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Brooder

The document outlines the care of young chicks and rabbits, highlighting the role of female animals and farmers in nurturing them. It details the brooding process for poultry, distinguishing between natural and artificial brooding methods, including specific requirements for housing, heating, and feeding. Additionally, it mentions the practice of debeaking layer chicks to prevent cannibalism.

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Sonia Omapersaud
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88 views2 pages

Brooder

The document outlines the care of young chicks and rabbits, highlighting the role of female animals and farmers in nurturing them. It details the brooding process for poultry, distinguishing between natural and artificial brooding methods, including specific requirements for housing, heating, and feeding. Additionally, it mentions the practice of debeaking layer chicks to prevent cannibalism.

Uploaded by

Sonia Omapersaud
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Care of Young chicks and Rabbits

Female animals usually care for their young until they are old enough to take care of themselves.
In livestock farming, farmers care for the young animals. This help to increase production.

Brooding in Poultry
Brooding involves caring for day old chicks for 2-3 weeks. It takes place in an enclosed area
where the chicks are housed. Protected, fed and kept warm.
(a) Natural Brooding
 The hen incubates a clutch of eggs and produces a brood for the chicks.
 The hen keeps the chicks under her wing until they develop feather and can withstand
colder weather conditions.
 The hen can roam freely with chicks or confined to a coop.
 The farmer ensures that the hen and chicks are well fed with feed and water.

(b) Artificial Brooding


 -Day old chicks are housed in specially prepared area to keep them warm and protected.
 -Brooder area need to be at the right size (15 cm by 15 cm per baby chick)
 -They should be separated from rest of the pen
 -The outer walls should be screened with feedbags to keep out cold draughts or air
 -Litter should be placed on concrete floor (bagasse, wood shaving or straw) in a layer of 5-
7 cm thick. Litter absorbs droppings and keeps the chicks off the cold ground
 -Lighting and heat should be set over the center of the brooding area. Infra-red bulb or 150
watt light bulb with a concave reflector should be used to direct heat and light towards the
floor. The heat keeps the chicks warm and the light encourages them to feed to gain weight
quickly.
 -Newspaper should be spread on the floor with feed to introduce feed to the baby chicks
on days 1 and 2.
 -Mini waterers and mini feeders should be placed at opposite
ends of the brooder (1 for 25 baby chicks).
 -A footbath should be placed at the entrance. Everyone
entering should disinfect their footwear before entering to
prevent entry of pathogens.
 -Brooding process begins when the chicks are placed in
brooder and ends when they have enough feather to adapt to
the weather conditions.
 -After brooding, they can be placed in other another area in
the pen, separated by movable partitions.

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 Layer chicks should be debeaked to prevent cannibalism. It is done using a hot iron
(debeaker). Area is cauterize (to stop bleeding or to prevent infection)

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