In the winter, the temperature goes down and the chickens need to be sheltered from extreme cold. One should provide them with heat lamps, a heated waterer, and a heated feeder. Also, one should make sure that they have enough food and water.
Winter management in poultry is important for both broiler farms and backyard poultry owners.
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Winters are good for growth & FCR of poultry
birds. All strains whether Hubbard / Ross / Aviagen
perform well because these birds are from
temperate countries & well adapted to cold climate.
They are developed to perform in cold climate.
Why winters are
good?
Second thing is quality and availability of feed
is quite good. Feed become cheaper because
harvesting season has just completed after
rains. Good quality toxin free cheap feed is
available all around.
Its a time to start new businesses and farmers
should aimed to earn well in this season.
Whatever losses faced in summers and
previous seasons should be compensated in
these days. Do not become lazy in winters.
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Infectious disease outbreaks in winters are quite
dangerous an widespread due to various reasons.
Metabolic & management problems also create
huge setbacks if proper care is not taken. Due to
high production, markets are weak.
Why winters are
bad?
Ranikhet - VVND
Infectious Bronchitis (IB)
ILT in broilers
HPAI & LPAI
CRD
This diseases become very frequent and
causes huge mortality
Metabolic and management problems
takes central place due to reduce
ventilation and improper temperature
management. Mortality during brooding,
high ammonia / dust in sheds and
ascites / sudden death in heavy birds
are responsible for losses.
5. Proper disposal of previous litter
Cleaning of roof and spider webs & dirt
Remove fans & clean them properly
Whitewash of all structures with lime (chuna)
Kachha floor - lime treatment after scrapping upper 6 inch
layer
Pakka floor - wash it properly and spray with 1% Biobuster
(10g per liter water)
Clean the curtains with high pressure water and placed
them on sides
After that fogging/Spray with Sokrena or B904 or with
peracetic acid (cheap and best).
Water pipeline should be cleaned with peracetic acid.
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Cleaning of shed
Before arrival of
chicks
After spray keep farm closed for atleast 2
-3 days or until the arrival of chicks.
12 hours before arrival start preparing
for chicks
Arrangement of heating and its back
should be done in advance.
6. Electricity with all backup
Proper bulbs and lights, keep drinkers feeders ready
Heating source along with backup (temperature of
brooding area should be 30-32 d C)
Never let them free in open farm, always make a brooding
area. Properly place newspaper on litter.
Litter thickness should be 4 inch. Rice husk is best litter.
0.3% EASY BROOD solution (3g per liter water) should be
ready in chick drinkers 1 hour before chicks arrival
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Before arrival - day zero
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
0
EASY BROOD contains all
essential probiotics, yolk
dissolvers, vitamins, amino
acids, glucose & electrolytes.
All water in first 48-72 hours
should have EASY BROOD in it.
Feed should also be spread on
news paper and in chicks trays
(1/100) before arrival of chicks.
7. Temperature maintenance is very necessary in first 12 days
because chicks cannot maintain their temperature.
To maintain temperature consider brooder canopy over false
ceiling. Space per chick?
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Day Zero
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
0
In this system
ventilation is not
hampered much.
Otherwise dust and
ammonia causes sound
problem
Dim the light while placing chicks in brooding area, when chicks
accustomed to environment slowly increase the light.
Give 23hr light (30-40 lux), 1 hour dark can be given from 1st
day without affecting FCR.
20 chick drinkers per 1000 chicks should be present and place at
equal distance. Change water 2 times a day at least.
Air temperature of 30°C/86°F
Litter temperature of 28–30°C/82–86°F
Relative humidity of 60-70%
Recommended values are:
300-400 chicks in
single brooding area
8. Observe chicks - best indicator of temperature is chick's behavior
They should be uniformly distributed (as shown in diagram)
All chicks must be able to eat and drink immediately upon
placement in the house.
The empty boxes should be removed from
the house without delay.
