THE MANUAL

INTRODUCTION

This manual is designed to help Big Grape customers achieve optimum performance from their
birds. While not intended to provide definitive information on every aspect of management,
this manual does draw attention to important issues that if overlooked or inadequately
addressed may depress flock performance.

The objective of this manual is to provide management techniques that help growers achieve
good overall bird performance from day one through to processing while promoting bird health
and welfare.

Achieving the genetic potential of a bird depends upon:

 An environment that is managed to provide birds with all their requirements for
ventilation, air quality, temperature and space.
 The prevention, detection and treatment of ill health.
 The provision of nutrient requirements through the compounding of appropriate feed
ingredients, and the proper management of the provision of feed and water (lighting
programs).
 Attention to bird welfare throughout, especially prior to processing.

These sectors, environment, nutrition and health, are interdependent. A shortfall in any one
will bring negative consequences to the others and if any one of these elements is sub-optimal,
broiler performance will suffer.

Information presented in this manual combines data derived from internal research trials,
published scientific knowledge and the expertise, practical skills and experience of the Irvine’s
and Profeeds Technical Transfer and Service teams.

Limits to Broiler Growth and Quality

Stocking density
Water supply
Health ventilation
Nutrition Temperature

Feed supply Lighting

Extension workers should strive to achieve the required flock performance in terms of live
weight, feed conversion, uniformity and meat yield. The first two weeks of life in a broiler flock
are critical and require particular attention. Chick handling, brooding and early growth
management are all of great importance. Broiler production is a sequential process and
ultimate performance is dependent on the successful completion of each step. Each stage must
be assessed critically and improvements made wherever required for maximum performance.
The complexity of broiler production means that livestock managers should have a clear
understanding of the factors affecting the whole production process as well as of those directly
influencing bird management on the farm. Changes may be necessary on the broiler farm,
during transport or in the processing plant.

Chick Management

Objective

To promote early development of feeding and drinking behavior, allowing the target body-
weight profile to be achieved with maximum uniformity and good welfare.

Farm Preparation
Individual sites should be single-age (i.e. all-in/all-out).
Houses

Poultry houses should be orientated from east to west to minimize the extremes temperatures
especially in summer and the houses should
The surrounding areas and all equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before
the arrival of the bedding material and chicks. Management systems should be in place to
prevent pathogens entering the building. Vehicles, equipment and people should be disinfected
before entry.
Spread litter material evenly to a depth of 8–10 cm (3–4 in). Uneven bedding material can
restrict access to feed and water and may lead to a loss in flock uniformity. Where floor
temperatures are adequate (28–30°C/82–86°F) the litter depth can be reduced where litter
disposal costs are an issue.

Bio-security

Clothing

Protective clothing helps to reduce the risk of pathogens being passed from workers to the
birds and from the birds to the workers and their environment

 All visitors should be provided with dedicated clothing (e.g. overalls, boots and masks)
at the entrance of the farm
  Protective clothing should be left on the farm for cleaning at the same farm

Prepare foot dips/ foot baths

Foot baths can be prepared by cutting a 20 liter bucket in half and inserting a sack in it where
the disinfectant will be

 Disinfect footwear using footbaths

Brooder Management

The broiler chicken life can be split into two distinct periods. Firstly there is the brooding which
covers day old to three weeks (in winter) and two weeks (in summer) of age. Secondly the
rearing or growth period and this is from three weeks until the age of kill.

