Republic of the Philippines

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

NUEVA VIZCAYA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
Pudi, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya

ANIMAL PRODUCTION (POULTRY-CHICKEN) NC II

LIST OF COMPETENCIES

No. Unit of Competency Module Title Code

1 Maintain Maintaining Poultry AFF321201
poultry environment
environment
2 Brood and grow Brooding & Growing AFF321202
chicks Chicks
3 Perform pre-lay and Performing Pre-lay & AFF321203
lay activities Lay Activities
4 Trim Beak Trimming Beak AFF321204
5 Breed Chicken Breeding Chiken AFF321205

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 Information Sheet no. 2.1.1
Different Tools, Materials and Equipment and their Functions for
Brooding and Growing Chicks

A. Tools/Materials in Brooding and Growing Chicks

1. Brooder cage/pen/ house – it is where the chicks are being reared for brooding.
2. Litter materials (paper, sawdust, rice straw, coir dust, rice hull) – use as
beddings to absorb moisture from the manure of chicks.
3. Chick guard – use to guard the chick from wandering away from the source of
heat.
4. Heater (manual or automated) – use to provide heat to the chicks.
5. Hover – a plate-like aluminum attached to the source of heat which focuses
heat to the ground level.
6. Curtains – use to cover the surrounding of the brooder house during inclement
weather
7. Brooder thermometer – use to measure the temperature of the brooder.
8. Feeder (manual or automatic) – use in feeding the chicks.
9. Waterer/drinker (manual/automatic) – use to supply water for the chicks.
10. Booster feed and antibiotic – feeds for chicks and preventive measure for infection.

A. Feeders
• Manual/portable feeders

Tube Feeder Hanging type feeder

Linear Trough feeder

2
 Round bottom feeders Square bottom feeder

B. Watering system (drinkers)

Manual/portable Jug type drinkers

3
Automatic Drinkers

Nipple Drinkers

Fountain Drinkers

Bell Drinker Cup drinker

4
Brooder House Equipped with manual feeders and drinkers

Brooder house equipped with automatic heaters

Different types of heaters are used for supplemental heating in poultry houses

5
 Computerized Control system

Brooder House equipped with Automatic Feeders and Drinkers

Automatic chicken feeders mainly composed of the following three systems, namely the
power system, the walking system and the lifting system. The walking part is mainly
composed of a part of a transmission shaft, a traveling wheel, a steering wheel. The
overall design source of the automatic chicken feeder machine is the car chassis
technology, which can truly ensure the smooth walking of the feeder.
Conveyor and Pan Feeder System
• Automatic feeders have one loop of feeder chain and trough capable of feeding a
given number of birds
• A feeding control system to turn the feeders on and off
• Feed monitoring systems are available to measure the amount of feed consumed
by bird
• It is important that, same amount of feed to be available at all locations along the
feeder
• The feed hopper in the house holds the feed before it goes out through the auger &
into the feed pans
• Feed goes through the auger lines & drops into each feed pan for the chickens to
eat

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7
 Information Sheet 2.2.1
Poultry strains for broiler, layer and breeder
Types of chicken according to purpose

1. Egg/Layer type – raise purposely for laying of eggs

2. Meat type – chicken intended for meat production
3. Dual type – chicken intended for both egg and meat purposes
4. Fancy type – raise for aesthetic value
5. Game type – raise for game purposes

Breeds and strains of poultry-chicken

A. Egg-Type Breed – for egg ORIGIN CHARACTERISTICS/

production
DESCRIPTION
1. Leghorn Leghorns take their Varieties:
name from the city of • Single Comb Dark
Leghorn, Italy, where Brown
they are considered to • Single Comb Light
have originated. Brown
• Rose Comb Dark
Brown
• Rose Comb Light
Brown
• Single Comb
White
• Rose Comb White
• Single Comb Buff
• Rose Comb Buff
• Single Comb
Black
• Single Comb
Silver
• Single Comb Red
• Single Comb
Black Tailed Red
• Single Comb
Columbian
Standard Weights:
Cock-6 pounds; hen-4-
1/2 pounds; cockerel 5
pounds; pullet-4
pounds.
Skin Color: Yellow.
Egg Shell Color: White.
Use: An egg-type
chicken, Leghorns
figured in the
development of most of
our modern egg-type
strains.
8
2. Minorca Developed in the Varieties:
Mediterranean area
• Single Comb
where they take their
Black
name from an island
• Rose Comb Black
off the coast of Spain.
• Single Comb
Development may have
White
been as an offshoot of
• Rose Comb White
the Spanish breed.
• Single Comb Buff
Standard Weights:
Single Comb Black:
Cock-9 pounds; hen 7-
1/2 pounds; cockerel-7-
1/2 pounds; pullet-6-
1/2 pounds. All others:
Cock-8 pounds; hen-6-
1/2 pounds; cockerel-6-
1/2 pounds; pullet-5-
1/2 pounds.
Skin Color: White.
Egg Shell Color: White.
Use: Developed for the
production of very large
chalk-white eggs, the
Minorca is today
principally an exhibition
fowl.
3. Mikawa This breed was This breed has an RJF-
established in Aichi type body shape
Prefecture during the
with buff colored
Meiji Era (1868 – 1912)
plumage. This bird has
for egg production.
a single comb, white
Although the breed
earlobes and yellow
was established in
Japan, no Japanese shanks.
native breeds
contributed to its
establishment. Some
foreign breeds were
crossed in Japan to
make this breed.

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 4. Ancona The Ancona originated Varieties: Single Comb,
near the city of Rose Comb.
Ancona, Italy, from
early Leghorns and
other breeds. Standard Weights:
Cock-6 pounds; hen-4-
1/2 pounds; cockerel 5
pounds; pullet-4
pounds.

Use: A small fowl that

lays a fair number of
rather small eggs.

Status: Rare. The

Ancona is quite unusual
in the U.S. as a
production breed.
B. Meat-Type Breed – for meat ORIGIN CHARACTERISTICS/
production
DESCRIPTION
1. Brahma The ancestry of the Varieties:
Brahma traces back to • Light
China although much • Dark
of their development • Buff
took place in the U.S. Standard Weights
between 1850 and (Light): Cock-12
1890. pounds; hen-9-1/2
pounds; cockerel-10
pounds; pullet-8
pounds.
Standard Weights
(Dark and Buff): Cock-1
1 pounds; hen-8-1/2
pounds; cockerel-9
pounds; pullet-7
pounds.
Skin Color: Yellow.
Egg Shell Color: Brown.
Use: A very heavy fowl
for the production of
heavy roasters or
capons. Fair egg layers.
2. Cochin Cochins came Varieties:
originally from China
but underwent • Black

