In 2023, the genes of breeding hens, laying hens, and broiler chickens will be very different from 30 years ago. Today's chickens tend to grow faster and have better feed conversion rates. These characteristics are passed down to the next generation through breeding chickens. As the genes of chickens continue to advance, our management methods are also changing.
The chicken coop needs to be emptyResignation period
Now, the interval between batches is equally important as the stage of chicken breeding. Ensuring a reasonable idle period between chicken flocks is an important method to improve broiler performance. During the idle period, let the chicken coop rest, give time for the bedding to rest, dry the chicken coop/floor/bedding, and help manage the total number of bacteria in the environment.
During this period, the company and breeding personnel should reach an agreement on how to manage the bedding reasonably to prepare for the next flock of chickens (completely empty, only clean clumps, or clean clumps with flipping bedding). Low should allow 14 days to achieve the required goals and make reasonable preparations for the next batch of chickens. Farms with smaller chicken weights require less time than farms with larger weights, and the interval between chicken dates should be taken into account instead of just considering the time between two groups of chickens.
This will create an environment for the new flock of chickens before they arrive, and restart the brooding process.
The increase in demand for drinking water
The 35 day old broiler today is similar to the 50 day old broiler 30 years ago. We have discussed several methods that affect the demand for chickens, and the same goes for water. Chickens nowadays need more water because they develop faster. The amount of water consumed by broiler chickens is twice the amount of food they eat. So if water is restricted, chickens will not eat the required amount of feed and will not grow properly. When the light is first turned on, the demand for water is very high. Observe the water meter in the chicken coop for two hours after turning on the lights to ensure that all chicken coops have a reasonable amount of water.
For breeding hens and laying hens, the demand for water reaches its peak after feeding. The drinking water system needs to be able to provide approximately 42 to 45 liters of water for every 1000 chickens within three hours after feeding. However, the waterline that has been running for too long cannot reach this water level and can only provide approximately 19 to 23 liters of water for chickens. This is only half of the amount of water they need.
The result of insufficient drinking water for chicken flocks is very bad:
The chance of chicken choking increases
? Unable to achieve a reasonable weight
The liquidation time for feed is too long
Too many eggs outside the nest, because the chicken stays next to the feed line or water line for too long and does not enter the nest in time
The peak egg production rate is not high enough
For newly built or renovated chicken coops, the pipeline needs to be able to meet the requirements of peak water flow during feeding, not just the overall water flow throughout the day.
The ventilation system is more complex
We cannot ventilate the chicken coop as we have done for many years due to the growth rate of the chickens. There are many factors in today's ventilation system to provide a comfortable environment for chickens. The ventilation system monitors the levels of ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and dust in the chicken coop. They control temperature, humidity, make the chickens comfortable, and keep the bedding dry.
In order to create an environment for chickens, it is necessary to first understand the basic principles of ventilation.
1. Static pressure. For every 0.1 static pressure, air can move an additional 61 centimeters.
2. Relative humidity. For every 11.1 degrees Celsius increase in temperature, the relative humidity will increase by 20%.
These principles constitute the three 'musts' of small ventilation:
Your chicken coop must have the correct static pressure.
2. There must be a correct opening for the air intake window.
3. It is necessary to determine a reasonable operating time to control the humidity in the chicken coop.
Any error in these elements can lead to unsuccessful ventilation. Always use the ventilation volume table provided by the supplier, as this table is specific to your ventilation system, but also adjusts based on external temperature and relative humidity as needed.
The stirring fan is also an important component in maintaining a constant temperature throughout the chicken coop, and breaking down the stratification of hot and cold air. And by controlling the humidity level in the chicken coop, the bedding is kept dry.
Chickens face greater heat stress response
We have controllers in various parts of the chicken coop to monitor the temperature. However, the monitored temperature does not represent the temperature of the chicken body.
The important factor is the core body temperature of chickens, especially during feeding when they are very close to each other, especially when they are fiercely competing for food.
For breeding and laying hens, managing the temperature during feeding is crucial for proper feed intake, including optimal performance and peak egg production rate. It should be noted that some chickens feed in places without temperature sensors monitoring, and they are squeezed together during feeding time, generating high amounts of heat. At this time, overheating may lead to very high dead Taobao, high proportion of eggs outside the nest, and poor performance. Ventilation/air flow should be increased at this time to manage the temperature of chickens.
In broiler chickens, we pay close attention to the body temperature of the chicken after its feathers have fully grown. Feathers act as a thermal insulation layer, making it difficult for chickens to dissipate excess heat into the environment. A misconception is that overheating is not a problem because you only raise chicks. On the contrary, because you kept the chicks in a chicken coop
They are more numerous, so they generate more heat than large chickens due to their higher density.
conclusion
Time and time again, we have seen rapid progress in breeding chickens, laying hens, and broiler chickens over the past 30 years. For this reason, we must constantly accept and adjust our management methods to meet the requirements of these chickens, as they are larger and perform better. By providing chickens with a favorable environment, we can better realize their genetic potential while achieving performance and production.