Leave chicks to settle for 1 to 2 hours to
become accustomed to their new
environment.
After this time, make a check to see that all chicks have easy
access to feed and water. Make adjustments to equipment and
temperatures where necessary.
The longer the chicks
remain in the boxes, the
greater the degree of
potential dehydration.
This may result in early
mortality and reduced
growth as indicated by 7-
day and final live weight.
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Day Zero
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
0
Key points Pre-heat the house (30-33 d C)
Ready EASY BROOD solution and feed
Dim the light
Unload and place chicks quickly
Make feed and water available immediately
Leave chicks to settle for 1 to 2 hours
10. When chicks arrived they are hungry, healthy chicks
should eat feed quickly, properly and fill their crops.
Check a sample of birds at 8 and 24 hours after
arrival on the farm to make sure that all the chicks
have found feed and water.
Gently feel each chick’s crop.
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Chick Start Assessment
Day One
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
1
The chick on the left has
a full, rounded crop,
while the chick on the
right has an empty crop.
Target crop fill at 8 hours after delivery is 80% and at 24 hours
after delivery 95–100%.
Crop fill after 24 hours.
Ventilation at this time is equally important as that of
temperature, During day time, if possible open the curtains
or run exhaust fans.
In winters sometimes RH goes down below 50%. It
increases dust in air and reduce air track moisture.
Give first day
vaccination as
per schedule
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Day Two
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
2
Keep continue EASY BROOD in
water. Around 30 liters of
water is consumed by 1000
chicks.
Take care of feed, 1000 chicks
consume around 13kg of feed.
In evening start giving
GOUTSTER for kidney health &
gout prevention.
10g GOUTSTER per 1000
chicks in drinking water.
It also increases water intake and improves
kidney filtration.
Observe chicks behaviour and seperate any loose
chicks.
If mortality is seen (10 out of 1000 chicks died), it
is alarming.
First week mortality is mainly due to hatchery
infection / transport stress / poor temperature
management.
12. Prevent Ascites
& SDS in Broilers
PREVENTION SCHEDULE
In case of mortality 1g per 3Kg bodyweight or
3-4g per liter of drinking water and hold feed in
the night for complete 6-8hrs for 2 to 3 days.
CoEnzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone), Blood buffers,
Transmembrane Antioxidants, Herbal Diuretics
(Theophyline), Herbal Antioxidants (Ashwagandha
Extracts), Sodium Ascorbate, Furosemide and Sodium
Selenite.
ASCITOX Q10
DAY 2, 3, 4
1g per 100 chicks
WITH ASCITOX Q10
Water Belly
Oxidative Stress
Simple to use
7g per 100 chicks
DAY 13, 14, 15
20g per 100 birds
DAY 23, 24, 25
FOR
TREATMENT
+91-95406 12588
Product of IMN Pyrophos
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Day Three
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
3
In morning water, give
12g GOUTSTER and 10ml
VIMERAL per 1000 chicks
in same water.
In evening start giving
ALCAEU 12g per 1000
chicks. If mortality seen
earlier it can be given
before.
Third day is very important as by this day
chicks are start consuming feed properly and
adjusted in the environment. Take proper care
of temperature and ventilation.
If mortality is seen by this time it is mainly
due to huddling and poor hatch or long
distance travel. Chicks should weigh around
80g by the end of 3rd day.
Remove soiled newspaper and replace with new
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Day Four
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
4
In morning water, give
10g Nexamune and 10ml
VIMERAL per 1000 chicks
in same water.
In evening start giving
ALCAEU 12g per 1000
chicks.
Total water consumed
around 40 to 45 liter.
Third day is very important as by this day
chicks are start consuming feed properly and
adjusted in the environment. Take proper care
of temperature and ventilation.
If mortality is seen by this time it is mainly
due to huddling and poor hatch or long
distance travel. Chicks should weigh around
80g by the end of 3rd day.