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 considerable • Buff
development in the
U.S. and now are • Partridge
found and admired in • White
many parts of the
world. Standard Weights:
Cock-1 1 pounds; hen-
8-1/2 pounds; cockerel-
9 pounds; pullet-7
pounds.
Skin Color: Yellow.
Egg Shell Color: Brown.
Use: Mainly an
ornamental fowl, but
their ability as mothers
is widely recognized and
Cochins are frequently
used as foster mothers
for game birds and other
species.
Varieties:
• Black
3. Langshan • White
Standard Weights:
Cock-9-1/2 pounds;
hen-7-1/2 pounds;
cockerel-8 pounds;
pullet-6-1/2 pounds.
Skin Color: White.
Egg Shell Color: Brown.
Use: A general purpose
fowl for the production
of meat and eggs. The
general shape of the
Langshan makes them
better suited to roaster
and capon use than as
fryers.
4. Cornish Cornish were Varieties:
developed in the shire
• Dark
(county) of Cornwall,
England where they • White
were known as "Indian
Games". They show the • White Laced Red
obvious influence of • Buff
Malay and other
oriental blood. They Standard Weights:
were prized for their Cock-10-1 /2 pounds;
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 large proportion of hen-8 pounds; cockerel-
white meat and its fine 8-1/2 pounds; pullet-6-
texture. 1/2 pounds.
Skin Color: Yellow.
Egg Shell Color: Brown.
Use: Developed as the
ultimate meat bird, the
Cornish has contributed
its genes to build the
vast broiler industry of
the world, Its muscle
development and
arrangement give
excellent carcass shape.
C. Dual-purpose type- meat ORIGIN CHARACTERISTICS/
and egg production
DESCRIPTION
1. Plymouth Rock Developed in America Varieties:
in the middle of the
o Barred
19th century and was
o White
first exhibited as a
o Buff
breed in 1869. Several
o Partridge
individuals claimed its
o Silver
invention, using
crosses of Dominique, Penciled
Java, Cochin, and o Blue
perhaps
MalayandDorking. The o Columbian
first Plymouth Rock Standard Weights:
was barred and other Cock-9-1/2 pounds;
varieties developed hen-7-1/2 pounds;
later. The Breed cockerel-8 pounds;
became popular very pullet-6 pounds.
rapidly, and in fact,
until World War II, no Skin Color: Yellow.
breed was ever kept Egg Shell Color: Brown.
and bred as extensively
as the Barred Use: Meat and eggs.
Plymouth Rock.

12
2. New Hampshire New Hampshires are a Standard Weights:
relatively new breed, Cock-8-1/2 pounds;
having been admitted hen-6-1/2 pounds;
to the Standard in cockerel-7-1/2 pounds;
1935. They represent a pullet-5-1/2 pounds.
specialized selection
out of the Rhode Island Skin Color: Yellow.
Red breed. By Egg Shell Color: Brown.
intensive selection for
rapid growth, fast Use: A dual purpose
feathering, early chicken, selected more
maturity and vigor, a for meat production
different breed than egg production.
gradually emerged. Medium heavy in
This took place in the weight, it dresses a nice,
New England states- plump carcass as either
chiefly in a broiler or a roaster.
Massachusetts and
New Hampshire from
which it takes its
name.

3. Wyandotte America. The Silver Varieties:

Laced variety was • White
developed in New York • Buff
State and the others in • Columbian
the north and • Golden Laced
northeastern states in • Blue
the latter part of the • Silver Laced
19th century and early • Silver-Penciled
20th century. • Partridge
• Black

Standard Weights:
Cock-8-1/2 pounds,
hen-6-1/2 pounds,
cockerel-7-1/2 pounds,
pullet-5-1/2 pounds.
Skin Color: Yellow.
Egg Shell Color: Brown.
Use: Meat or eggs.
4. Rhode Island Red The Rhode Island Red Plumage color: Lustrous
is an American breed Deep Pink to Black
of chicken. It is a
Egg production: 250-
utility bird, raised for
both meat and eggs, 300 per year
and also as a show Cock Weight: 8.6 lbs.
bird. It is a popular
choice for backyard Female Weight: 6.6 lbs.
flocks because of its

13
 egg laying abilities and Temperament: Calm
hardiness. All brown
egg laying hybrid
chickens are based on
the Rhode Island Red.
5. Nagoya This breed was The Nagoya breed has a
established in Aichi Cochin-type body shape
Prefecture during the with buff Columbian
Taishou Era (1912 – colored plumage. The
buff color of this breed
1926) by removing the has an orange tinge.
leg feathers from the
Nagoya Cochin. The This breed was used for
Nagoya Cochin was
egg and meat
established during the production in Japan on
Meiji Era (1868 – 1912) a small scale.
by crossing the
Cochin, whose origin is The other features of
in China, and some Nagoya are a single
Japanese native breed. comb, red earlobes and
lead-gray
shanks.
Strains of Broilers

ORIGIN CHARACTERISTICS/
DESCRIPTION
1. Arbor Acres Arbor Acres broilers CHI Commercial Day
were bred by Aviagen, Old Arbor Acres Plus
a major American Broiler is a fast-growing
poultry company. In and high-quality
the Philippines, they commercial meat bird
are supplied by San with excellent
Miguel, and they are conformation and tender
one of the most breast meat.
popular broiler breeds
in the country.
2. Cobb 500 Originally developed The Cobb 500 broiler is
for the higher quality a modern commercial
fresh chicken market breed characterized by a
in the UK in the 1970s, fast initial growth and
the Cobb500 was competitive breast meat
introduced to the US yields at various
in 1984 through processing ages when
Arkansas Breeders, a compared to other
joint venture between commercial strains
Upjohn and Tyson presently grown around
Foods. the world (Coneglian et al.,
2010).
The Cobb 500 Broiler
is the world's leading

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 broiler with the lowest
feed cost through
outstanding feed
conversion at lower
nutrient density levels.
The Cobb broiler has
grown very popular in
Zimbabwe where feed
costs are exorbitant
saving poultry farmers
a fortune.
3. Ross 308 The Ross 308 broiler The plumage of Ross
was introduced in the 308 broilers is snow-
UK by Aviagen in the white. The skin is
last century. elastic, dyed in one light
Successful shade - these
representatives of meat characteristics were
breeds served as given special attention
genetic material, the when breeding to give
main goal of the the carcass a
scientists was to presentation. Broiler
obtain a hybrid that is legs are strong, widely
rapidly gaining weight, spaced, which indicates
and it was successfully the presence of fighting
achieved. Ross 308 is breeds in the ancestors.
not a full-fledged
Chickens Ross 308 have
breed, but a cross.
an oval body with a
broad chest protruding
forward. The broiler's
head is small, topped
with a bright red leaf-
shaped crest, small
catkins are also red. The
weight of an adult bird
reaches 5.5-6 kg.
4. Hubbard The Hubbard broilers The general natural life
were originally span of Hubbard
developed by Hubbard, chicken is 5-10 years.
a French company, They specialized in these
that is now part of birds for meat
Aviagen. In the production.
Philippines, they are
The chicken breeds are
supplied by Tyson Agro
available in various
Ventures, and are
especially popular in colors: yellow, brown,
black, or mixed.
the free-range chicken
However, the Hubbard
meat production
birds have white and
business.
yellow skin.

15
 The varieties found in
Hubbard are white, red,
brown, black, gray,
striped, and
multicolored.

Strain of Layers ORIGIN CHARACTERISTICS/

DESCRIPTION
1. H & N Nick H&N genetics develops Both male and female
Nick Chick after many Nick Chick are of the
years of research. Nick same white color.
Chick is an advanced Roosters are bigger than
layer chicken with hens and have a large
astounding egg red comb and wattles.
production The legs are bright to
capabilities. dark yellow, whereas the
feet don’t have extended
feathers.

