High Profits for Broiler Chickens Even in the Off-Season: Key Points for Raising Broiler Chickens in Winter

    Winter, especially in the north, is cold and is the off-season for broiler chicken production. However, with proper feeding and management, broiler chickens can still be raised well in winter and achieve high profits.

Broiler chickens

   (1) Cold protection and heat preservation. Heat preservation is the key to raising broiler chickens well in winter. Before the cold arrives, do a good job of repairing the chicken house, seal the doors and windows tightly, plug the gaps inside the house, add insulating curtains to the doors and windows, increase the thickness of the litter, and use heating, infrared lamps, flues, hot walls, stoves, etc. according to the conditions. Pay attention to keeping the house temperature constant, and by all means avoid too large a temperature difference between day and night.

   (2) Ventilation and air exchange inside the house. Broiler chickens are raised at high density and grow and develop rapidly. As body weight increases, the breathing volume and excretion volume of broiler chickens also increase. If proper ventilation and air exchange are not carried out, not only will the humidity inside the house be high, but the air inside the house will also become foul and the ammonia concentration will be too high. If a stove is installed inside the house, it will also increase the content of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, which is unfavorable to the growth and development of broiler chickens and may even cause poisoning.

   (3) Adjust the composition of the daily ration. In winter, the temperature is low and the chicken body's metabolism is vigorous, so the energy level in the daily ration can be appropriately increased. According to data, adding 2—5% animal and vegetable fat to the winter daily ration of broiler chickens has a good weight-gain effect.

   (4) Careful management. In winter, broiler chickens can be raised with free feeding and free drinking water, and the number of feedings can be appropriately increased. Each broiler chicken should have 3~5cm of trough space, with continuous lighting for 23 hours per day and 1 hour of darkness, and a light intensity of 1~2 watts per square meter. Because the humidity inside the house is high and the air is relatively foul, broiler chickens are prone to coccidiosis and respiratory diseases, so attention should be paid to prevention.