Nuray Integrated Farm

26/03/2022

WHENEVER THINKING OF POULTRY FARMING, SEVEN THINGS YOU MUST NEED TO KNOW:

1. Market research

It is very important to critically look at the demand that needs to be met. Is there high demand for table eggs, out grower chicken or broiler meat? Most start-up farmers go by what a friend or relative or neighbouring farmer is doing and hope to reap the benefits.

It is important that you take your time to talk to clients or potential customers and listen to them. Do a survey on restaurants, hotels, open air or takeaway eateries, supermarkets and delis and collect as much data as possible.

Ask questions about seasonal trends of products that you intend to bring into the market. Sometimes your assumptions may not match your survey results or outcome, so be ready to change your original plans and make new decisions.

2. Farm location

A poultry farm can be located on any dry land anywhere in the country as it is not dependent on any weather patterns. However, the ideal location would be outskirts of urban or peri-urban cities where there is ready market for both meat and eggs. Construct your farm where there is access to all weather road, away from riparian land that experience occasional flooding and landslide.

3. Housing system

The most common housing system in this country is deep litter, where the entire floor is covered by wood shaving and the other equipment like nest boxes, feeders and drinkers are centrally located. It is best suited for all types of birds and conforms to animal welfare requirement.

The free-range type is common for Sasso chicken with a bit of housing at night and scavenging in an open enclosure. In organic farming, the chickens are most of the time on free range scavenging and are on restricted commercial feed with no use of antibiotics and any additive.

4. Demand for building

The most ideal house in this region must be open sided rectangular shaped structure, with roof made of iron sheet or locally available waterproof material. The long side of the house must be on an East-west orientation to reduce direct sunlight on the chicks.

Side walls should be 1-2 feet high made of bricks, iron sheet or block and the rest covered by wire mesh and chicken netting at 6-7 feet high.

5. Choice of breed and supplier

If you want to keep commercial layers, choose type of breed which is hardy with low mortality rate, fast growth rates, high peak production, long peak period and good persistence (like isa brown). If it is for both meat and egg production, look for a breed of high feed conversion efficiency, and of good tasty and tender quality meat (like Noiler).

6. Optimal health protection

Threats to your flock will include but not limited to protozoal and parasitic diseases, bacteria, yeast and mold and viral infections. You will need good rearing conditions that include proper brooding, temperature control, ventilation and humidity as well as quality water and adequate feed supply all the time.

Biosecurity is pivotal to your success; the premises must be highly sanitised within and around the site with limited flock visits to only authorised personnel. Vaccination schedule must be followed to the letter and must be chosen based on efficacy and administered professionally.

7. Record keeping

Anything that cannot be counted cannot be measured. Most farmers ignore the value of good record keeping. Feed being the highest production cost in poultry production, means that it must be weighed to the level of grammes fed/bird/day, and weight sampling must be done on weekly basis to establish production efficiency.

26/02/2022

26/07/2021

STOP WET LITTER IN BROILER HOUSES

To obtain maximum broiler production potential, management of the poultry house environment is essential. An important measure of a suitable environment is proper maintenance of poultry litter.

Litter is defined as excreted manure mixed with bedding material.

Both heating and ventilation systems must be continually monitored to ensure that the moisture content of the litter is controlled and the litter remains friable. If the moisture content becomes elevated and the litter is allowed to become "sealed," then the birds are being grown on a continually damp, slippery and sticky surface. This sealed litter is often referred to as being "caked." In this condition, the litter is simply saturated with water and the water is unable to escape. A severe litter moisture problem can result if large areas of the house floor surface are caked. It is more common, however, to find localized areas of caking near leaky watering cups, ni***es, troughs or roofs. The litter in these house locations must be continually stirred, raked or replaced to prevent the problem from becoming worse.

If litter is not kept at an acceptable level, very high bacterial loads and unsanitary growing conditions may result producing odors (including ammonia), insect problems (particularly flies), soiled feathers, footpad lesions and breast bruises or blisters.