2. Lohmann Lohmann layers are Lohmann Browns are a

one of the most cross between New
common and “classic” Hampshire chickens
layer breeds in the and carefully selected
Philippines as well as brown egg-laying hens.
the rest of the world. It is also one of the
Originally, they were earliest hybrids
bred in Germany by developed and is still in
Lohmann Tierzucht, demand today due to its
and in the Philippines, excellent egg
they can be acquired productivity, quality,
from San Miguel and adaptability.
among other This breed is available
companies. in four variations:
• Lohmann Brown –
Classic
• Lite
• Plus
• Extra
Lohmann Browns are
flexible birds that can be
raised in both free-range
and caged conditions for
commercial egg
production.
3. Shaber Star Cross This breed, bred by the Canadian company
Shaver, is one of the older ones. In spite of that, it
still enjoys some popularity in the Philippines

16
 where it can be sourced from Universal Robina
Farms.
4. Babcock Babcock White layers are another breed of layers
that is prolific in the Philippines, and especially
well known for their large eggs. Not only that, but
they are highly adaptable chickens and perform
well in a wide variety of climatic conditions. And,
they also have a very calm temperament.

5. Dekalb Dekalb White layers One of the advantages of

are another one of very the Dekalb White layers
popular layer breeds is that they have an
used for egg excellent, mild,
production in the temperament. Dekalb
Philippines. Whites are generally
quiet and are also suited
for alternative poultry
They were developed rearing systems
by Hendrix USA, a US including backyard
company, and have chicken farming,
characteristics that enriched cages, as well
make them not only as free range chicken
the one of the most farming.
popular, but also one
of the most suitable
layers for raising in the
Philippines.
6. Hyline The Hyline first Varieties:
emerged about 90
years ago in Iowa, • Hy-line W-36
USA. She is the • Hy-line W-80
brainchild of egg • Hy-line W-80 Plus
farmers looking for a • Hy-line Brown
breed that would meet • Hy-line Silver
the needs of a growing Brown
population. In • Hy-line Pink
Australia SBA owns
the licence to breed the
Hyline Brown
7. Hi-sex white and brown Hi-sex company & It comes in two variants,
Hendrix Genetics white & brown. Both of
developed Hi-sex the variants are egg-
chicken. purpose & excellent in
egg production.
The demand for Hi-sex
chicken in the USSR Hi-Sex White
was more in the mid-
70s. Hi-sex company Base color: snow-white

17
 put efforts into the Average weight of male:
spread of this breed 1.8 kg
throughout the world.
Average weight of hen:
This includes the US,
Asia, Africa & 1.7 kg
Australia. Hi-Sex Brown
Base color: reddish-
brown
Average weight of
rooster: 2.4 kg
Average weight of hen: 2
kg

Information Sheet 2.2.2

Procedures in Brooding and Growing Chicks

Brooding is the process of supplying heat to the chicks from the time they are taken
down from the incubator up to the time they can self-control their heat requirement
through thermo-regulatory processes.
Kinds of brooding:
1. Natural brooding – providing heat to the chicks by its mother hen.
2. Artificial brooding is the rearing of chicks by providing sufficient artificial heat
which may last for a few days to about four weeks. The duration depends upon the
existing weather conditions and the feathering rate of the chicks. If brooding is done
during warmth months, the chicks can be removed from the brooder as soon as the
room temperature is high enough to meet the bird’s heat requirements
Essential Factors for Successful Artificial Brooding
1. Start with good quality chicks. Select only healthy chicks which can be easily
recognized by their dry, fluffy feathers, bright eyes and active appearance.

2. Provide the proper temperature. Maintain proper temperature in the brooding

house. The brooder should be efficiently heated to prevent the chicks from chilling,
but not so hot as to make them shy away from the source of heat. The following set
of temperatures have been shown to be ideal for brooding:

Age of Chicks Brooding Temperature

(Weeks) *C

0–1 32.2 – 35.0

1–2 29.4 – 32.2.
2–4 26.7 – 29.4
Above 4 weeks remove the supply of heat
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 In the absence of thermometer that will measure the temperature of the
brooder, the behavior of the chicks in the brooder can be used as guideline for the
correct

brooding temperature. If the

temperature is lower than what the chicks need, they huddle to each other, or they
prefer to stay together near the source of heat producing unusual chirping sound.
If the temperature is above the optimum requirement, the chicks tend to move away
from the source of heat and spread their wings. A contented peep and evenly
distributed chicks around the source of heat indicates that they are comfortable.
The figures below illustrate the behavior of the chicks in a brooder when
temperature varies,
3.Adequate floor space.
The minimum brooding space requirements depends upon the type of brooder to
be used. The floor space area should be increased as the birds grow older and
bigger. Space needed for the first day to 7 days is .30 square foot per chick.

4. Proper ventilation or supply of fresh air. A constant change of air without drafts
within the brooder compartment is necessary. The chick is a fast-growing, rapid
breathing animal requiring rapid digestive and assimilative changes. It suffers
seriously when confined and compelled to breathe impure air. Sufficient ventilation
to supply plenty of oxygen and facilitate the removal of carbon dioxide and excess
moisture is essential.

5. Adequate lighting facilities. The first week is the most critical period in
brooding. A continuous 24 hours of light in the brooder house is advisable during
the period. The light on the brooder will encourage the birds to keep close to the
source of heat, feed, and water. Also, during this period the chicks have to be
acquainted with their surroundings.

6. Proper sanitation. Clean brooders could assure a good start to the chicks.
Cleanliness and dryness of the brooding quarters will prevent contamination of the
19
 chicks from parasites and disease organisms which may be carried by previously
brooded chicks.
7. Adequate floor space. The minimum brooding space requirements depends
upon the type of brooder to be used. The floor space area should be increased as
the birds grow older and bigger. Day old to 7 days is .30 sq. foot space requirement
per chick

8. Safety. The chicks in the brooder should be safe from other animal enemies such
as rats, dogs and other animals.

Sources of Heat for Artificial Brooding

1. Liquified-Petroleum Gas (LPG). This is commonly used by big commercial farms due
to economics involved. The smallest unit can provide enough heat for 500 chicks.
2. Electricity. In electrically operated brooders, the desired temperature is easily
attained and danger from fire is less. An electric hover type brooder has built-in
resistant coil that provides the heat. The temperature is automatically controlled by
a thermostat. However, in adopting electrically operated brooders, the cost of
operation and the reliability of power source should be considered.
3. Kerosene. A kerosene lamp can be used in areas where electricity or LPG is not
available or where the cost is higher. Commercial hover-type brooders operated by
kerosene are available in the market for big brooding pens. For small operation, a
kerosene lamp with a glass chimney can easily provide heat to 30 chicks in confined
brooders. Adequate ventilation has to be provided when using a kerosene brooder.
4. Charcoal, wood, rice hull or other farm wastes can be used as fuel for farm brooders.
Additional precautions must be practiced to avoid fire. Also, adequate ventilation
should be provided
Types of Brooder

1. Elevated/Battery type - with screen, slatted bamboo flooring

2. Floor type – concrete floor - with deep litter
Procedure in brooding and growing chicks
1. Clean and disinfect the brooding house/pen at least a week prior to the chicks’
arrival. The brooding house should be enclosed with curtains made up of sacks, cloth,
paper or any available material when necessary to avoid draft.
2. Install the chick guard around each hover (manual brooding). The chick guard
should be of solid materials like G.I. or aluminum sheets and lawanits. The hover
height should be adjusted to the existing temperature and needs of the birds. A
minimum of 12 – 16 cm clearance above the back of the birds should be maintained.
3. Put appropriate litter materials at least 2 to 3 inches thick (saw dust, rice hull, coco
coir dust, chopped rice straw, paper) as beddings for the chicks. If paper is use at least
7 layers so that when changing it, the top most layer will be the one to be remove by
folding it to avoid dropping of manure.
4. Check the functionality of heaters or other sources of heat if they are working
properly. Switch on the heaters at least 4 hours before the chicks arrive.
5. Measure the actual temperature of the brooder by means of a thermometer and
adjust to the temperature requirement (32.2-35 C) of a day old to 3 days old chicks.

