WESTERN BUREAU:
THE RECENT flood rains, which devastated sections of the island, has reportedly done substantial damage to broiler production islandwide, especially in the high producing areas of St. Catherine and Clarendon.As a result of the damage, chicken farmers are now rallying to bring production back on stream and base on current requests for baby chicks, it is predicted that in the next few months, production will rise well over the pre-May flood levels.
The short turn, quick cash nature of broiler production has influenced some new people into chicken rearing since the May floods. With this in mind, Kingston Hatcheries' information sheets on growing chicken have been timely in assisting, especially new broiler farmers, in the proper care and management of the stages of broiler meat production.
HOW TO START YOUR CHICK RIGHT:
Prepare chicken house well before chicks arrive by cleaning out old litter, disinfecting walls, wire mesh and putting in new litter to a depth of four inches. Dry Bagasse, wood shavings, sawdust, or rice hulls will do very well. Newspaper should be placed over the litter for the first five days so as to prevent the chicks from eating the litter before they learn to eat the feed.
Bag around the house to a height of three or four feet to cut down on drafts. Set up circular brooding rings. These should be at least 15 inches high and 71/2 feet across for 500 chicks. They can be made from metal sheeting or by covering a wire frame with bags.
A temperature of 95 degrees F is needed at the start to be reduced by 5 degrees F each week. Heating may be from heat lamps, or propane gas brooders. If lamps are used, a red light should be used instead of the more common white light. If the chicks stay close to the heat source, it is an indication that the temperature is too low. However, if on the other hand, they move away [from the brooder], the temperature is too high.
One gallon of water per 100 chicks is recommended. Be sure to remove damp litter or newspaper. Feed may be put on filler flats until the chicks learn to eat, at which time they can go on to the hanging type tube feeders, which would be lowered to the floor at this stage.
Remove the brooder rings at 12 - 14 days and get the chicks to start drinking from the 8-inch automatic 'waterers' or 2 - 3 gallon founts.
With regards to feeding, it is recommended that the manufacturers' directive be followed. Purchase no more than one week's supply of feed at any given time.
Store feed in a dry area to which the birds have no access.
Keep 'waterers' clean and filled with cool water.
Source: Kingston Hatcheries
