Module 1.

2: Skills in Brooding and

Chick Care

What is brooding?
 refers to the period immediately after hatching when special
care, and attention must be given to chicks to ensure their
health and survival.

What is rearing?
 refers to the remainder of life after brooding until sexual
maturity.

Purpose of Brooding
1) New born chicks can not regulate the body temperature
efficiently.
2) Higher metabolic size.
3) The body temperature is higher (41.7° C).
4) Lack of feathers for insulation.
5) Thermoregulatory system not fully developed.

Classification of Brooding

1) Natural brooding
 Itis done with the help of broody
hens after hatching up to 3 to 4
weeks of age.
2) Artificial brooding
 large number of baby chicks are
reared in the absence of broody
hen.

Brooding Requirements
Temperature Management Humidity

Initial temperature should be 
50 – 60 percent is desirable and
33-35ºC during the first conducive to feather growth
week, and 
↑ RH causes wet litter that

Lowered by 3ºC each week results in ↑ NH4 level inside the
until it reach 21ºC or until shed house
the chicks are of 4-5 weeks 
↓ RH causes respiratory
old problems
Ventilation

Required to provide fresh air for
the chicks.
Purpose:
1) To remove CO2 and CO
2) To remove NH4, and
3) To help in keeping the litter dry.
Light
Purpose:
1) To avoid overcrowding or piling
up of chicks, and
2) To increase feed consumption
 Lighting for 1 day old bird should
begin at 20-22 hrs/day for 2 days
at 10 lux intensity

Reduce day length weekly to reach
approx 12 hrs of light at 8 weeks
of age
Sanitation and Hygiene Space Requirements

Chicks should be placed in a 
Optimum brooder space
clean house with clean is 50-65 cm2 per chick
equipment and litter 
Hover of 1 m diameter is
Purpose: enough for 270 chicks
1)To reduce the possibility of 
Feeding space = 5 cm
exposing the chicks to many 
Watering space = 1.5 cm
infective organisms from
previous brood of chicks
Brooder Guard

Used to restrict the movement
of chicks within certain heated
area
Purpose:
1)To prevent the newly hatched
chicks from the source of heat,
and to prevent floor drafts.
Litter

A layer of absorbent materials
i.e. rice straw, wood dust, paddy
husks, etc spread on the floor of
about 5 cm thickness
Purpose:
1)To avoid direct contact of
chicks to the floor
READING ASSIGNMENT:

1. Different types of brooder.

2. Management practices conducted on chicks on the following:
a) Cleaning and sanitation of the brooder house.
b) Use of brooder and brooder guard.
c) Feeding and health management of chicks from starter to
grower period.