In all these phases one will be trying to provide:

i. Warmth (during brooding)

ii. Feed
iii. Water
iv. Light

Brooder Preparation

1. Create brooding area (normally one third of the house) in the cleaned and disinfected
house by using surrounds or partitioning with canvas or poly hessian material.
2. Place new bedding on the house floor, the bedding should be free of mould and should
be placed to a depth of 5-8cm.
3. Add chick feeders and chick drinkers into the brooder both at a rate of 10 per 1000
(feed trays and chick founts should be at least 15 cm apart). You can place the feed trays
on khaki covers and sprinkle some feed on to it to increase the chick feeding space.
4. Fill up water containers with drinking water and put them in the house.
5. Switch on the heating system and pre-heat the brooder 24 hours before placement to
reach temperatures between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius and make sure that
thermometers are placed before heating so as to save fuel or add when necessary.
6. Mix the drinking water with vitamins 1 to 2 hours before chick placement and fill up the
chick founts and put them in appropriate positions.
7. Monitor pre-heating temperatures as you prepare to receive the chicks. Ensure that you
have enough housemen to quickly offload the chicks once they arrive.
Brooding Equipment

During the brooding period, farmers with no electricity can use other sources of heating like
braziers and gas brooders, depending on the flock size, braziers are economically better to use
as heat sources during the brooding period.

1 brazier is sufficient for 400 birds during the brooding

stage. Charcoal should be used as it produces less smoke
as compared to firewood.
If the brooding space is too smoky, it promotes the
incidences of metabolic disorders like ascites, flip over
and also leg disorders.

Chick behavior

If it is too cold, the chicks will chirp and huddle together

under the heat source to keep warm, at the same time
the birds will eat more but the energy they will attain will
be used for heat production instead of growth and this
will ultimately affect the food conversion ratio. The famer
will have to fire up the braziers or control curtains so as
to ensure that the temperature in the brooder rises.

If the chicks move away from the heat source, the temperature in the brooder will be too warm
and the chicks will chirp loudly. To reduce the brooding temperature, the farmer ought to lower
the curtains and remove the braziers from the brooder until favorable temperatures are
reached.

If the chicks are producing a contented chirp and are evenly distributed, it shows that the
brooding temperatures are favorable to the chicks. This enhances chick growth as it promotes
feeding.

Chick arrival
 Quickly offload the chick boxes from the delivery truck
 Gently empty the chick boxes by placing the chicks near the feed and water, at the same
time head counting the chicks.
 The chicks should be active, alert and without deformities
 1 to 2 hours after placement check if the chicks are feeding and drinking
 If there are any weak chicks, partition a small area and give them special attention
  The following morning, check for crop contents and feet temperature against your neck
or cheek. If the feet are cold re-evaluate temperatures.

Lighting Program

Lighting programs depends on the feed manufacturer and should be successfully implemented.
Exposure to darkness influences bird productivity, health, hormonal profiles, metabolic rate,
heat production, metabolism, physiology and behavior.
Lighting programs reduce incidences of metabolic disorders like ascites, flip-over.
The switch off time should not change so that the chicks thus if one decides to switch off the
lights at 8pm, he should not change this time throughout the growing season.
Using Profeeds` feed, the following lighting program is recommended:

Age (days) Dark hours Switch off time Switch on time

7 (150 g) 10 8pm 6am
14-21 8 8pm 4am
22-28 6 8pm 2am
29-35 4 8pm 12 midnight
36-42 2 8pm 10pm

Documents for the farmers

These are the forms which will be prepared by the extension officers for data collection. Some
of these forms will be prepared in vernacular language.

i. Acknowledgement of debt
The farmers have to sign and keep the acknowledgement of debt forms which will
be confirming the amount that was given to him either in the form of infrastructure
or inputs. Before the farmers sign the forms, the debt the farmer owe must be fully
explained and if possible the forms have to be in vernacular language for clarity.

ii. Delivery form

DATE INPUT QUANTITY FARMER DELIVERER

DELIVERED DELIVERED SIGNATURE SIGNATURE

The delivery document lists the inputs/equipments delivered to the farmers that the
farmer has to sign at the date and along with the quantity of inputs delivered to
them. This form will have to be signed by the farmer, the deliverer and in some
cases a witness has to sign also. The inputs include chicks, feed, vaccines and
 medicines, feeding and drinking equipments. The delivery form is different from the
acknowledgment of debt form.