Expect carcass downgrading at the slaughter house when birds are reared under such poor conditions. In a well-managed broiler house, litter moisture normally averages between 25 to 35 percent.

Litter that is managed correctly with the moisture content kept within the acceptable range can save a farmer from disease problems and antibiotics burden.

caked litter must be removed between flocks and replaced with new litter.

There are several causes of wet litter. A number of control measures can help prevent wet litter problems.

WATERY DROPPINGS:
Diarrhea can be caused by nutrition and/or infectious agents. High intake of the minerals potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfate or chloride can lead to excessive water consumption and wet droppings. If a wet litter problem occurs, feed levels of sodium and chloride (salt) should be determined. It is possible that a feed mixing error has occurred, resulting in an excess of salt in the diet. The water should be checked periodically for mineral concentrations, especially for sulfate and magnesium. Acidification of water plays an important role in keeping bacteria at bay !
Poor quality dietary fat or rancid fat can lead to wet f***l droppings. Likewise, using poor quality feed ingredients such as poorly dried maize, caked bran, rotten silver fish etc....will often result in excessively wet droppings.

To control wet droppings associated with some feed ingredients, it is usually necessary to use litter material that is good at absorption of water from litter for example coffee husks or rice husks.

Moldy Feed:
If broilers are provided moldy feed ingredients, consumption of mycotoxins may cause the droppings to be excessively wet. Mycotoxins are known to irritate the digestive tract and to cause marked pathological changes in the kidneys. Ochratoxin, Oosporin and Citrinin are mycotoxins known to cause these changes. Such changes can lead to increased water consumption and wet droppings. To prevent mycotoxins from becoming a problem, good quality feed ingredients must be used in both layer and broiler diets. Add sangromix active D in feed always because it has an ability to stop mycotoxins effect in the intestines.

Feed handling equipment must be cleaned and disinfected periodically. Caked and moldy feed lodged in equipment like feeders, serving plates, silos can contaminate feed as it passes through the equipment; thus any caked feed must be routinely removed.

Disease:
Numerous diseases cause poultry to excrete wet droppings. This effect may be primary where an infectious agent directly damages the alimentary canal resulting in diarrhea. Secondary effects may occur where birds go off feed but maintain water consumption, resulting in a higher moisture content of the droppings.

Coccidia infections result in direct damage to the gut and will result in wet droppings. Control of coccidiosis through improving litter hygiene, maintaining the litter dry, stopping feed spillage, and avoid pouring water on the floor as well as improving water quality.

if not controlled, coccidial infection may lead to necrotic enteritis and wet litter.

Bacterial infections caused by Escherichia coli, will also result in wet litter. In addition, several viruses phave been implicated as causative agents of diarrhea. Viruses associated with malabsorption of nutrients have an adverse effect on the consistency of the bird's droppings.
We should know that water quality is only determined is we know the bacteria load and virus load in the water together with PH of water.
Adding an acidifier to the water helps to reduce bacteria burden.

Climate Control and Equipment Failure:
Farmers have little or no control over the ambient temperature and humidity outside the poultry house. Nevertheless, temperature and humidity largely influence water consumption and impact litter quality. For example, high temperatures within a broiler house lead to increased water consumption and wet litter. When high humidity accompanies high temperatures the problem can become so severe that it becomes very difficult to properly maintain the litter in a dry and friable condition.

Leaking watering systems, when not maintained in good working order, can cause wet litter problems. The in-line water pressure must be just enough to stop water leaking.
Roofs should be leak-free and ventilation systems should move an adequate amount of air to keep litter moisture levels in the proper range.

Cleaning water pipes and drinkers. Flushing in broiler houses should be done every after 2 weeks to avoid bacteria build up in the pipes which may eventually cause disease and diarrhea.