20
6. Select healthy chicks which can be easily recognized by their dry, fluffy feathers,
bright eyes and active appearance
7. Place the chicks on the brooder as soon as they are removed from the incubator or
as soon as it arrived from the hatchery.
8. Check the space if it is appropriate to their number and if necessary, make
adjustment of the space.
8. Provide cool clean water with commercial anti-stress formula. Add 5-8% of sugar to
their drinking water as substitute to anti-stress formula during the first 3 hours of
arrival. Vitamins, minerals and antibiotic supplements can be added to drinking water
during the first few days.
9. Provide chick booster feeds considering the height of feeders. Shallow feeders are
recommended for the first week. In case of hanging drinkers and feeders, see to it that
the lower portion of feeder must be in line with back of bird.
10. Check if they are comfortable and watch for astray chicks who could not find their
way to the source of heat. The behavior of chicks should be the temperature guide in
addition to a thermometer for a proper heat supply.
11. Remove or change litter materials after 7 – 10 days depending on the system of
brooding.
12. Remove/cull deformed and sickly chicks. To allow these chicks to mingle with the
rest of the flock will endanger the health of all the chicks.
13. Gradually adjust the temperature of the brooder by 2.8 C per week as the birds
grow older until it reaches the room temperature.
Generally, the room temperature satisfies the heat requirements of chicks especially at
daytime such that you could put on the brooder only at night. Birds usually do not
need additional heat after 4 weeks.
14. Provide more feeders and waterers as the chicks grow in order to maintain the
correct feeding and drinking space allowances.
15. Debeak chicks intended for layers at 7 days old to prevent injury during pecking
that will lead to cannibalism.
16. Vaccinate layer chicks to minimize dreadful diseases.
Brooding will end at 21 days old or more depending on the prevailing climatic
condition in a locality. Remove heaters/source of heat but their should be light
especially night time in order to make feed and water visible to the chicken at all
times.
Reminder: The potential of a chick is determined by its genetic constitution. Its
actual performance, however, depends upon the feeding, care and management of
the chicks receive from its caretaker. In other word good, proper husbandry will
determine whether a chick will reach its genetic potential or not.

21
 Information Sheet No. 2.2.3
Abnormalities of chicks

Common disabilities of chicks include:

1. Blindness
2. Crossed (scissor) beak
3. Leg issues caused by disease, deficiency or accident

Some people go to extraordinary lengths to care for disabled chickens. It’s

important to look for a cause of a disability, to try and avoid the same thing
happening in the future.

The causes can include:

1. Nutritional deficiencies
2.Genetic causes (inherited)
3. incubation and hatching problems
4. accidents

Nutritional deficiencies
Any shortage of an essential nutrient can lead to deformities, including:
• curling of the toes
• dislocation of the joints
• poor feathering
• twisting of the neck
• inability to walk and feed normally

These occur in birds fed a vitamin or mineral-deprived diet, or chicks bred from
parents fed a deficient diet. The best diet is one where at least 80 percent is a
balanced, commercial feed.

1. Curled Toe Paralysis

Symptoms: toes curl inwards and downward.
Cause: vitamin B2 (riboflavin) shortage, which affects the nerves leading to the
toes, and sometimes to the hock joint.
Treatment: soluble vitamins, including B vitamins, will help to reverse it.
2. Wry Neck
Symptoms: head flexes back over the body so the bird is looking upwards (also
known as ‘star gazing’), twists to one side, or curls over between the legs. Birds
often die from starvation due to an inability to feed properly.
Cause: vitamin B1 or thiamine deficiency; can also be a genetic predisposition,
especially in breeds with crests.

Treatment: correct feed, plus vitamin E and selenium.

3. Perosis

Symptoms: legs extend at unusual angles.

22
Cause: deficiency of manganese, choline, folic acid and/or biotin. Grooves in the
hock joints are too shallow, so tendons can move in any direction, instead of
sitting tight in the groove.

Treatment: none, as even if the diet is correct, the hock joint cannot repair itself.

4. Cross beak, scissor or parrot beak

Symptoms: top and bottom parts of the beak sit an angle to each other, often gets
worse as a bird gets older.
Cause: vitamin D3, biotin, and/or vitamin A deficiency in affected bird; imbalance
of calcium to phosphorous; manganese shortage in parents.

Treatment: it can be possible to carefully clip overgrowth back, but be careful not
to cut into the ‘quick’ which will bleed. Provide food and water in deep containers
so the bird can dip its whole beak in, instead of just the tip. Check daily that the
bird is getting adequate feed and is not being picked on by others. Syringe feeding
is an option to keeping crossed-beak birds alive, but it must be done several times
a day for the rest of the bird’s life.

5. Feather loss pecking, poor feather development, feather pulling

Symptoms: pecking or pulling (by the bird or other birds), poor feather
development, naked tails, bleeding feather stumps.

Cause: methionine deficiency. This behaviour can be due to a shortage of

methionine, an essential amino acid only found in animal protein (or a synthetic
option, added to feed). Birds seek blood to supplement their protein-deficient diet.
Organic poultry feed made without animal protein and without synthetic
supplements can be a risk. Vegetarian-based layer feed, using soya beans as the
protein source, should be supplemented with synthetic methionine to make up for
this shortfall.

Treatment: feeding a completely balanced diet, appropriate to the age of the bird,
will eliminate most of these problems.

6. Deformities

Symptoms: exposed brain, crossed beaks, split wings, wry tails, crooked toes,
missing or deformed eyes.

Cause: genetic; incubation fault.

If you’re hatching chicks, you’re going to see genetic deformities. Exposed brain is
more likely to be found in crested birds like Silkies and Polish which have
improperly-fused skull bones. Crossed beaks can also be a genetic fault, or
nutritional.

7.Split wings, wry (off-centre) tails and crooked toes can be genetic, and are likely
to be passed on. However, they’re unlikely to physically disable a chick. Eye
deformities or missing eyes can be genetic or an incubation fault. A blind chick is
at a big disadvantage, but I have heard of people successfully caring for blind
poultry. Incubation faults can cause a lack of down, or multiple or missing limbs.
23
24
 Information Sheet 2.3.1
Different Feeding Rations in Poultry
Feed refers to the solid food for animals which provide nourishment to their bodies.
While ration is the amount of feed an animal should received in a day.
Proper nutrition plays a vital role in the improvement of the performance of broilers.
The chicks could express its genetic potential only if proper nutrition is given.
Forms of Feeds
1. Mash – composed of a mixture of ground and powdered form of feedstuffs.
2. Pellets – compressed mash feeds. Feeds are compressed through pelleting machine.
Pellet varies in size.
3. Crumble – composed of coarsely ground pellets.

Types of Feeds
1. Pre-starter or Chick Booster -Feeds given to broiler from 1 day to 2 weeks old.
2. Starter- Feeds given from 2 to 4 weeks old.
3. Finisher - Feeds given to broilers from 4 weeks old until market age.
4. Breeder – feed for maintenance of breeder adult chickens.
5. Layer – feed for laying chickens

Of the total feed consumption, approximately, pre-starter feed is 15%, 35% starter
feed, and 50% finisher feed.
Advantages of Pellet
a. Feed loss due to wind is less.
b. Feed dustiness is reduced.
c. No separation of ingredients in pelleted feeds during handling.
d. Destroy bacteria in feeds (e.g. salmonella)
e. Certain feed ingredients are unacceptable to chickens, but when feeds are
pelleted, consumption markedly increases.
f. Less feed wastage from feeders.

