5 Easy tips to prevent disease in broilers

5 Easy tips to prevent diseases in broilers

Hygiene

• A hygiene program is fundamental to successful broiler production. Following control and preventive measure should be adopted for healthy broiler production.
• Start with disease-free chicks.
• Vaccinate chicks against Marek’s disease at the hatchery.
• Use effective drugs in the feed, or a vaccination program to prevent coccidiosis.
• Keep feed free from aflatoxins.
• Do not allow visitors or attendants inside the broiler house unless they follow biosecurity protocols which requires (but not limited to) wearing disinfected boots and clean clothing.

When there are several age groups on the farm, always care for the youngest birds first while performing daily routine works. Rework built-up litter. When built-up litter is used, all caked and wet litter should be removed and replaced with fresh, clean litter before chicks arrive. Cover floor with clean litter at least 3 inches deep after each clean out, Wood shavings, rice hulls, straws cut into small pieces are suitable litter materials.

Poultry House (pc: veterinarydaily)

For keeping good hygienic condition in broiler housing following management practices need to be followed:


1. Poultry House Temperature

Notation: F= Temperature in Fahrenheit 

• On the first week 95 F is quite comfortable. This may be reduced at the rate of 5F weekly until 7F is reached on the sixth week.
• When chicks circle, wide, it is too hot. If they tend to crowd, under the hover it is too cool. In either case, adjustment is needed immediately.

2. Ventilation of Broiler house

• The main functions of ventilation are to maintain Oxygen, keep CO2 at low level, remove dust or moisture and ammonia from the house and maintain required temperature.
• Air movement requirements are best determined by observing bird comfort, litter condition, and odor build up. If necessary, exhaust fan may be used.

3. Lighting for Broilers

• Use of night lights, about 15 watts to each 200 square feet of floor area during early growing period.
• Growing chicks in semi-darkness by using red bulb keeps the chicks quiet, prevents cannibalism, and may have a slight effect on feed efficiency. Most broiler growers provide light in the brooder 24 hours a day throughout the entire growing period.
• One 60 watt bulb for each 200 square feet of floor space.

4. Floor space requirement

• Broilers require from 0.8 to 1.0 square of floor space per bird.

5. Debeaking

• In addition to preventing cannibalism, debeaking usually lessens mash feed wastage. 
• Electric debeakers are now available and chicks should be debeaked when they are only one day old.