Bedding Type
There are a limited number of bedding materials that can be used in broiler houses. Any material that is in contact with the birds must be nontoxic, and able to absorb water and subsequently release the moisture to the atmosphere. The material must be readily available in sufficient quantities. Most importantly, it must be economical. You can chose coffee husks or rice husks

Quality soft wood shavings are also used as bedding material but you should avoid saw dust as it causes irritation and respiratory problems.

*Conclusion*
Maintaining moisture levels of poultry house litter in the proper range is essential if the production potential of the flock is to be realized. To accomplish this, management practices must ensure that high quality feed is provided to the flock, disease organisms are not permitted to enter the premises, and adequate ventilation systems and quality bedding material are used.
Do not allow caked litter in a poultry house at all as this is the number 1 cause of coccidiosis, cough and flu and re****ed growth.

21/07/2021

BASICS OF BIO SECURITY IN A POULTRY FARM.

Biosecurity refers to procedures used to prevent the introduction and spread of disease-causing organisms in poultry flocks. Because of the concentration in size and location of poultry flocks in current commercial production operations and the inherent disease risks associated with this type of production, it is imperative that poultry producers practice daily biosecurity measures.

Developing and practicing daily biosecurity procedures as best management practices on poultry farms will reduce the possibility of introducing infectious diseases such as gumboro, infectious choryza, and Newcastle as well as many others.

poultry farmers should be familiar with the specifics of their farms' biosecurity protocols and work closely with poultry vets to implement those programs. Before implementing biosecurity programs, farmers should check with their qualified vets to be sure the measures taken are consistent and compatible with their daily farm activities.

How Microorganisms Spread
The primary method of spreading disease causing microorganisms between poultry flocks is the use of contaminated equipment or exposure to contaminated clothing and footwear of humans. Infected animals, such as wild birds and rodents, can also be a source of disease for poultry flocks. Disease causing viruses and bacteria can be transported from one flock to another on bird transporting equipment, trucks, tractors and other farm equipment as well as egg trays and poultry crates. Humans and animals are also important ways of transporting disease causing organisms. Disease causing microbes have been found on human’s clothes, shoes, skin, and hair. As a result, many hatcheries and breeder facilities utilize shower in and shower out protocols as part of their biosecurity programs.

Animals such as dogs, cats, mice, rats and free flying birds are also known to be carriers of disease organisms. Insects such as flies, beetles, and mosquitoes are well known to be carriers of disease microbes as well. Another, but less risky form of transmission is through the air.

The following *steps* are a summarization of standard measures that poultry producers may use on their farms to increase the biosecurity of their flocks:

1. *Keep Visitors to a Minimum*

Human transportation of microorganisms is one of the more serious threats to biosecurity. Restriction of unnecessary human traffic is a major component of a sound program. Farmers should restrict visitors and make sure that any visitor to their farm has a good reason to be there. Farmers should provide protective covering such as boots, coveralls, and headgear to any visitors that work with, or have had recent contact with poultry. This would include friends, neighbors, relatives, equipment and utility service personnel. Visitors should never enter poultry houses unless approved by the farm management. Traffic through poultry houses should always flow from younger to older birds. One useful measure is keeping records of visitors that have been on the farm. If a problem arises, knowing who was there will help in limiting additional flock infections. Farmers may post signs at the entrance to the farm indicating that entry to the farm and facilities is restricted. Poultry breeders and vets work to educate members of the local community of the risks to their flocks and the need to restrict traffic on their farms. This can be done by attending poultry farmers trainings / meetings and speaking to groups and individuals about this subject. Print an article in the local newspaper about the importance of biosecurity for your farm and others.

2. *Limit Visitations to Other Poultry Farms*

Poultry farmers should refrain from visiting other poultry operations unless absolutely necessary. When-ever it is necessary to visit another farm, farmers should be sure to exercise additional precautions such as showering and changing clothes before arriving and washing any vehicle before entering a farm. It will be very important for growers to wear protective clothing including boots, coveralls and headgear and to clean and disinfect all clothing and equipment before returning to their facilities. Showering and changing into clean clothes will also be necessary.

