Key points for the entire process management of broiler chicken farming

Broiler farming may seem simple, but in reality, every step can affect the survival rate, feed-to-meat ratio, and final profit. To improve the efficiency of chicken farming, one cannot only focus on the final weight gain; instead, they must start from the arrival of the chicks, and carry out full-process management including chick rearing, feeding, environmental control, and disease prevention. 

The following are the core management points for the entire life cycle of broiler chicken farming:

I. Preparation before the arrival of chicks

The first step in raising meat chickens is not the arrival of the chicks themselves, but the preparation of the chicken houses and the meat chicken breeding equipment. The adequacy of the preparations before the chicks' arrival directly affects the subsequent chick-rearing results.

1. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of the chicken coop

Before introducing chickens, the chicken coop should be thoroughly cleaned, including removing bedding, feces, dust and leftover feed, and conducting thorough disinfection of the floor, walls, water supply system, feed lines and equipment.
After disinfection, sufficient emptying time should be provided to reduce the risk of residual pathogens.

2. Check the operation status of the breeding equipment

The water supply system, ventilation system, heating equipment, lighting system, feed line equipment, etc. should all be pre-adjusted to ensure stable operation of the chicks after they arrive.
If it is a large-scale breeding, it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive equipment inspection before introducing the chicks to avoid affecting the chicks' adaptation due to equipment failures.

3. Preheat the chicken house and stabilize the environment in advance

Chickens are extremely sensitive to temperature. Before the chicks arrive, the temperature inside the house must be raised in advance to meet the requirements for chick rearing.
Generally, based on the local climate and the age of the chicks, the temperature distribution in the house should be adjusted in advance to avoid situations where cold air blows directly and where the temperature difference is too large.

II. Arrival of Chicken Chicks 

The quality of chicken chicks and the transportation process directly affect the basic health level of the entire batch of broilers.

1. Select healthy and high-quality chicken chicks

• Active and lively
• Clean and neat feathers
• Good healing of the umbilical cord
• Loud calls
• No deformities or dehydration

2. Control transportation stress

The transportation time for chicken chicks should not be too long. During the journey, they should be prevented from being exposed to extreme cold, heat, overcrowding, or lack of oxygen.
After arrival, the chicks should be unloaded and sorted as soon as possible to minimize the stress time.

3. Quick drinking and feeding

After the chicks are brought into the house, the first thing to do is to make them drink water as soon as possible, followed by feeding.
Drinking water can help the chicks recover their strength, alleviate transportation stress, and stimulate the intestines to function.
The feeding should be carried out evenly to ensure that each chick can get the feed within the shortest time.

Chickening period of broiler chickens 

1. Preheating management: 24 hours before the chicks arrive, the chicken house must be preheated properly. The bedding temperature should reach above 30℃ to ensure that the chicks do not suffer from dehydration or diarrhea due to cold stress after arrival.
2. Drinking water and opening: After the chicks arrive, they should be given water first. It is recommended to add an appropriate amount of glucose and electrolyte multivitamins to the water to help the chicks quickly regain their strength.
3. Density control: If the density is too high during the rearing period, the air quality will deteriorate. Using the RETECH fully automatic multi-layer breeding equipment can achieve precise control of the rearing environment, ensuring that each chick can have sufficient space for feeding and drinking.

Growth period: Environmental control is crucial (15-35 days of age)

As the growth rate of broilers accelerates and metabolic products increase, the difficulty of environmental control also increases.

1. Ventilation management: It is necessary to scientifically adjust the ventilation volume according to the age and season to remove harmful gases from the house.
2. Lighting system: Reasonable lighting intensity and duration can promote bone development and prevent sudden death syndrome.
3. Application of automated equipment: Achieving automatic feeding, automatic drinking, and automatic manure removal reduces the infection risk brought by personnel entering the chicken house and ensures precise feed distribution, effectively reducing the feed-to-meat ratio.

Before Sale: Precision Management and Epidemic Prevention (from 36 days of age to sale)

The management before sale directly determines the final profit margin.

1. Feed Nutrition: Adjust the feed formula according to the growth stage to ensure the balance of energy and protein.
2. Disease Prevention: Strictly implement biosecurity measures, regularly disinfect the chicken houses, and carry out vaccination based on local epidemic situations.
3. Chicken Manure Treatment: Large-scale farms must attach great importance to chicken manure treatment. The RETECH chicken manure treatment equipment converts chicken manure into organic fertilizer, solving the odor problem in the chicken houses and also generating additional economic income.

Management of broiler chicken production: 

1.Observe the uniformity of the livestock being sold. 
If there are significant weight differences among the chickens, they should be sold off in batches.
2. Control the stress before slaughter
Before slaughter, unnecessary disturbances should be minimized. The timing of reducing feed, catching the chickens, and loading should be properly arranged to reduce transportation losses. 
Especially in hot weather conditions, it is even more important to pay attention to the shipping schedule and ventilation conditions. 
3. Keep good records of the livestock being sold. 
Completely record the survival rate, average weight, feed-to-meat ratio, causes of death and drug usage for each batch, which will be helpful for subsequent review and optimization. 
Data-based management is an important foundation for improving the efficiency of broiler chicken farming.
The core of broiler chicken farming technology does not lie in any single step, but rather in the systematic management from the arrival of chicks to their sale.

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