What are the precautions for raising chicks?
Raising chickens is surely the most common type of poultry farming we see, and chicken farming is divided into several directions such as broilers and laying hens. But no matter what the farming direction is, it will always go through the stage of raising chicks, and this stage is a relatively important period in the chicken farming process. This is because the management of chicks directly determines the later survival rate and egg-laying rate. When raising chicks, there are many things we need to pay attention to, such as temperature, light, and so on. Now let's take a look together with the editor at the precautions when raising chicks!
1. Ventilation
As the chicks are raised, they grow bigger day by day, and their breathing volume gradually increases. If ventilation is not done in time, the air in the chicken coop becomes poor. The content of gases harmful to chick growth, such as carbon dioxide, increases, making chicks prone to various respiratory or gastrointestinal diseases. When ventilating in winter, attention must be paid to keeping warm to prevent the temperature from being too low, which can cause chicks to catch colds and become dehydrated. So attention must be paid to ventilation, and reasonable ventilation at that.
2. Temperature
When raising chicks, it is essential to ensure the surrounding temperature is suitable for chick growth. On the first day after the chicks hatch, the room temperature must be kept above 30 degrees. Then, as the chicks grow older, slowly lower the temperature, usually by 1-2 degrees about every 7 days. After about a month, keep the temperature at around 26 degrees. When the temperature is too high, cool it down appropriately. For feeding, try to choose the morning and evening times; mixing feed with an appropriate amount of cool water can effectively promote the chicks' eating.
3. Humidity
The humidity in the chick coop should not be too high and must not exceed 60%. Humidity is the aspect most easily overlooked by most farmers. Chicks mainly dissipate heat through their breathing rate. When humidity is too high and the temperature is too low, all the heat given off by the chicks is absorbed by the humidity. At this time, we should increase the humidity of the chicken coop, and then do a good job of ventilation. If the temperature is too low, it is not good for the growth of chicken feathers and makes chicks prone to respiratory diseases.
4. Density
Reasonably controlling density is the key to ensuring normal and healthy growth of chicks, and it has a great impact on chick growth. When raising chicks, we should adjust the breeding density according to various factors such as the chicks' growth age, weather, and raising method. For example, the density in summer should be lower than in winter. The older they are, the lower the density should be. Otherwise, chicks will be prone to stress reactions, increasing the incidence of disease.
5. Light
Light is also something we need to pay attention to during the raising process. Light is mainly used to lengthen the chicks' feeding time, increase feed intake, and promote chick growth. When providing light to chicks, continuous or intermittent lighting methods can be used, and different growth stages have different lighting times and methods. When providing light, attention must also be paid to light intensity. The light should not be too strong, as too strong light makes chicks prone to feather pecking. Maintaining a quiet growth environment is beneficial to chick growth.
The above are the precautions when raising chicks, and also the main feeding and management methods. As mentioned earlier, because the quality of chick management is directly linked to the later survival rate and egg-laying rate. If management is not done properly, it will certainly cause a certain amount of economic loss. So everyone must pay attention and take it seriously when raising chicks. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it is helpful to everyone.