2. *Keep All Animals Out of Poultry Houses*

Animals can be carriers of poultry disease causing organisms. Farmers should not allow pets such as dogs, cats or other animals in their houses. Some growers will allow their dogs to walk the houses with them, but this is risky because the dogs may have been exposed to other animals or birds that have been contaminated with disease organisms. Poultry houses should be kept as closed as possible to prevent wild birds from getting inside. Wild birds utilizing the feeders and defecating in the houses can be a source of diseases.

*Practice Sound Rodent and Pest Control Programs*

Rats, mites, mice, and insects such as flies and darkling beetles can carry and spread microorganisms. Growers should consult with their poultry company and practice effective rodent and insect control programs. Eliminating or reducing as many of these pests as possible will reduce the risk of contracting or spreading a disease.

*Avoid Contact with Non-Commercial Poultry or local birds or Wild Birds*

Poultry growers should avoid all contact with non-commercial sources of poultry including backyard flocks, fanciers, fairs, poultry shows, and markets. These types of poultry are seldom fully vaccinated for the major poultry diseases and they are often exposed to many types and flocks of birds. Non-commercial birds represent extremely high-risk contacts. Employees should not be allowed to own their own poultry and neighbors with backyard flocks should be informed of the importance of getting sick or unhealthy birds to a diagnostic lab as soon as possible. Farmers should also avoid wild birds such as ducks, geese and turkeys. Farmers with farm ponds should be particularly concerned with the potential of carrying droppings from wild birds around ponds into their poultry houses. Wild birds are well known to be carriers of the avian influenza virus as well as other poultry diseases. Hunters should be sure they take the same biosecurity precautions as if they were visiting another poultry farm (i.e. showering, changing clothes, sanitizing vehicles, etc.). Do not allow any worker at your farm who eats wild birds!

*Inspect Flocks Daily*

Farmers are required to inspect their flocks every day. Mortality should be picked up daily and disposed of in a timely and approved method. Stock-piling mortality and allowing carcasses to decompose before disposal increases the risk of spreading disease via rodents and insects.
Every farm must have an incinerator.
Farmers should report increases in mortality or signs of health problems to their vets or breeder company representative immediately. This is required and will ensure a rapid detection and response should a disease be present.

Farmers should check with their vets before using any vaccines, medications or drug treatments for a flock health problem. Timely reporting of health issues on a farm will not only help restrict additional infections, but will minimize losses to the farmer.

*Maximize the Environment*

Maintaining litter in a relatively dry condition (i.e. 20%-30%) and providing good ventilation will help control microorganism numbers. Wet conditions combined with warm in-house temperatures provide a good growth environment for most disease causing organisms. Good ventilation also helps reduce microorganisms as fresh air entering and leaving the house dilutes microbe populations and removes them from the house. Poor ventilation can result in irritation of the respiratory tract of birds making them more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections.

*Keep Areas Around Houses and Feed Bins Clean*

Keeping grass and weeds cut around poultry houses and removing used equipment or trash is beneficial in keeping rodent and insect populations under control. Thick grass or weeds and old equipment provide refuge and habitat for rats, mice and insect pests that can spread disease. Spilled feed should be cleaned up regularly and not allowed to collect for long periods of time. Spilled feed around the feed bins will attract birds, rats, mice and insects.

