Basic husbandry for commercial chicken broilers
Learn basic husbandry information for raising commercial broiler chickens.
ISSN 1198-712X, Published October 2013
The tables in this Factsheet provide basic husbandry information for commercial broilers. Proper care and management of birds and their environment result in fewer mortalities and improved production. Additional information on poultry production can be found at Ontario.ca/livestock.
Table 1. Fan Dimensions
| Fan Diameter (in.) | Range of Airflow (CFM) all airflows measured at 0.10 in.static pressure | Average Airflow(CFM) all airflows measured at 0.10 in. static pressure |
|---|---|---|
12 | 1,400 - 1,800 | 1,600 |
14 | 1,900 - 2,200 | 2,050 |
16 | 2,500 - 3,000 | 2,750 |
18 | 3,000 - 5,000 | 3,500 |
20-22 | 5,000 - 7,000 | 4,000 |
24-26 | 5,000 - 7,000 | 6,000 |
36 | 8,000 - 12,000 | 10,000 |
48 | 18,000 - 22,000 | 20,000 |
50 | 19,000 - 27,000 | 23,500 |
CFM = cubic feet per minute
Source: Agricultural fan performance test results from Bio-Environmental Structural Systems (BESS) labs at the University of Illinois.
Table 2. Minimum ventilation rates for broilers
| Age (days) | CFM/bird |
|---|---|
1-7 | 0.094 |
8-14 | 0.25 |
15-21 | 0.35 |
22-28 | 0.49 |
29-35 | 0.55 |
36-42 | 0.69 |
43-49 | 0.79 |
50-56 | 0.89 |
CFM = cubic feet per minute
Adapted from Ross Broiler Manual, 2009.
Values in this Factsheet are in imperial measurements, reflecting common usage in the ventilation industry.
Table 3. Basic Husbandry Guidelines for Broiler Breeders
| Criteria | Brooding | Grow out | Troubleshooting Checklist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Temperature (at bird height) | Day-old: 30°C Two days to 27 days old: Decrease by 1°C every 3 days until 20°C. Balance relative humidity vs. dry bulb temperature when assessing air temperature. | 20°C until slaughter. Balance relative humidity vs. dry bulb temperature when assessing air temperature. | Too high: pasty cloacas, frequent wing spreading/flapping, panting, crowding away from heat source, listless, no peeping Too low: feather ruffling, rigid posture, huddling and piling near heat source, trembling, vocal distress |
| Relative Humidity | 60-70% | Too low: dehydrated, dusty Too high: damp litter, high ammonia | |
| Ventilation | See Table 1 and Table 2. Approximately one air exchange per minute for maximum ventilation. Maximum floor air speed when chicks are young: 0.15 m/sec. | Poor: high ammonia levels, areas caked in litter, uneven distribution of birds throughout pens | |
| Ammonia | Maximum of 25 ppm (parts per million) >10 ppm: damage to lung surface >20 ppm: increased respiratory issues, human eyes affected >50 ppm: reduced growth rate | Too high: higher incidence of breast blisters and respiratory problems, blindness, reduced growth rate | |
| Lighting | Intensity 0-7 days: 30-40 lux (light period), <0.4 lux (dark period) >7 days: 5-10 lux (light period), <0.4 lux (dark period) Duration of darkness 0-7 days: 1 hr >7 days: 4-6 hr Light entering through inlets, fans and doors can disrupt dark period. | Intensity 5-10 lux (light period), <0.4 lux (dark period) Duration of darkness 4-7 hr Light entering through inlets, fans and doors can disrupt dark period. | Intensity too high: cannibalism, flighty, nervous behaviour Intensity too low: poor growth, poor feed conversion Duration of darkness too short: abnormal feeding/drinking behaviour |
| Water | Bell drinkers 6 drinkers/1,000 chicks minimum (40-cm diameter) Nipple drinkers 12 birds/nipple Adjust nipple height accordingly as birds age. Provide additional drinkers when birds are under 4 days of age. | Bell drinkers 8 drinkers/1,000 birds (40-cm diameter) Nipple drinkers <3 kg: 12 birds/nipple >3 kg: 9-10 birds/nipple Disperse so that every bird should be within 2 m of water source. | Not enough drinkers: poor feed intake, poor growth, poor feed conversion |
| Feeders | Paper should cover 25% of brooding area to provide proper feeding area. Spread feed along chick paper to encourage chicks to feed. 1 feeder tray/100 chicks | Pan feeders 45-80 birds/pan Flat chain/auger 2.5 cm/bird (40 birds/m of track) Tube feeders 38-cm diameter (70 birds/tube) | Not enough feeders: poor feed intake, poor growth, poor feed conversion, more starve-outs, more damage from competition among birds |
| Density (floor space) | 31 kg/m2 (2.88 kg/ft2 ) Lower stocking densities recommended during summer months - 38 kg/m2 for better welfare. | Too dense: feather picking, cannibalism, more injuries, more flip-overs, poor carcass quality, lower feed efficiency | |
Adapted from Ross Broiler Manual, 2009.
This Factsheet was written by Al Dam, Poultry Specialist, OMAF, Guelph, and Kathleen Taylor, Poultry Research Technician, OMAF, Guelph.