CATDOLL : CATDOLL: How much do you know about the benefits of raising chickens in winter?

The four major problems that chickens are prone to in winter are shared as follows:

1. Don’t be reluctant to keep warm

In recent years, the price of fuels such as coal has soared, and the cost of heat preservation for broilers in winter has also increased. Some chicken farmers are not aware of heat preservation in the process of raising broilers, and the temperature in the chicken house cannot rise to the required temperature. It has a great impact on the production performance of broilers. Low temperature affects the absorption of yolk, and the mortality rate of chicks is very high. Low temperature can also cause broilers to die from crowding and squeezing due to low temperature. Three days before the chicks enter the house, the temperature in the house should be controlled at 34.5℃-35℃. After the chickens enter the house, the temperature rises by 1℃-2℃. The temperature in the first week is preferably 35℃-36℃. At this time, the chickens are in good condition, lively, evenly distributed, free to move, and have a normal diet. At the same time, attention should be paid to the changes in the chickens and the temperature should be adjusted in time. If the chickens gather in groups, "chi chi" tremble, shrink their heads, etc., it means that the temperature is too low and the temperature in the house should be increased; if there is panting with open mouths, frequent drinking of water, etc., it means that the temperature is too high and the temperature in the house should be lowered. At 2 weeks of age, the temperature is reduced to 30℃-32℃, at 3 weeks of age, it is reduced to 26℃-28℃, and it takes another week to drop to a constant temperature of 23℃.

2. Only focus on insulation and ignore ventilation

In winter, chicken houses are very closed, and chicken farmers often focus on heating up and forget the importance of ventilation. The concentration of ammonia in the chicken house is very high, which can easily cause a series of problems such as respiratory tract and ascites in broilers, resulting in a series of problems such as poor weight gain and respiratory diseases in broilers. In order to keep warm, the doors and windows are blocked tightly, causing carbon monoxide accumulation and gas poisoning. Due to the high volatility and irritation of ammonia, if a large amount of ammonia is produced in the chicken house, it will be sensed first when entering the chicken house. When you smell the smell of ammonia, it means that the ammonia in the chicken house has already exceeded the standard.

3. Ignoring stress prevention

Winter is a time of electricity shortage, and power outages are common. Some farmers turn on the lights as soon as it gets dark, so that broilers live in an uninterrupted light environment. When there is a sudden power outage, the chickens are prone to panic, crowding, and pile up, causing a large number of broilers to squeeze each other to death. Unnecessary losses occur. It is recommended not to turn off the lights immediately after dark, leaving one or two hours of darkness for the chickens to adapt, to avoid the great stress caused by sudden power outages.

When the Spring Festival comes, the sound of setting off firecrackers will also cause great stress to the chickens. It is best not to set off fireworks and firecrackers next to the chicken coop.

4. Problems with thick padding

Thick litter can be used for breeds with a shorter broiler age, such as white chickens that are more than 40 days old. However, for high-quality yellow chickens that are usually longer in age, if the litter is not changed, it is easy for the litter to become hardened, the ammonia concentration in the chicken house is high, and the humidity in the chicken house is high, which can easily cause respiratory diseases and ascites in broilers. Excessive humidity is conducive to the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and can easily induce coccidiosis.