There have been many practices that have been done over the years that farmers adopted and now believe that these practices have made their enterprises successful. Quite a few of them are from ages ago when I was growing up and chickens took anything from 8-10 weeks to get to 1.8kg. The bird has changed significantly and what worked in 1988 cannot be taken as what will work in 2024 due to advances, not only in technology, but knowledge by the farming community.
I want to explore some of these myths and hope that after getting a clearer perspective of the reason why I am calling them myths, farmers who still practise them will be encouraged to adopt newer methods and always question what they are asked to do including their practices. Everything one does for their poultry must make sense and provide tangible benefits in productivity which in broilers is efficient growth within target days and mortality.
- Myth: Preparation of the brooding area can be done on the day of collection of the birds especially during the hot season, with preheating starting in the morning prior to collection. This one also goes hand in hand with the belief that there is no need to provide heating at all when it is hot.
Correct Action: This is a big disadvantage for the birds as they will come into a cold brooding area since it takes at least 24 hours of constant heat provision in an enclosed space to create the required 320C-330C Celsius temperature required directly on the floor. The day-old chicks require a room with the correct temperature for them to thrive from the beginning. Farmers must always ensure preheating is done prior to collection; it is part of the preparation for the birds. In winter it should be done for 48 hours to cater for the very cold weather, while summer it is done for 24 hours. During the hot season, heating is provided albeit at a reduced level since the environmental temperatures will be high. The critical place that needs to be kept warm is the floor as the birds get chilled from stepping or sleeping on this directly. I recommend that farmers always check the birds’ environment and especially their behaviour with regards to temperature management. Cold feet when placed on the arm or cheek mean the birds are stepping on a clod floor and must be rectified by providing heat, regardless of the season.
- Myth: Use of brown sugar in water as well as warming the water for the chicks at placing is said to give them a good start.
Correct Action: one of the main aims at placing day old chicks is to minimise stress on the birds as they are transferred from the hatchery to the poultry shed. The product recommended for use is the Inovet stress pack which has a mixture of vitamins and minerals, all of which are essential for stress relief. Cool water is best for the chicks to drink, and there’s no need to warm it up for them as they will drink less when it is warmed up. Sugar, on the other hand, does not contain vitamins and minerals, as it is made of carbohydrate and will not do anything to relieve stress. The best in this case, to minimise stress, is to organise chick collection for the earliest possible time. Farmers are encouraged to use appropriate vehicles (not too closed and certainly not open as too much wind will affect the chicks) to transport and deliver chicks immediately after collection into a well-prepared brooding area which has feed and water ready for them to start eating.
- Myth: Chicks must be given water first then feed is introduced after about 1 to 2 hours after the chicks have been placed.
Correct position: Chicks coming from the hatchery must be allowed to go to feed or water as they arrive in the well-prepared brooding area. Some chicks may want to drink water first while other want to eat feed. One of the most critical requirements is for chicks to access feed as soon as possible once placed in the brooding area. A chick is considered to have successfully accessed feed when the farmer finds both feed and water (a porridge/soft consistency) in the crop, the small sac just above the breast area. Accessing only water compromises the chick’s desire for feed. The target for full crops, on examination after 24 hours, is 95% and this can only be achieved when chicks have both feed and water as well as conducive environmental conditions in the brooding area. Any delays in accessing feed by the chicks will result in poor uniformity and growth within the flock.
- Myth: One can determine the growth of their birds using visual assessment only and can tell whether they are growing in this manner.
Correct action: When one is keen to practice good farming practices, it is important to have the right tools for the projects. One of the most important tools is the scale, one which weighs up to 5kg maximum. This will be used to weigh the birds from day zero (at placing) and every week thereafter. These intervals are at 7; 14; 21; 28; 35 days until they reach slaughter or target live weight. The farmer is encouraged to assess their performance against the breed standards and in so doing will ensure any deviations are dealt with promptly rather than wait until it may be too late for corrective action to be taken.
- Myth: Broilers are easy money and one can make a quick profit with this project.
Correct position: While it may be true that one can make a quick profit with broilers, the reality is that it takes good agricultural practice (GAP) which includes attention to detail; ensuring the birds get the best in terms of the recommended environment, biosecurity, feed, and water all contribute to the performance of the birds. Failure to provide a suitable environment will lead to poor performance and resultant losses. Failure to adhere to recommended biosecurity measures including vaccinations against diseases such as Newcastle Disease can result in losses of whole sheds. Failure to achieve target weights as well as low mortality (less than 3%) will lead to loss in income as productivity becomes compromised.
- Myth: There is no harm in mixing different ages or even different types of birds on the same premises, the broilers will still thrive and grow well.
Correct position: Multi-age sites where there are several ages of broilers at the same site, at times in a partitioned shed where one section is taken as a brooder and the rest are the rearing sections is a recipe for disaster. It may not strike immediately but farmers can rest assured that with the buildup of micro-organisms, i.e. bacteria, viruses which will thrive due to inadequate cleaning out of the sheds will create huge challenges for the broilers on the premises. The main issues will be poor growth, characterised by failure to achieve target weights at the set weekly targets, as well as higher than normal mortality.
- Myth: Use of river sand as bedding and in some cases, it has been recommended as good for feeding the broilers, and the most astonishing one for me was that it needed to be cooked prior to using as feed.
Correct position: Broilers grow because of eating good quality feed. Use of river sand as bedding is counterproductive as the chicks will start eating the sand as it resembles the starter crumbles resulting in the chicks filling up on sand which has no nutritive value. The purpose of bedding is to provide a cushion and warmth for the birds as they are easily affected by the cold entering via their feet and when they lie on the floor. River sand does not provide warmth or the cushioning for the birds’ feet and is not recommended. The feed supplied by Capital Foods has adequate nutrition for the birds to grow provided all other growing conditions are favourable for the birds. Bedding options which include wood shavings, wheat straw, veld grass are some of what is available and will serve the farmer in a better manner than river sand.
These are just a few of the many beliefs that farmers have and practise in a bid to save money while expecting to produce better. Perhaps you have heard or are practicing some of these “myths”, I would be interested in knowing them so we can assist each other to demystify them and follow best practices.
I hope when you are growing your chickens you will stop to analyse not only the practicality but the reason behind the practices and ensure whatever you are doing will work for increasing productivity of the project. Our aim is to help you grow your broilers using the best practices, and as a result making your project profitable.
Contact a Capital Foods customer support person on +263 772 133 272/4 or customercare@capitalfoods.co.zw