iii. Mortality chart form

HUKU DZIRIKUFA/MORTALITY RECORD

Zuva rakauya huku: ________ Huwandu Hwehuku: ________ Breed: cobb 500

Mortality (number of chicks that died)

Vhiki Svondo Muvhuro Chipiri Chitatu China Chishanu Mugovera Total

The farmers are expected to record the number of birds that will be dying on a daily
basis. The extension worker will have to check for post mortem signs and help stop
or treat the occurrence of the disease or condition.

iv. Weight profile form

Huremu hwehuku

Musi wekugamuchira Nhiyo: g

Number Day 7 Day 14 Day 21 Day 28 Day 35

ofbirds
1 g
2 g
. g
25 g
Total mass
Average mass

On a weekly basis, the farmers together with the extension officers will have to
randomly select and weigh at least 25 birds (depending on the flock size) and record
the respective weights. The birds should be weighed using a digital scale. Use these
weights to calculate the mean mass of birds using the following formulae

Mean mass = total mass of birds /number of the birds.

v. Temperature charts
Daily temperatures

Day Min max

1
2

During the brooding stage, it is important that the daily temperatures are recorded
especially at night when the temperatures might drop. This help in the diagnosis of
different metabolic disorders (ascites and flip-over) if the temperatures are captured
effectively as these disorders can reduce flock performance.

vi. Feed usage forms

Feed usage forms will show the type of feed in use together with the period which
will be allowed to offer the feed to the birds. These forms will help to capture
information which will be used by the extension officers to calculate the feed
conversion ratio. Feed data usage column should be filled after the allowance of the
feed.
On the 20th day, grower crumb feed should be mixed with the grower pellets so that
the chickens adjust to pellets.

Age (days) Feed type Allowance/ Total feed used

bird(kg)
1-14 Starter crumbs 0.6
15-21 Grower crumbs 0.5
20-28 Grower pellets 1
28-slaughter Finisher pellets 1.7

vii. Vaccination Program

Vaccinatio Vaccination against Done(put a tick) remarks

n date
Day 18 New castle disease

The day of vaccination, the farmer has to tick to a separate vaccination form to confirm
that vaccination was done and there is a column where the farmer can add remarks
 viii. Vaccination hand book

The vaccination program varies and depends on different chicken breed type. The
cob 500 bred by Irvine`s Zimbabwe will only be vaccinated on day 18 against new
castle disease.

Vaccination Vaccination against Done(put a tick) remarks

date
Day 18 New castle disease

ix. Visitors hand book

The visitors hand book will have to be filled by visitors to the chicken house
premises. The visitors hand book is important as it captures information of those
visiting the farm and will help to trace the source of diseases especially contagious
diseases such as new castle disease and infectious bursal disease.

Vashanyi (People who visit the farmer)

Zuva rashanywa Zita remushanyi Chikonzero Nzvimbo yabva comment

chekushanya mushanyi

Provision of Feed and Water

Objective
The objective of a defined feeding program is to supply a range of balanced diets that satisfy
the nutrient requirements of broilers at all stages of their development and that optimize
efficiency and profitability without compromising bird welfare or the environment.
The drinking and feeding systems employed, together with the management of those systems,
will impact feed and water intake, thereby affecting bird performance and efficiency.

Feed is the major component of the total cost of broiler production. The choice of feeding
program will depend on the target of the business, for instance whether the focus is on
maximizing profitability of live birds or optimizing yield of carcass components.

Feeding Program
Starter feeds

Depending on the feed manufacturer, chicks consume 0.6 kgs of broiler starter crumbs or mash
for a period of two weeks following the lighting programs proposed by the manufacturer.

The starter feeds are essential for the following:

 Establish good appetite

 Maximize early growth and bone development
 Develops internal organs

Grower feeds

Some manufacturers provide grower feed in two phases (crumbs and pellets), but both have
the same nutritional content.

