5 ways to reduce chick deaths in cold season

Young broiler chickens at the poultry farm. [iStockphoto]

The current demand for chicken meat and eggs in the country remains healthy, the market outlook, therefore, continues to be strong and different hatcheries are registering good orders. Despite the favourable prices and good tides, the high cost of inputs and the cold periods are signaling some uncertainty.

With this cold season setting in, night temperatures in some regions are getting to eight to ten degrees Celsius, making ideal brooding conditions challenging to achieve. According to industry standards, a poultry farmer should aim at achieving mortality of not more than 0.7 per cent cumulatively over the first seven days of brooding. Here are five strategic approaches to control early chick mortality on your farm during this cold season.