*Recognizing Disease Symptoms*

It is important for poultry growers to be aware of signs of disease in their flocks. Early detection of contagious diseases can greatly reduce the impact and spread of that disease to other flocks. Clinical signs associated with the possibility of a disease in a poultry flock are:

Lack of energy and appetite
Decreased egg production
Soft-shelled eggs or misshapen eggs
Swelling of the head, eyes, comb, wattles and hocks
Purple discoloration of the wattles, combs and legs
Nasal discharge
Cough e.t.c

17/07/2021

IMPORTANT FOR POUTRY FARMERS

*Layers vs. Broilers: Which One Should You Choose?*

This is a common question among poultry farmers, especially with a beginner. And sometimes they make wrong decisions due to lack of beginners' guide in poultry farming, which may lead to frustration and regret. So, to avoid such, you have to do some proper research for rearing layers and broilers.
Hyline layer

Examples of these commercial chickens are Hubbard, Shavers, Babcock , Isabrown, and Hyline for layers, while Cornish cross, ROSS 308, and Cobb for broilers, which are trade (or special ) names given to them. In Nigeria, layers, that produce many, large and brown eggs and good body size at end of lay and white broilers with heavy breast meat, long tibia, and shanks are mostly preferred.
Ross 308 broiler

Next, you have to know the differences between layers and broilers for better decision making.

*What is the difference between layers and broilers?*

1.Layers are reared mainly for egg production, while broilers are reared mainly for meat.

2. A layer produce more eggs without growing too much (upon 72 weeks). A broiler yield more meat and hence they grow very fast ( can attain market size at 6-7 weeks)

3. Layers require enough space and adequate lighting, while broilers require conditions to grow fast and low mortality

4. Layers require restricted and calculated feed, while broilers food requirement is rich in protein and vitamins

5. In Layers, recovery from a loss is time and money consuming, while recovery from a loss is easier with broilers because you can easily start another circle of production due to their fast growth rate

6. You can make more profit with few broilers, while you require a larger number of layers to make a profit

You don’t choose layers, or broilers based on your likeness or sentiments, there are several factors you have to consider before making your choice. And again, you have to understand their differences in terms of growth rate, egg production, and resistance to diseases, Market demands, etc to enable you to make an informed decision.

*What are layers and broilers chickens?*

Layers and broilers are chickens bred for commercial egg and meat production respectively. They are also called commercial hybrids or strains rather than pure breeds. These hybrids or strains are usually highly superior to the pure breeds for their egg or meat production. You may determine, from experience, on the best hybrid for your situation.
Layers in Battery cage
The differences above are helpful, but not enough to guide you in making an informed decision on which breed to choose. They are other factors that you have to also consider as earlier stated. These factors include

Marketing
Vaccine and medication
Basic skill requirement
Initial start-up cost
Long term gain

1. Marketing:
Marketing is one of the skills most poultry farmers are lacking. They invest solely in production without investing in marketing. Before you start your production you have to find and locate your target market to avoid being stranded.

Broiler marketing:

Broiler marketing is more intense because they can attain market size between 6- 7 weeks and you have to sell them. They feed on their profit once you refused to sell them at this stage (maximum 8 weeks) because you have to keep feeding them.

Moreover, broilers feed conversion rate decreases with age, so you have to look for customers before starting your production in order to avoid food wastage and loss.
Broilers are known for their fast growth rate

Another way you can market broiler and avoid loss is through meat processing. That is converting your matured broiler to a frozen chicken for storage, if you can afford a deep freezer, in that way you will be safe from continuous feeding and spending.

Moreover, some breed of broilers is more suitable for frozen chicken sales because of their heavy breast meat and weight, obviously, because frozen chickens are sold by weighing. If you do not have a means of storage, then be rest assured the market will not be in your favor most times.
You can as well process your broiler chickens for better sales and storage

However, you can make a ton of cash from just a few broilers, unlike layers. All you need is a good marketing strategy, and you will be smiling to the bank.

Marketing for Layers:
Layers are easier to market than broilers, although, it takes time to get to a marketable size, or to a point of lay. The eggs are the major source of income, and they can be stored up to 3 – 4 weeks without spoiling.

In this case, you will only sell the eggs when you are willing and you will not get desperate about them. Even though you will be feeding the chickens every day, they will be laying more eggs that you get to sell when you find customers that want to buy.