Day Four
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Day Five
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
5
In morning water, give
10g Nexamune and per
1000 chicks in same
water.
If mortality is not seen
ALCAEU should be
stopped. Water sanitizer
except acidifier should not
be given.
By fifth day average weight of chicks should be around 125
-130g and mortality should less than 0.2% (2/1000).
Water consumption should be 55liter or less in winters.
Total feed consumed by now is 100 to 110g & FCR of 0.76
5th day is important because many people give ND
vaccination on 6th day, so NEXAMUNE on 5th day is
beneficial.
Check temperature and observe any huddling, remove weak,
small and dull chicks in a separate brooder. Increase brooder
area if required (depend on weather).
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Day Six
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
6
Give F1 or Lasota vaccine
in the morning through
nasal or eye route.
After this, give 10g
Nexamune and per 1000
chicks in water.
Stop any sanitizer in
water.
Remove newspapers.
Remove chick trays and give feed in feeders only.
Gradually increase floor space.
Increase brooder height and maintain temperature.
Avoid any huddling or any other stress.
Give them ventilation during suitable warm time of the day.
Never ignore mortality at this time. Do postmortem and try
to identify the cause.
Stress should be avoided at this time.
Total mortality should be less than 0.4% by now.
1 hour dark in the night should keep continue
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Day Seven
First week of life -
care & medicines Day
7
Most important work to do
is to weigh chicks and
monitor growth.
Weight on 7th day explain
us the whole picture of
farm management, feed
and chick quality.
Check total feed intake.
Body weight between 180 to 200g is fine. Any weight below
this shows problem which has to be identified.
Area should be increased but keep under brooder.
On this day, if you are going to keep birds for more than 2.5kg
than give IBH vaccination (only if IBH is a problem).
In morning water, give 30g Septima per 1000 chicks in water &
in evening 30g Virocon per 1000 chicks.
It must be noted that if mortality in early days was high due to
any reason than uniformity in flock will be lost and target
weight is very difficult to achieve.
Separate these chicks and start growth promoter in them.
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Day Eight & Nine
Second week of life
- care & medicines Day
8-9
For 2 days, in morning
water, give 30g Pyroliv DS
& in evening 30g Virocon
per 1000 chicks.
Growth should be monitor
regularly.
Keep giving sanitizer if
required
19. Day Ten to Twelve
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Second week of life
- care & medicines Day
10-11-12
For 3 days, in morning water,
give 40g Goutster & in evening
40g Grotek per 1000 chicks.
Grotek should be given when
growth is not proper. In low
weight chicks grotek has good
effects
Growth should be monitor regularly.
Keep giving sanitizer if required
Total feed consumption on 10th day is approximately 300kg per
1000 chicks.
Daily water intake per 1000 chicks is about 100liters.
By 9 or 10th day brooder can be removed
Area should be increased
Temperature should be at least 28 d C.
Biosecurity should be keep tight
Increase ventilation in farm otherwise sound problem could occur.
Dust & ammonia should be controlled in winters (spray of alum
may be proved beneficial).
20. Day Thirteen & Fourteen
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Second week of life
- care & medicines Day
13-14-15
For 3 days, in morning water, give
50g Nexamune.
In evening schedule give Ascitox
70g per 1000 chicks, if ascites
problem is suspected due to poor
brooding and extreme winter
temperature.
By 14th day 1000 chicks should gain
430 - 450kg weight.
At this time birds should e shifted to
starter diet.
Check droppings after changing the
feed if loose dropping are seen give
Remipro.
Proper ventilation could be provided in day time even in cold
temperature.
Keep eye on sound problem.
Water tank should be checked for any algae growth.
Gumboro vaccination is risky
21. Day Sixteen to Nineteen
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Third week of life -
care & medicines Day
16-19
Sound problem came in the flock by
16th day. To tackle this RESPOZE
should be given from 16-19 day @
75g per 1000 birds.