Disadvantages of Pellet
a. Added cost of pelleting than mash feed.
b. Fine particles are wasted when pellets break into crumbles.
c. Increases water consumption.
d. Droppings are wetter when pellets are fed.
e. Pellets increase incidence and severity of cannibalism

Feeding Systems
Feeds must be made available to the birds at all times. They must be provided with
artificial light to enable them to eat at night. When open trough feeders are used,
refill them as frequent as possible. Fresh feeds must be mixed with the remaining
feed in the trough during feeding time.
In most commercial broiler farms, tube feeders are commonly used to ensure
sustained supply of feeds to the chickens and make feeding convenient to the
caretaker. Check from time to time the tube feeders to ensure the flow of feed from

25
the tube to the pan. Hang the tube feeder to a height that will level the brim of the
pan with the back of the chickens. This will make the chickens eat more
conveniently and at the same time reduce feed wastage through beaking out of feeds
from the pan.
Feeding Practice for Broilers
Ad libitum feeding is the normal practice in growing broilers. Feed should be
made available to birds at any given time. The indications of ad libitum feeding are
the following:
1. Availability of feed at all times
2. No pre-set amount of feed to be given
3. Feeders at ½ full at all times
4. Crops should not be empty except prior to harvest
5. Adequate feeding space per bird

Simple Feeding Guide for Layers Depending on the age of the Flock
Age of Flock Kind of Feed

Day-old to 6 weeks Chick starter with 20-21%

protein

7 to 14 weeks Grower ration with 16% protein

15 to 20 weeks Pullet developer with 14%

protein

When pullets start laying Laying ration with 16 to 18%

protein

Approximate Feed Consumption of Egg-Type Chickens/Bird

Age (Weeks) Quantity of Feeds (grams)

0-4 10-15

5-8 20-30

9-12 33-43

13-16 44-54

17-20 55-65

21-24 73-83

25-40 120-130

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 41-52 115-120

53-60 110-115

61-64 100-110

Feed Additives in Chicken Ration

The effect of antibiotics on the reduction of mortality, rate of growth and feed
conversion of broilers is generally known. The levels of antibiotics to be used in the
ration vary according to the kind of used.
The commercial broiler feeds contain additives considered to be growth-promoting
substances. In addition, prophylactic amounts of coccidiostats are also added in the
ration. Feed additives make the production of broilers profitable and help broiler
farmers control diseases.
The commonly used feed additives in broiler feeds are as follows:

• Antifungal agents. They are used to prevent fungal (mold) growth in stored
ingredients and mixed feeds. Molds reduce palatability and may produce
mycotoxins. The use of a mold inhibitor is strongly recommended when:
moisture content of grains exceeds 13%-14%; relative humidity is above 80%;
temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit and above; or the grain is damaged,
broken, or insect infested.
• Antioxidants. They are preservatives that prevent the autoxidation (rancidity)
of fats. Unsaturated fatty acids may react with oxygen to produce undesirable
products with offensive odors and toxic properties and destruction of
nutrients such as fat-soluble vitamins.
• Anticoccidial agents. They are being used to prevent the incidence of
coccidiosis.
Information Sheet 2.3.2
Proper disposal of left-over and spoiled feeds

Poultry feed is the largest single cost in raising chickens. To prevent wastage of feed, the
following are suggested:
1. Keep rats and mice out of your pens
2. Don’t let the birds get into the feed hoppers.
3. Do not fill your feeders or hoppers more than two thirds full.
Some ways in which left-over and spoiled feeds can be disposed properly is by collecting
it and recycle it as;
a.) feed for animals like ducks, fish, african night crawler for vermi-composting,
b.) Putting it compost pit for fertilizer,
c) convert to biogas
In the case of dead birds, immediate burning or burying is an important part of a
good sanitation program. Dead birds act as a source of disease that can be spread by
different carrier.
27
 Lighting management
Light is an important aspect of an animal environment. Avian species as well
as mammalian species respond to light energy in a variety of ways, including
growth and reproductive performance. The value of regulating the photoperiod
of poultry and livestock to stimulate reproduction has been recognized for
many years and is used regularly by commercial poultry and livestock farmers.
For chickens there are three major functions of light:
1. to facilitate sight
2. to stimulate internal cycles due to day-length changes, and
3. to initiate hormone release
Types of light

There are four common light types used in poultry houses are
• Incandescent – Cheapest; necessitates reflectors, short bulb life (750-
1000 hour)
• Fluorescent – 3 to 4 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs; 10
times longer life than incandescent bulb
• Mercury vapor – Long life (24,000 hrs); requires several minutes to warm
up; cannot be used in houses with low ceilings.
• Compact Fluorescent (CF) Lighting – More energy efficient. One-fifth
energy of fluorescent light is needed to provide same light intensity
(lumen)
Light management
The manner in which lights are installed in the poultry house has a role
on their efficiency.
Some of the important points regarding fixing bulbs in poultry houses
are:
• The distance between bulbs should be 1½ times the distance from the
bulb to the bird level.
• The distance from the bulbs to the outer edges of the house should be
only ½ the distance between bulbs.
• In cage system, the bulbs should be placed in such a way that their rays
fall on the feed and on the birds.
• Clean reflectors increase the light intensity at bird level by 50%,
compared with no reflector.

28
 • Avoid cone shape reflectors since they confine the light rays to limited
area. Better to use flat type reflector with rounded edge.
• In case of deep litter system, the bulb is to be placed at 7-8’ height
whereas in cage house, keep in aisle.
• Avoid hanging bulbs by a cord in open houses
• Very dirty bulbs emit about 1/3 less light than clean bulbs.
• Light bulbs should be cleaned once in two weeks.
Light effects during growing period
Decreasing the length of light day during growing period will lead to
• Increase the age at sexual maturity
• Increase the number of eggs laid during the first half of the egg
production (but not in total number of eggs laid)
• Increase the size of the first eggs produced.
Light restriction alone delays the sexual maturity at the maximum of 3
weeks. If feed restriction is combined with light restriction we can delay up to 4
weeks period.

Optimum environment in Growing Chicks

Temperature and Chick Performance

One of the goals during brooding is to maintain chicks within their comfort
zone, which is where they are not using energy to gain or lose heat to maintain
body temperature. When birds are kept in environmental temperatures above or
below their comfort zone, more energy must be expended to maintain body
temperature. This extra energy will ultimately be supplied by the feed
consumed. Therefore, the energy from the feed will be used to maintain body
temperature instead of growth and development resulting in poorer feed
conversion. Thus, the environmental temperature plays a major role in
determining the cost of producing a pound of meat or a started pullet.

Proper brooding not only consists of maintaining proper temperature but

also the use of good husbandry practices. Brooding temperatures will vary
depending on whether the heat source is air furnace, conventional brooder or
radiant brooder (Table 1). Note that the temperatures in Table 1 refer to air
temperatures that are designed to provide a 90 degrees F (32 degrees C) floor
temperature. When brooding chicks, floor temperature is crucial. Research
suggests that average floor temperature should be 90 degrees F (32 degrees C)

29
on the day that chicks are placed in the house. Forced air furnaces require higher
temperature settings because they heat the air which heats the floor. A
conventional pancake brooder directs approximately 40 percent of its heat to the
floor and 60 percent to the air. Radiant brooders project approximately 90
percent of their heat to the floor and 10 percent to the air. Because pancake and
radiant brooders direct more heat to the floor, the air temperature required to
get the desired floor temperature is less than that required for forced air
furnaces.