Another bonus is that you will sell the chickens as "old layer", the money realized from the sales is just the icing of the cake.
2. Vaccines and medications:
With broilers, you will spend less money on vaccines and medication. This is because they attain market size within a short period of time leaving no room for disease and pathogens to manifest. Just a few diseases like Newcastle, Gumboro, and Coccidiosis, affect broilers within that short period of time which can be prevented by vaccines.
Chickens' medications

Broilers can attain marketable size between 6-8 weeks, and it is not advisable to keep feeding them after this period because there will be little or no feed conversion –that means they are feeding on their profit and you are running into a loss, and some diseases agents might just be at the corner waiting to register themselves in your flock.

On the other hand, layers require more vaccination and medication because more time ( about 16 – 18 weeks to get to point of lay, and 72 weeks to get to the end of lay) is required to rear them to a point of lay, and as such there will be more health challenges.

You will spend more money on treatment and prevention of diseases, including periodic deworming and debeaking. All these require a lot of money, and anyone that is neglected will have adverse effects on production in general.

Related: Poultry Vaccination Schedule for Layers and Broilers

3. Basic skill requirement:

A beginner or novice can easily rear broilers with fewer casualties, because broilers grow very fast, and can be sold as early as 6 weeks leaving no room for some disease manifestation, which most beginners may not be able to handle without some experience and skills. With layer it is totally different; you cannot rear layers without some basic skills and guidance from an experienced farmer.

Layers are not like broilers that attain marketable size early; they need more time, and with more time come so many challenges, especially health and feed management, which can only be contained by a trained or experienced farmer. It is not advisable for a beginner to start with layers, even if he or she has undergone some training, it is still not enough to handle layers, rather he/she should attaché himself or herself to an experienced farmer.
Chicks in a Brooder: Brooding requires skills

You cannot use layers as a try and error project, because the startup number is always large (100 and above) to enable you to make some profit at least.

If you use a smaller number (like 30-50) of layers, you will make little or no profit. So, in order to secure your investment and avoid mistakes beginners make in poultry farming, you have to equip yourself with the necessary skills and experience.

4. Initial start-up cost:

Generally, poultry farms require large input cost, but the start-up cost for rearing layers is more when compared with that of broilers. In fact, you don’t make any profit till after 18 to 20 weeks.

That is the money for feeds, vaccines, medications, and equipment should be on the ground before purchasing your day-old chicks (DOC). You need to be financially stable to be able to run a Layer farm.
Layer require a high start-up cost

Broiler, on the other hand, requires little start-up costs. You can start with 50 to 100 broilers and sell at 6 to 8 weeks and still make a profit out of it. Much vaccines and medications are not required, although, broiler feed is more costly than layers feed, due to the high protein, carbohydrate and vitamins supplement in it, in order to attain marketable size within a short period of time.

5. Long term revenue:
Layers will not only give you income on a daily basis through the selling of eggs but will also serve as a source for long term revenue through selling the layers when they get to the end of lay- that is when the layers grow old and the rate of their feed consumption is higher than the egg production, you should know it is time to sell them out and start another set of production.
To achieve the same fit of revenue with broilers, you have to have a chain of customers that you will be supplying periodically. Having such customers and satisfying them is not an easy task. You have to rear several sets of broiler within a year and meeting up demand is daunting, although, if you have the manpower you will sell and make more profit within a short time.

The reverse is the case with layers. A set of layers will continue to generate income for more than a year. And sometimes old layers also compete with broilers in the meat market. The demand for layer meat might increase any time, so what do you do with your broiler meat?
This is the reason you have to consider your target customer before rearing broilers. Make sure they will be w***y to buy your broiler at maturity. Also have other sale options like processing them into frozen chickens.- which is a good means of generating a long term revenue.

In Conclusion

Rearing layers or broilers are both profitable business. Making your choice largely depends on the above factors discussed above. It is left for you to determine which breed you can manage effectively and make a profit, along with the pros and cons that will also align with your lifestyle.