Working of RESPOZE is unique as it
clear mucous from trachea and have
protective effect on cilia.
It effectively control sound problem.
Other problems in these days are
development if IB - CRD duo which is
further complexed by E.coli.
Another problem is IBH which start
showing at this stage of broiler life.
If CRD -E.coli is seen tha ALCAEU &
SEPTIMA should be used.
For prevention of virals like IBH, IB, RD, LPAI etc VIROCON should
be given on 17-18-19th day 75g per 1000 birds.
22. Day Twenty to Twenty Two
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Third week of life -
care & medicines Day
20-21-22
Sometimes ceacal droppings are seen
on these days which are chocolaty in
color.
SEPTIMA should be given in water @
130g per 1000 birds.
Keep eye on weight.
By day 21, average weight of the bird
would be around 900 to 950g.
FCR at this point should be between 1.25 to 1.30
Daily feed intake is about 100g
Dark period in night should continue
On 21st day Lasota should be given through drinking water of eye
drop method. DO NOT IGNORE THIS VACCINE. Do not perform
lasota if it is not done on day 1 or 6.
Ventilation day should be given by opening the curtains
Check the quality of litter, it you find is too dusty than spray of
alum. If found wet than spread lime powder. DO NOT SPREAD LSP,
THAT IS NOT OF ANY USE.
If flock is running good till now than take a breath of sigh.
23. Day Twenty Three to Twenty Five
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Fourth week of life -
care & medicines Day
23-24-25
This is the time when liver related
problems are started.
In morning PYROLIV DS should be
given in water @ 120g per 1000 birds
for 3 days.
If ascites is a problem and cold
conditions are prevailing then keep
continue ASCITOX Q10 schedule 23 to
25 in early night.
Never forget to lift the feed in the night for 2 - 3hrs.
By 25th day sudden mortality or lameness type of conditions are
seen. If bird is loosing and mortality is occurring due to E.coli then
use ALCAEU and SEPTIMA one after another.
If you are using schedule of these medicines and see mortality
problem, you can consult over WhatsApp @ 9540612588
Water intake should be observed, in normal conditions 1000 birds
could drink 220liter water per day. GOUTSTER should given in case
of low water intake.
You should note one point here, that in Ascites mortality it is not
necessary that died bird have water in her belly.
24. Day Twenty Six to Twenty Nine
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Fourth week of life -
care & medicines Day
26-29
During this time birds are rapidly
growing and sudden death issues
become more prevalent. Gumboro, IB
and RD is seen and MABs goes down
in the birds. Mucosal immunity is
required to enhance. Birds are heavy
and more than 1kg of weight.
Finisher feed starts by this time so
necrotic enteritis cases also rises
which causes huge losses.
ALCAEU and SEPTIMA keep in hands if necrotic enteritis is seen &
RESPOZE for sound problems.
REMIPRO form 26 to 29 day age 150g per 1000 birds.
VIROCON from 27 - 29 day age 175g per 1000 birds.
Bird weight on 28 day should be 1500g
Water intake should be observed, in normal conditions 1000 birds
could drink 320liter water per day.
Ventilation requirements are very high during this time, if it is
compromised than huge losses could be seen.
25. Day Thirty to Thirty Five
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Fifth week of life -
care & medicines Day
30-35
Mortality do not occur after 1.5kg
weight. Only sudden deaths due to
heart failure are seen.
Birds consumes feed very vigorously
and feeder should not run out of feed
otherwise weight could be back.
Some extra maize /wheat could be
given without affecting FCR & it saves
feed.
Higher feed intake need higher water but in winters water
consumption is reduced which consequently reduces feed intake.
GOUTSTER should be given @ 200g per 1000 birds on alternate
days
PYROLIV DS is also useful if feed intake is lower and fatty liver
problem is seen.
On 35th day 2kg weight should be reached
If this weight is not achieved start giving GROTEK @ 200g per
1000 birds.
If all runs well than no medicines are required beyond this stage.