Chicken feeding methods and medication

There are a lot of people raising chickens in rural areas, but most of them start raising chickens from the chick stage. However, the immune capabilities of chickens in all aspects are very low during the chick stage, and they are very easy to die. Next, let’s learn and understand the methods of raising chickens and the use of medication.

1. Disinfection preparation

Before the chicks enter the chicken house, the farmer should thoroughly disinfect the chicken house, including fumigating the inside of the chicken house and disinfecting the drinking water and feed utensils.

2. Drink water first

Before the chicks start eating, farmers should provide clean drinking water. A small amount of potassium permanganate can be added to the drinking water for disinfection, to help the chicks clean their intestines and stomachs and promote the excretion of meconium. For chicks transported over long distances, about 5% glucose can be added to the drinking water to help them restore their strength and improve their ability to resist stress.

3. Be careful when feeding

Chicks should not be fed within 24 to 36 hours after hatching. When feeding, make sure the feed is fresh and the particles are of appropriate size. The first feed should be cooked to 80% done to facilitate digestion. At the same time, nutritionally balanced and easily digestible feed should be provided, and appropriately matched with green and juicy feed.

4. Environmental control

Proper environmental conditions are essential for the healthy growth of chicks, including temperature, humidity and stocking density. Although the temperature rises in spring, the chicks still need to maintain a suitable temperature. Chicks under 7 days old require a chicken house temperature of 30℃ to 32℃, which should be reduced by 2℃ to 3℃ every 7 days until the temperature in the chicken house drops to 21℃. Humidity should be maintained between 55% and 65%. The stocking density should be adjusted according to actual conditions, ranging from 25 to 15 per square meter.

5. Lighting and ventilation

Lighting and ventilation are equally important for the growth and development of chicks. Chicks need 24 hours of light in the first 3 days of age, 19 hours of light from 4 to 14 days of age, and can be switched to natural light after 15 days of age. When ventilating, the temperature of the chicken house should be appropriately increased by 1 to 2°C before ventilation to balance the temperature and ventilation requirements.

6. Immunization

Even if the above measures are implemented properly, it cannot guarantee that the chicks are completely free from diseases, so it is necessary to ensure that the chicks are vaccinated to build up good immunity.

7. Rational use of drugs

When giving medication to chicks, the dosage should be strictly followed according to the veterinary drug instructions to avoid poisoning caused by overdose or uneven mixing of the drug. Tablet drugs should be ground into fine powder and mixed evenly in feed or drinking water before feeding.

The above is an introduction to the key points of raising chicks and the use of medication. Chicken farmers, especially novices, can learn more. Only by doing these things well can the survival rate of chicks be improved.