Table 1. Recommended Air Temperatures During Brooding for Broilers

by Heat Source 1

Air Temperature

Forced Air Furnace

Day 2
Conventional Brooder 3 Radiant Brooder4

0 93 ° F (34 ° C) 90 ° F (32 ° C) 88 ° F (31 ° C)

3 90 ° F (32 ° C) 88 ° F (31 ° C) 86 ° F (30 ° C)

7 87 ° F (31 ° C) 86 ° F (30 ° C) 84 ° F (29 ° C)

14 83 ° F (28 ° C) 85 ° F (29 ° C) 82 ° F (28 ° C)

21 78 ° F (26 ° C) 80 ° F (27 ° C) 77 ° F (25 ° C)

1 Temperatures based on those used currently by broiler companies

2 Measured at chick height.
3 Measured at chick height, one foot from edge of brooder canopy.
4 Measured at chick height, four feet from edge of brooder canopy.

Broiler houses are specifically designed to allow the environment directly

around the chick to be closely controlled. In commercial broiler growing
operations, broiler houses are insulated and equipped with mechanical
ventilation systems to maintain house temperatures within 5 degrees of the
desired temperature regardless of outside temperature. Optimum chick brooding
temperatures have been developed through many years of research and field
experience.

30
 The best method to monitor chick comfort is to observe chick behavior and
regulate the temperature accordingly. When observing a broiler house, chicks should
be distributed evenly across the house.

Figure 2. When adequate house temperature is obtained and chicks are well
managed, they should be distributed throughout the house and not huddling
together or sitting mostly in the feed pans.

Chicks that are cool can be seen huddling together (even next to the side
wall) and will tend to sit in feeder pans. Chicks that are hot will move away from
the brooders and furnaces, will pant and will stretch out on the litter in efforts
to cool themselves. Many houses have environmental controllers that monitor
house temperature and turn brooders and furnaces on and off as needed. The
controllers also monitor the amount of time a heat source operates. This
information can be used to locate areas of the chick environment that might
experience excessive air leaks or drafts. For example, if the brooders/furnaces
near the tunnel curtain have more run time than others in the house, it may
indicate air leaks around the curtain or end wall door.

Relative Humidity

The ability of air to hold moisture depends upon its temperature. Warm
air can hold more moisture than cold air. The term relative humidity refers to the
percent of water saturation of air at any given temperature. The level of humidity
influences the ability of the bird to cool itself through panting and influences
ammonia production.

It is recommended that a low level of relative humidity be maintained

between 50 and 70 percent throughout the growout period, including the
brooding period. Ammonia production occurs due to the microbiological
breakdown of fecal material in the litter. Dusty conditions in the poultry house
are associated with relative humidity below 50 percent. Relative humidity of 70
percent or greater provides environmental conditions suitable for microbial
growth in the litter. As the microbial population increases, more ammonia is
generated from nitrogen sources found in bird fecal material. Ammonia is a gas

31
that has a negative impact on bird health and performance. Research shows that
increased ammonia impairs the immune system and increases respiratory
disease in birds. High ammonia levels during brooding reduces growth rate,
which is not gained back during the remainder of the grow out. Ammonia
production can be reduced through the control of relative humidity which in turn
is regulated by ventilation. Managing the poultry house ventilation rates to keep
relative humidity between 50 and 70 percent is recommended to minimize
ammonia production and dust.

Figure 3. Exposure to
ammonia concentrations as low as 25 ppm for the first 28 days can have a
negative effect on body weight at both 4 and 7 weeks of age (Miles et al. , 2004).

Ventilation

Ventilation is needed to regulate temperature and remove carbon dioxide,

ammonia, other gases, moisture, dust and odors. Fresh air must be introduced
uniformly, mixed well with house air, and circulated properly throughout the
house. The flow pattern within the building is very important. Air movement into
the house is accomplished via negative pressure. Fans remove air from the house
creating a negative pressure. Air enters through inlets located in the walls or
ceiling and is directed across the ceiling to mix the air.

32
Figure 4. Air entering through the inlets is directed along the ceiling. This allows
the air to warm up to brooding temperature before coming into contact with the
chicks. This also increases the moisture holding capacity of the air so that when
the warm air does fall down to chick level it will pick up and hold more moisture
from the litter helping to maintain litter conditions in the house.

Mixing of the incoming outside air and the inside air prevents the cooler
air from settling near the litter and chilling the birds. Inlet openings and air
speed coming through the inlet is important in ensuring that air moves along the
ceiling. If the inlet opens too much or if the speed of the air entering through the
inlet is too low then the cool air will fall to the floor more quickly. Not only with
this cause a problem of bird chilling, but can create cool spots on the walls and
floor. As warm air contacts these cooler spots condensation will form creating
wet spots. These wet spots can lead to increase litter caking as well as more
ammonia production.

Circulation fans should be used to break up temperature stratification and

provide a more uniform temperature throughout the poultry house. Moving the
warmer air to bird level not only helps maintain bird body and floor
temperatures, but also helps remove moisture from the litter.

Fan operation is controlled by temperature to maintain the desired

temperature. Some fans are operated by a timer to regulate relative humidity
and maintain good air quality when the house is at the desired temperature. The
house environmental controller operates the fans based on temperature and
timer settings. The controllers will open air inlets located in the side walls or
ceiling to ensure uniform air entry into the house. The amount the inlets open is
determined by static pressure.

Lighting During Brooding

Light is an important factor during brooding that should not be ignored.

Chick activity is greater in bright light intensity than in low light intensity.
During brooding the light should be at the brightest intensity to encourage chick
activity thus assisting them to locate feed and water. Once they learn where feed
and water are located (somewhere around 7 to 10 days of age), the light intensity
and duration can and should be reduced. Light systems should be designed to
produce a minimum of 25 lux (2.5 foot candles) or more at bird level. Many
broiler houses being built today are capable of provide up to 40 lux (4 foot
candles) at chick level in the brood area.

33
Figure 5. Higher light intensities during brooding will encourage chick activity.
The increase activity will help chicks find feed and water sources thus getting
them off to a good start.

Figure 6. With an insulated attic, the air is warmer than outside air. Using the
air allows higher ventilation rates to be used without increasing fuel usage. These
increased ventilation rates will help maintain relative humidity between 50 and
70 percent.

The light system design should allow light intensity and duration to be
modified as the birds age and provide a uniform light intensity at bird level.
Typically, the lights are operated 23 hours a day during brooding and the light
intensity is at maximum. Between 7 and 10 days of age the number of hours the
lights are operated should be reduced (depending on the operation's guidelines)
and by 10 to 14 days of age the light intensity should be reduced to 5 lux (0.5
foot candles). The main purpose of the lighting during the brooding is to ensure
that chicks are active and seek out food and water sources.

34
 Information Sheet 2.4.3
Bio-security measure

Biosecurity refers to all the measures taken to minimize the risk of infectious
diseases caused by viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms entering,
emerging into the poultry house. Carriers of these microorganisms can be:
1. Formites – objects or substances capable of carrying infectious
organism like air, clothings, slippers/shoes, globes, pails, shovels, etc.
2. Vectors - living organisms that carries infectious pathogen into
another living organism like human being, dogs, cats, ants, insects, and other
living animals.
Examples of Bio Security Measures:
1. Limit the entry of unnecessary people in the poultry area.
2. Strict hygiene and sanitation
3. Waste management
4. Disinfect all vehicles entering the farm
5. Quarantine new stocks (animals) before introducing to the flock.
6. Construct footbath at the building entrance
7. Fencing of the poultry perimeter area to avoid the entry of astray
animals.

