1) Brooding is the process of rearing baby chicks and involves maintaining their body temperature for the first few weeks until they can regulate it themselves. It can be done naturally with a broody hen or artificially. 2) Artificial brooding uses equipment like brooders, which have a heating source, reflectors, and guards. Brooders must be prepared with litter, feeders, and heat lamps adjusted to the ideal tapering temperatures from 95°F in the first week down to 70°F. 3) New chicks require careful management like proper placement, initial feeding, adjusting the brooder space as they grow, and preventing overcrowding or dust to avoid health issues. Lighting should be

1. PACKAGE OF PRACTICES FOR
BROODING MANAGEMENT OF CHICKS
Dr. Neeta Longjam
KRISHI VIGYAN KENDRA
College of Horticulture & Forestry
Central Agricultural University, East Siang District,
Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh - 791102

2. Introduction:
Brooding is the art and science of
rearing baby chicks. A newly hatched chick
does not develop the thermoregulatory
mechanism fully and takes about two weeks to
develop this mechanism and homeostasis.
Therefore, they cannot maintain the
body temperature properly for the first few
weeks of life and may be subjected to chilling
leading to increase mortality, if not properly
taken care of. Brooding can be classified into
natural and artificial brooding.
1. Natural Brooding: Its is done
with the help of broody hen after hatching, up
to 3 to 4 weeks of age.
Natural brooding by
broody hen

3. BROODING UNITS

4. 2. Artificial Brooding: In artificial brooding large number of baby chicks are reared in
the absence of broody hen. Equipment used for brooding is called brooders. Brooder
comprises of three features:
1. Heating source 2. Reflectors 3. Brooder guard
Brooder Guard/
Chicks guard
Canopy/Reflector / Hover
Canopy/Reflector /
Hover Brooder Guard/
Chicks guard

5. Charcoal stove /
Kerosene stove:
Where electricity
is not available, ordinary
charcoal / kerosene stove
can be used to provide
supplementary heat to the
chicks. These stoves are
covered with plate / pans
to dissipate the heat.
Electrical brooder:
Electric bulb used for
artificial brooding to give
required temperature for
brooding chicks.
Artificial brooding with electric bulb in farmer’s field
Charcoal stove

6. Brooder preparation:
 The house should be thoroughly
cleaned, disinfected and rested
before chicks are placed.
 Two days before the arrival of
chicks, litter (sawdust, paddy
husk) should be spread evenly
on the floor, 2-4 inches thick.
 Place newspaper on the litter in
the brooding area.
 Place brooder and brooder
guards
 Place properly cleaned and
disinfected feeder and drinkers.
 Brooding unit should consist of
four 60-watt bulb suspended 6-
inches above the floor, and the
brooder guard of 5 feet radius
along with drinkers and 4 trays
for feeding. This unit is meant
for 250-300 chicks. Size should
be adjusted as per numbers of
chicks.
Brooder-Hover

7. 7. Make all electrical connections and
check on the functioning of
brooders.
8. After all the work is completed, the
entire shed should be disinfected
using fine spray of a good
disinfectant.
9.The night before the chicks arrive,
brooders can be switched on to
obtain the correct temperature.
10. A few hours before the chicks
arrive; sugar, electrolyte, vitamin
and pro-biotic solutions may be
prepared for giving in the very
first drinking water.
Artificial Brooding of chicks
with locally available
material by farmer

8. Management after chicks are received:
1. As soon as chicks arrived check their condition.
2. Place chicks in the brooder gently.
3. Place all weak chicks in a separate brooder.
4. Provide fresh clean water added with electrolyte, vitamins and sugar.
5. Three hours after placing the chicks in the brooder, when most of them
have had water, sprinkle the maize grit (chicks maize) on the
newspaper and also keep it on the paper trays. Ensure that the chicks
are eating.
6. For first 3-4days, feed may be spread on the paper or may be provided
in flat trays. Along with this, feed should also be provided in chick’s
feeder.
7. Change paper sheet immediately if they get wet.
8. On the 4th day, increase the brooder area and also height of the
brooders.
9. Remove the paper sheet after five to six days.
10. On the 7th day, the brooder guard can be removed and adjusted to
enlarge the area to provide more floor space.

9. 11. Brooders can be removed by about 3rd
week in winter when the feathering is
complete. In summer, they can be removed
much earlier (within one week).
12. Take the body weights at the end of the
first and second weeks to assess the flock
performance. The average body weights
should be 150gram and 300g, respectively.
13. Prevent feed wastage. Feed at least 6
times per day at the beginning to stimulate
feed intake. After wards, feeding can be
reduced to four times a day.
14. Starter mash should be given up to 21
days (550-600g body weight). After this,
finisher mash is given till marketing.
15. Prevent overcrowding and dusty
environment. This will lead to respiratory
diseases. Always checks activity and behavior
of the chicks daily.

10. Lighting Management
1. It is advisable to provide 24 hours of continuous light during the
entire cycle.
2. After two weeks, the light can be dimmed to reduce the activity of
birds. Thus the weight gain is higher.
Check chicks comfort
 If the chicks are spread out evenly under the brooder, it indicates the
correct brooder temperature.
 If the chicks arc huddling together; it indicates the low temperature
in the brooder.
 If the chicks are outside the brooder; it indicates the high brooder
temperature. Accordingly adjust the temperature immediately.

11. Week Temperature (F)
First 95° F (35oC)
Second 90° F (32oC)
Third 85° F (29oC)
Fourth 80° F (27oC)
Fifth 75° F (24oC)
Sixth 70° F (21oC)
Ideal Brooding Temperature