For me, I started with a broiler and now layers only. Sometimes I rear broiler seasonally. You see, Your choice will mainly depend on factors that are prevalent at a particular time. As you make your choice, I wish you successful poultry farming.

Posted by: Samuel Ezenwankwo

16/07/2021

THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING CROP FILL IN THE BROODER

Crop fill assessment is one of the measure of determining the comfort of the birds in the brooder.

Crop fill assessment is when a poultry attendant or farmer massages the crop of a chick to determine whether the chicks have familiarized with the feed and water.

Making a crop fill assessment helps us to judge appetite development in the chicks, health and to avoid a compromised growth rate.
It also helps to improve flock growth rate uniformity, and productivity.
With a poor crop fill, farmers experience high mortality, poor growth rate, more small and weak chicks.

How is it done?

You know, when you have just introduced chicks in the brooder, we give them clean water which contains glucose. So they have to go for about an hour without feed, but with good quality water that has glucose.

After than one hour, we then introduce feed, where we spread SUPER STARTER PELLETS On the brooder paper for the chicks to start eating.

After about 3 hours in the brooder, we are supposed to sample out chicks from different points of the brooder, and massage their crops to feel if their crops are filled with any content. We are supposed to pick atleast 10 chicks from different points of the brooder as we record our findings:

📌you may find that the crop is *hard and full* with content that feels like feed on touching. This will mean the chicks have gained access to feed, but cannot access water. This worries!
📌a rounded, full and soft crop signifies that the chicks have been able to locate feed and water do they are okay.
📌in some cases, you may find empty crops meaning no feed, no water!

This exercise should be repeated again when birds have made 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours.

Results from every crop check should be compared with the first results. We should have an improvement.
You must have more crops filled with both feed and water. So, the crops must be soft, full rounded. This means theres feed, and water. This is safe.

Practicing the following measures below will give you more crops filled with feed and water:
🐥 Every stage of birds have their own equipment. Using big drinkers and big feeders leads to empty crops. Birds cannot reach the water on big drinkers and they cannot eat from big feeders so you may have more deaths with empty crops. Use baby drinkers, lower the water lines, touch the ni***es and teach the chicks how to drink from the ni***es, spread adequate feed (SUPER STARTER PELLET) On the brooder paper.
🐥pre heating the brooder helps chicks to find a comfortable environment for them. Litter should be dry and warm otherwise chicks may just become dull in cold environment and refuse to eat.
🐥Replenishing feed and water. Remember you are supposed to put feeds on the brooder paper for the first day, but if you put too much the chicks will just dedicate in the feed. So, put little feed at a time, when they finish it you put another.....like that , like that....
For water, birds may refuse to drink if the water is too warm! I advise that for manual drinkers, farmers replenish the water every after 8 or 9 hours .....so you put new one, or for piped water ( ni**le lines), farmers should let the water floor out of the ni**le pipes every 7 to 8 hours. The same to those using cage brooding. This is done to allow access to new and fresh water.
🐥The quality of light in the brooder will determine whether your birds will be able to see feed or not. You brooder must have a high light intensity enough for the birds to pick feed from the brooder paper always.... otherwise if they cannot see, they won't eat. Avoid spot lighting in brooder.
🐥90% of the brooder floor should be covered with brooder paper to reduce chances of chicks eating litter And to have more space to put feed.
🐥arrangements of feed and water. Put drinkers away from heat source to avoid water warming up, feed should not be far away from water, better to align the feed and water adjacent but in a straight line.
🐥you will need to put more supplementary drinkers than the recommended number, to allow even the weakest chicks to access water.

*Notes*
Full and hard crops are an indicator of constipation on the next day or 2.
Empty crops is an indicator of likely high mortality rate due to failure of the birds to access feed and water!

Don't forget to buy our new chacool brooder for easy brooding 💪💪💪