Brooding to Maximize Genetic Potential

Table of Contents

1. Pre-Placement
2. Barn Set Up
3. Poult Placement
4. Post Placement

Pre-Placement

1. Yes / No. One age of poultry.
2. Yes / No. One species of poultry.
3. Yes / No. Other poultry facilities in your vicinity.
4. Yes / No. Brooder barn cleaned, washed, disinfected.
5. Yes / No. Manure removed from farm.
6. Yes / No. Rodent program.
7. Yes / No. Bio-security program.
8. Yes / No. Barn wild-bird-proofed.
9. Yes / No. Log- or sign-in book.
10. Yes / No. Program to control insects.

Barn Set Up

1. Yes / No. Foot bath/disinfectant at entrance.
2. Yes / No. Waterlines super chlorinated and flushed.
3. Yes / No. Shavings for bedding.
4. Yes / No. Single brooder stoves/rings.
5. Yes / No. Brooder ring 12 ft. in diameter.
6. Yes / No. Barn pre-heated 24-48 hrs. prior to poults.
7. Yes / No. Brooder stove temperature measured (95-102ºF).
8. Yes / No. Hospital ring.
9. Yes / No. Drinkers – 80-100 poults/drinker.
   • Yes / No. 1 linear inch of space/poult.
10. Yes / No. Additional drinker for first 3 days.
11. Yes / No. Feed space 1-1.5 linear inch/poult.
12. Yes / No. Automatic feed lines used.
13. Yes / No. Additional feed trays available (egg trays).
14. Yes / No. Light intensity @ 60-70 lux and dimmable.
15. Yes / No. Incandescent bulbs used.

Poult Placement

1. Yes / No. Poults placed in one day.
2. Yes / No. Poults from a single breeder flock.
3. Yes / No. Poult placement above 10,000 poults.
4. Yes / No. 275-300 poults per brooder ring/stove.
5. Yes / No. Poults placed before 2 p.m.
6. Yes / No. Post hatch supplement used.
7. Yes / No. Additional labour for placement and brooding.
8. Yes / No. Grit provided.
9. Yes / No. Poults beaks trimmed.
10. Yes / No. Poults spur and toes treated.
11. Yes / No. Hatchery infection used.
12. Yes / No. Poult delivery distance.

Post Placement

1. Yes / No. Feed or water medication used.
2. Yes / No. Feed top dressed more than 2 times daily.
3. Yes / No. Feed intake measured.
4. Yes / No. Drinkers dumped 2 times (min) daily.
5. Yes / No. Drinkers washed daily.
6. Yes / No. Water lines flushed daily.
7. Yes / No. Water consumption recorded daily.
8. Yes / No. Water chlorinated and levels recorded.
9. Yes / No. High low temp recorded daily.
10. Yes / No. Static pressure ventilation system used.
11. Yes / No. Air movement provided.
12. Yes / No. Circulation fans used.
13. Yes / No. Mortality picked up and recorded daily.
14. Yes / No. Poults given more space gradually.