spring, the weather is cold and green fodder is scarce. Therefore, to achieve high efficiency in raising chickens in winter and spring, the following points must be observed:

Keeping warm: In winter and spring, the climate is cold and changeable, which brings much inconvenience to the production of poultry farmers, especially since low temperatures have a very obvious impact on laying hens. Therefore, measures such as appropriately increasing stocking density, closing doors and windows, hanging grass curtains, and using stoves for heating can be adopted to keep out the cold and preserve warmth, so that the minimum temperature in the chicken house is maintained at 3-5°C.

Ventilation: In winter and spring, because the temperature is relatively low, the doors and windows of the chicken house are closed tightly and the amount of ventilation is reduced. However, harmful gases such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide produced by the waste gases excreted by the chickens and the fermentation of chicken manure accumulate in the chicken house, easily inducing respiratory and other diseases in chickens. Therefore, the relationship between ventilation and warmth retention in the chicken house must be handled well, and manure and debris should be removed promptly. When the weather is good, 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.

Dehumidification: In winter and spring, the amount of ventilation in the chicken house is small, and the amount of water evaporation is reduced. In addition, the hot air inside the house contacts the cold roof and walls and condenses into a large number of water droplets, causing excessive humidity in the chicken house and creating conditions for the reproduction of bacteria and parasites. Therefore, management must be strengthened, and care must be taken to keep the chicken house clean and dry.

Disinfection: Disinfection work should run through the entire feeding process. In winter and spring, when the temperature is relatively low, 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 epidemics of disease. Therefore, 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 egg production rate due to insufficient light. To overcome this natural deficiency, artificial supplementary lighting can be used. Under normal circumstances, the total daily lighting time should not be less than 14 hours, but must not exceed 17 hours; otherwise, if the lighting time is too long, it will cause disorder in the chickens' physiological functions.