What are effective ways to improve the survival rate of chicks
Newborn chicks are very fragile, and inadequate management can easily lead to mass deaths, which makes many chicken farmers nervous during the rearing stage. So from which aspects can the survival rate of chicks be appropriately improved? Below, let Qinnong Web introduce some simple methods to everyone, so you can worry a little less when raising chicks.
1. Seed selection and self-breeding and self-raising
For raising chickens, the editor still recommends that everyone try to hatch and raise them yourself, as it is safer. Doing so first reduces the possibility of chicks carrying pathogens. You know these chicks thoroughly, while for some chicks bought directly, everyone is not very clear about their mother's condition, and their complicated origins make it easy for them to carry bacteria and infect other chicks. Second, chicks hatched by yourself can ensure small overall differences in the growth environment, and unlike bought chicks, they do not need to adapt to the environment, avoiding unnecessary losses.
2. Environmental control
The environment during the brooding period has a great impact on chicks. Temperature, light, and ventilation conditions can all seriously affect them. First, the temperature in the first week after hatching needs to be controlled above 30°C, then gradually decreased over time. After one month, keeping the temperature at around 20°C is enough. Second, the lighting time should not be too long. Most of the time, maintaining a relatively dim environment is beneficial for the chicks' feeding and resting. Long lighting time will keep chicks in an irritable state, which is not conducive to later growth. Ventilation conditions must be good, but try to avoid the incoming wind blowing directly on the chicks, as this will cause diarrhea in the chicks.
3. Feeding management
The feeding of chicks in the early stage must be done well, as this determines how big they can grow in the future, so in the early stage it is recommended to feed more concentrated feed. The food fed should mainly be high-protein and energy-type feed, and various trace elements should be supplemented in time to lay a good foundation for later fattening. Early feeding should adhere to the “multiple times, small amounts” method, because chicks digest food very slowly in the early stage. They need to be fed more than 5 times a day, and each feeding must maintain a supply of clean water, which helps the chicks digest food.
4. Hygiene and disease handling
Hygiene and disease are always a key point in chicken raising, especially at this chick stage. Manure should be cleaned once every 3-4 hours, or once after each feeding. Some necessary vaccines should be used as early as possible, and generally injection-type ones should not be chosen. Choose feeding or spray-type ones to reduce workload. Do not hesitate when finding chicks in abnormal condition; they must be isolated immediately to avoid infection, as the immunity of chicks is very low.
The above are some simple methods to improve the survival rate of chicks. Raising chicks emphasizes meticulous and comprehensive management. Only by spending more time in the early stage can you get a better harvest later. I hope the above methods can help everyone. For more related information, you can follow our website, where there is exciting content every day.