Grower mash/pellets is generally fed from day 14- day 28 or until 1.5kg of grower is fed to the
broiler following the starter. Starter to grower transition will involve a change of texture from
crumbs to pellets. Depending on the pellet size, it may be necessary to feed the first delivery of
grower as crumbs not pellets as this has some detrimental effects on the growth pattern of the
broiler, since it discourages feed intake.

The grower pellets and crumbs should be mixed together on day 20 and 21 and finally
withdrawing pellet feed so that the chickens will adjust to the pellet type feed.

Finisher feeds

Broiler finisher feeds account for the major volume and cost of feeding a broiler. It is therefore
important that feeds are designed to maximize the financial return for the type of product
produced.

Finisher feed is fed from day 28 until processing and depending on the feed manufacturer; the
finisher can be either in the form of pellets or mash. The use of broiler feeds depends on:

 Desired slaughter weight

 Length of the production period
 Design of the feeding program

Age (age) Feed type Quantity allowance/bird

1-14 Starter crumbs/mash 0.6kg

 15-21 Grower crumbs/mash 0.5kg

20-28 Grower pellets/mash 1kg

29-slaughter Finisher pellets/mash 1.7kg

Adjust the feeders to ensure minimum spillage and optimum access for the birds. The base of
the trough should be level with the bird`s back.

Litter Quality

Keeping litter dry is a critical part of overall management on every poultry farm. Litter
conditions influence bird performance, which in turn affects profits of growers and integrators.
Litter quality directly affects the health of the bird. Lower moisture levels in the litter help to
reduce respiratory stress by reducing the amount of ammonia in the atmosphere. Good quality
litter will also reduce the incidence of ascites, flip over and foot pad dermatitis.
Nutritional strategies may help maintain good litter quality
 Avoid excessive levels of • crude protein in diets.
 Avoid high salt/sodium levels, as this will increase bird water intake and cause wet litter.
 Avoid using poorly digestible or high fiber feed ingredients in the diets.

Water Quality

Water is an essential ingredient for life. Any increases in water loss or reductions in water
intake can have a significant effect on the lifetime performance of the chick. Water must be
available to broilers at all times; birds will drink more water at higher ambient temperatures.
There should be sufficient storage to provide 24 hours of water at maximum consumption.

Drinkers should be checked for height daily and adjusted so that the base of each drinker is
level with the base of the broilers back from 18 onwards.

Vaccination

Vaccination programs depend on the chick supplier, Irvine`s chickens are only vaccinated on
day 18 for new castle disease. The chicks should be water starved for 2 hours so as to
encourage vaccine intake, which is administered via drinking water.
  The vaccine should be placed in a cooler box with a frozen ice pack. The frozen ice packs
only last for 24 hours, so it is wise to purchase the vaccine on the day or a day before
vaccination.
 Store the vaccine between 2 and 8 degrees.
 Add skimmed milk powder in a drum with the water to be used for vaccination or boil
the water 24 hours before vaccination if there is no skimmed milk.
 Open the vaccine under the water
 Stir the water well
 The amount of water (in liters) to be used for vaccination is calculated using the
following formula:
= number of chicks X age (days) / 1000,

Example: if a farmer is rearing 2000 chickens, and is to vaccinate on day 18, the quantity
of water to be used = 2000 X 18 / 1000, the farmer should use 36 liters of water.

Ventilation

Ensure that the birds have access to clean fresh air all the time. There should not be build up of
ammonia or carbon dioxide gases in the house. Good litter management and control of curtains
ensure that the broilers have good quality air. As soon as the birds are fully feathered (21 days)
and depending on prevailing weather conditions, side curtains should be removed to ensure
maximum ventilation.

Catching birds for slaughter

 Withdraw feed 6 hours before slaughter

 Birds should continue to have access to water
 Catch birds at night to reduce panicking
 Bird panicking results in bruises hence down grades at the abattoir or processing plant
 Gently grab the birds by their legs and hold at most four birds per hand
 Load the birds in crates/ boxes according to the capacity of the boxes.
 Quickly transport the birds to the abattoir.