35
LEARNING OUTCOME NO.5. PERFORM PREVENTIVE AND TREATMENT

Information Sheet No. 2.5.1

Distress conditions
Stress in Broiler Chickens
It’s important to identify symptoms of poultry stress in the earliest stages
possible to prevent dangerous health problems from occurring among your
broiler flocks. It is just as important to ensure poultry’s physiological health as
it is to ensure the humane treatment of your flock. Production levels increase
exponentially in the absence of poultry stress.
The 5 most common symptoms of poultry stress:
1. Weight loss
2. Reduced egg production
3.Lowered livability
4. Increased feed conversion ratio
5. Immune suppression and increased susceptibility to diseases

Methods in Preventing Poultry Stress

Solutions for addressing poultry stress include a) maintaining a clean,
calm, disease-free environment, b) access to clean water and healthy supply of
feed c) noise-free and not extreme heat, d) avoiding unusual circumstances. All
of these will go a long way towards minimizing the risk of creating a stressful
environment.
Identifying common areas where stress occurs should begin with an
examination of living conditions.
5 areas in which poultry stress can occur:
1. Physiological
2. Nutritional
3. Nervous
4. Mental
5. Climatic
Poor management of a flock will also cause stress, in addition to changes in the
weather and seasonal patterns. It is essential to establish a positive routine for
your chickens that benefits their health and removes elements that might cause
poultry stress.

36
Negative Effects of Poultry Stress
Once you’ve identified the areas where your flock might experience stress, it’s
time to identify the potential effects of stress in your chickens.
Common signs of poultry stress in broiler chickens:
• Increased mortality
• Decreased appetite
• Growth stagnation
• Poor feed conversion
• Increased production costs
• Easily contracted diseases and sickness
One of the most significant causes of poultry stress is heat stress. Chickens do
not have sweat glands and are thus unable to regulate their own body
temperature. A very common sign of heat stress is rapid panting, which indicates
the chicken is in distress. Low mobility and poor appetite are other easily
identifiable symptoms.

Information Sheet No.2.5.2

Preventive measure to growing chicks

Creating a Nutritional Management Program

If you think your broiler chicken flock is suffering from poultry stress, it’s
important to begin treating it as soon as possible. After identifying environmental
factors contributing to stress, consider supplementing their diets with nutritional
additives that will restore them to full health. This is especially important
because poultry stress causes detrimental strain to a chicken’s natural reserves
of nutrition and upsets gut performance.
Proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals are the most common types
of nutritional supplements. Electrolytes, probiotics, and fermentation products
have also proven to be effective at restoring health.

Look for nutritional supplements that boost health by meeting these four
qualifications:
• Overcomes stress caused by a variety of conditions and factors
• Promotes digestion and absorption of nutrients
• Improves feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio
• Accelerates the restoration of gut microflora following antibiotics or
chemotherapy

37
 Taking the time to raise broiler chickens in a stress-free, humane
environment is the best way to ensure complete poultry health and high levels
of production.

The most economical and ideal method to control disease is through

prevention, which could be achieved by proper management, effective sanitation
and vaccination program. Antibiotics-vitamin combination may be given with the
drinking water or feed during the first 3 to 5 days of age chicks. Even with all
the precautionary procedures, however, communicable diseases still strike.
When they do exist at your farm, consult your veterinarian.

Useful Tips as preventive measures to poultry stress and disease

incidence

1. Raise only healthy and vigorous stocks. Sickly birds should be culled at
once.
2. Proper poultry feed. Birds must be fed with balanced rations and be
provided with cool fresh clean drinking water at all time.

3. Prevention and control of diseases and pests

4. Isolation of diseased birds.
5. Maintenance of optimum temperature and hygienic conditions in housing
6. Only birds of the same age and treated with the same vaccines should be
kept in a pen.
7. A sound vaccination and flock health program should be implemented. A
strict schedule should be followed.
8. Activities that will cause stress to the birds should be minimized.
9. Buildings and equipment should be thoroughly cleaned after each use. If
possible, do not use newly vacated building for several days.
10. Dead birds should be properly disposed. Also, used vaccine vials and other
used disposable materials should be put in the proper place.
11. As much as possible, only flock men should get into the broiler houses.
Visitors, delivery trucks or pets like dogs and cats, should stay off from the
production area.
12. Buildings must be constructed such that wild birds cannot enter.

38
 Information Sheet 2.5.2
Isolation and quarantine procedure

Isolation
Isolation is used to help prevent the spread of disease. Confinement is the
main way to isolate and separate your birds. Many people worry that isolating
their birds will be difficult. Isolation is when a bird(s) is separated away from the
rest of the flock. It is simple and can be accomplished several ways. The simplest
form of isolation is to place the bird(s) in a plastic carrier. You can also isolate
birds by putting them in a separate pasture. Make sure that the isolated
birds are not close enough to sneeze or cough through the fence onto other birds.
The whole purpose of placing the sick bird in its own pasture is so that it cannot
make contact with the rest of the flock, potentially causing disease in the rest of
the flock. You may need to create an additional barrier (a strand of electric or
temporary fence) if the pastures share a side of fence. The most important
benefit to isolating sick birds is protecting the rest of your flock from
disease. Remember, a healthy flock = a healthy income!
If you own several birds, they need to be separated into flocks according
to age (younger flock vs. older flock), especially if multiple flocks are to be kept
on the same farm. Older birds will pick at the younger birds, often causing
injury. NEVER run a mixed species flock. By mixing species, disease control can
be extremely difficult. Confinement is the best way to isolate your birds. Design
a type(s) of confinement that fits the needs of your facility.
Isolating your flock is considered being a good neighbor. If you live near a
commercial operation, many commercial operators are worried about your small
flock making their flocks sick. Birds do not understand property lines and can
be a nuisance if they travel onto your neighbor's property. Physical barriers
(trees, fencing, gates, and walls) can help keep your birds from traveling off the
property

39
 How to Isolate Birds?
1. Select an ideal location on your farm. The location
should be of easy access to you as a caretaker but restrict
visitors from the area. An easy way to accomplish this is to
consider building a "barrier fence" around your birds.
2. Before setting up a housing area, consider that each
bird should have 3 to 3 1/2 feet of floor space. Spacing will vary
depending on the type of bird you decide to raise. When
planning a layout, keep in mind of future expansion should you
decide to increase the size of your flock.
3. Determine how you will separate multiple flocks within
your facility. Do you want to put up a fence within the
confinement area creating separate run areas? Build another
confinement area?

Select building material needed for housing. Items and materials often used
for housing may include (but are not limited to) dog crates, chicken coops,
chicken wire, T-posts, and plywood.
Many supplies can be found at local hardware, lumber, or farm stores. When
building your confinement area, it is important to consider that birds have access
to shelter which protects them from bad weather. It is also a good idea to cover
the top of the enclosure so that birds do not escape and other animals cannot
enter.
How to quarantine new chickens?

I'm sure by now you've heard to quarantine new chickens before adding them
to your existing flock, but what does that mean? How do you quarantine a
chicken? Well, it's not unlike the stuff we've been doing with ourselves lately!
lol You need to keep them away from the other chickens for a few weeks to
make sure they don't have anything contagious.

