Brooding and Rearing of Growers and Layers
Brooding rules
Brooding provides heat, feed, water and protection to chicks. Start at about 95°F (35°C) at bird level in the first week and reduce by about 5°F (2.8°C) each week until 70°F (21°C). Watch chick behaviour: huddling means too cold, panting and moving away means too hot, and even spread means correct. Provide clean water, chick starter, bright light and dry litter. Use 24-hour light in the first days, then reduce gradually.
Grower and layer rearing
Growers need controlled body weight, restricted feeding where recommended, and vaccination before lay. Pullets should reach breed target weight at 18-20 weeks. Layers need 16 hours of light, adequate calcium, nests, clean water and low stress. Cull non-layers, beak-trim if needed to control cannibalism, and keep records of feed, eggs and mortality.
Worked example. A batch is brooded at 95°F in week 1. Weekly reduction is 5°F: week 2 = 90°F, week 3 = 85°F, week 4 = 80°F. At four weeks the brooder temperature should be about 80°F, provided chicks are comfortable and the house is not draughty.
Traps. Do not measure brooder temperature at the ceiling instead of chick level; do not overfeed pullets into obesity; do not give layer calcium too early without veterinary advice; and do not change light and feed abruptly at point of lay.