Avian Production Management

PURPOSE OF BROODING

• Egg type female chicks are received as Day old Chicks (DoC) at the farm and they require additional warmth during early age for atleast two to three weeks
• The thermoregulatory mechanism of a newly hatched chick is not well developed and takes about two weeks for this mechanism to develop fully and maintain homeostasis
• Therefore chicks cannot maintain the body temperature properly for the first few weeks of life; and may be subjected to chilling, if not properly taken care off
• Under these circumstances, artificial brooding is mainly aimed at, providing extra heat or warmth during the first two to three weeks of the chicks life
• This is done to prevent cold shock since the environmental temperature may be lower than the hatcher temperature
• A brooder simulates the care and attention of a mother hen