Why quarantine chickens?

There are many diseases and parasites that chickens can have that aren't always
visible immediately. Plus if you bought your new chickens at a poultry swap or
farmers auction you have no way of knowing what they were exposed to at their
previous home, or while out in public.

Because of the uncertainty of them being infected with anything, they'll need
quarantined to protect your flock...and to give you time to get them healthy
before moving them into the chicken coop.

Luckily the quarantine area doesn't have to be anything elaborate. A simple

dog crate or large pet carrier will often do, or even a small bathroom that's
40
rarely used. If you use a cage make sure it is somewhere the other chickens
can't get to like inside a garage or shed.

You'll can use a small coop if it's far enough away from your current flock of
chickens.

How long do chickens need quarantined?

Treat your new chickens as if they have some type of illness that is contagious
like coccidiosis or avian influenza, and isolate them away from the rest of the
flock for a minimum of 2 weeks. Longer if they do end up being sick!

With a perfect set up you'd want to keep the new birds in quarantine for at least
a month, but that's not always feasible. 2 weeks is the minimum time that I'm
comfortable with, but many chicken keepers have longer quarantine times they
prefer.

Many different diseases can lay dormant in a chicken’s system and be either
triggered by the stress of moving, or just be something your chickens have never
been exposed to yet.

Even though you are keeping them separate for a time, your old flock may still
contract something that the new chickens are a carrier of. You'll have to observe
your whole combined flock carefully for signs of illness in the weeks after they
officially meet the new chickens.

How far away to quarantine new chickens?

Leave lots and lots of distance between the flocks to prevent anything
contagious getting from one flock to the other.

Many chicken diseases are airborne so you don't want there to be any contact
between the original flock and the new chickens.

Do not use a cage in the same coop with your current flock.
Do not let them free range in the same areas at the same or even different times.
Do not keep them on different sides of the same fence so they can see each other.
Do not let them within several yards of each other.

It's in both new arrival/purchased and current chickens is best to quarantine

until you are certain they don't have any diseases or parasites. There are lots of
people who don't quarantine and it ends up just fine, and there are other
situations where whole flocks were wiped out by an illness a new chicken
brought in. Quarantine is essential to the health of chickens.

41
LEARNING OUTCOME NO. 2.6: PERFORM FLOCK SELECTION

Information Sheet 2.6.1

Flock Selection procedure

Selection of stocks to Raise

Selecting high quality poultry is a skill that is important to egg and meat
production. In the poultry industry, birds are selected and evaluated on their
general health, conformation, body weight, and performance data. The qualities
in a broiler breeder will vary from the layer and pullets but the same criteria is
evaluated. A healthy bird has a rounded body, bright eyes are very alert. The
comb and wattles are bright red, with a smooth, sturdy, and waxy texture. The
feathers around the vent (posterior opening, anus) are clean and dry as the rest
of the body plumage is close-fitting and clean. An unhealthy bird may exhibit
sluggish behavior. The comb may be coarse, discolored, and darker or lighter
than normal. The feathers around the vent may be dirty and damp, and the body
feathers may be disarranged. Body weight of offspring is closely related to the
weight of the broiler’s parents at seven weeks. Evaluate birds at seven weeks and
select only the larger birds. Conformation refers to the general shape of the bird.
The preferred shape of a broiler includes a crescent shaped back, broad breast,
and upright head. A bird with poor conformation has a wedge-shaped body,
hunched back, crooked breasts, backs, and legs.

The figure below is the parts of a chicken

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Factors that can be used as guide in the selection of the strain to raise:
1. Performance. The production of more meat from the best available inputs
applied should be the primary consideration in the broiler business. The
performance of the birds, however, is determined by the management
practices and the genetic make-up of the animals.

2. Adaptability and Availability of Stocks. The birds should be adapted to

the local conditions to perform efficiently. They should have a good
resistance to diseases and parasites. For a starter, a popular strain raised
in the community should be selected as it is an indication of the bird’s
good performance under existing farm conditions.
Avoid using rare strain. It would be easy to find replacements
when using a readily available strain.
3. Reliability of Suppliers. Chicks must be bought from a dependable
hatchery or chick dealer. The delivery of high-quality chicks on scheduled
time is vital in the total management of a broiler farm. Avoid using rare
strain. It would be easy to find replacements when using a readily available
strain.

Some Other Points

1. Appetite equals rate of growth – A bird’s body grows according to the inputs
it receives. Thus, a bird that eats larger quantities of food will grow faster than a
bird that eats smaller quantities of the same food. All other factors being equal,
individual birds that show strong appetites should be given consideration when
choosing breeding stock.
2. Protein equals rate of growth – Just as the amount of food consumed affects
the rate at which a bird grows, so does the quality of the feed provided. Higher
protein diets, up to 30% protein, are to be preferred for birds that have access to
range and which are expected to grow at significant or reasonable rates. Low
protein diets, 16% protein and lower, can reduce the rate of growth by as much
as 50% and cause adult size to less than the genetic potential – not to mention
that lower protein diets often cost more money in the long run, as the birds will
often eat more total pounds of feed for pounds gained.
3. Wide feathers – Birds with wide feathers grow at a faster rate than birds with
narrow feathers. This has largely to due with the fact that narrow feathers allow
more body heat to escape and thus less of the food consumed goes into growth.
Birds with narrow feathers can be identified at an early age, as they are apt to
be slow to grow back feathers for the first 6 weeks of life.
4. Mortality – Extremely slow or excessively fast maturing chicks tend to suffer
higher mortality than chicks which grow at a “normal” rate. Excessively fast
maturing poultry have thinner gastro-intestinal tracts, which allow for faster

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nutrient uptake. But the thinness of these tracts can also make for proneness to
intestinal blowouts and infections.
5. Size – Mature size and rate of growth are not positively correlated. In the
Buckeye study the largest male produced weighed 9.5 pounds at one year of age.
This same male weighed only 5.13 pounds at 16 weeks of age while others
reached as much as 6.0 pounds by the same age. Both mature size and rate of
growth are important considerations for potential breeding stock.

The success and profit in the poultry farming depends on good genetic stock
and their sound and efficient management. Therefore, great care should be
given in the selection of the right type of chicken, with regard to local
conditions, the need of the market and the performance of layers with respect
to important economic characters like egg production, feed conversion,
mortality etc.

Information Sheet 2.6.2

Records on Brooding and Growing Chicks

Types of Broiler Farm Records:

• Inventory Record – it reflects the total number of stocks at the start and
at the closing of each growing cycle. Data includes date, no. birds, and
remarks
• Feed Consumption Record – it reflects the daily, weekly, monthly and
total feed consumed per growing cycle. Data includes date, no. of birds,
no. feed consumed, average wt. of bird per day, wt. gain per day, remarks
• Mortality Record – it reflects the number of dead birds in daily, weekly
and per growing cycle. Data includes the date, batch no., age, sex, cause
of death, estimated value, remarks.
• Sales Record – it reflects the total sales in kilograms and its total value
after each growing cycle. Data includes date, no. of head, total wt., price
per kilo, remarks.
• Feed Conversion Record – it reflects daily or weekly gain in weight as
compared with the daily or weekly feed consumed.
• Health/Medication Record – it reflects the kind and quantity of biologics
and other drugs used per cycle with their corresponding costs. Data
includes type of chicken, stage of growth/age, name of disease, medicine
administered, date of administration, reactions, remarks. ###

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