GOOD FOUNDATIONAL BROODING MEANS TO FINAL HEALTHY PRODUCTION // LIFE OF A LIVESTOCK FARMER.
A good brooding to me is the origination of the outcome of the end product. I mean a good brooding is what determines the good outcome of birds rearing final production. Brooding is an effortless effort needed from a farmer which will make his/her end result to yield positive interest. When it comes to brooding as a farmer there are some things that someone needs to put in place ,I mean alot of thing from feeding to filling their drinkers often from day one toll their final day. Cleaning up their drinking is another important thing that needs to be checked often. Also,taking cognizance of their well being ,how they are feeling ,check if they are active always or not. When brooding ,one has to be observant.
Brooding is defined as the management of chicks from one day old to about 8 weeks of age, and it involves the provision of heat and other necessary care during chicks' early growing period. Brooding units are designed to house chicks from one day old until they no longer need supplementary heat (0-8 weeks).Source
This is it,when broiler birds are babies,their body temperature can't catch up with cold weather,so someone needs to make the pen hot in one way or the other by providing heat into the brooding pen and also when they have grown up their body heat can't can accommodate with hot weather ,that's to show that someone has to make their pen cold in one way or the other to cool down their temperature. What I do is that ,I always get ice blocks and break it into their water drinker,their taste of the cold water will make them to be tasty to drink more ,by this it will surely cool their temperature in hot weather.
IMPORTANCE OF BROODING.
It is known that brooding is done to provide an optimal environment for the chicks to grow and develop in their initial stages. The process of brooding is important because-
Chicks in the starting stages cannot regulate their temperature efficiently. Their thermoregulatory metabolic ability only develops when feathering starts after 2-3 weeks post-hatch.
Since maintenance of body temperature is the most important factor in the initial survival of chicks brooding plays an important role.
The process is also important since chicks are incapable of self temperature regulation due to higher metabolic body size and lack of feathers. Without brooding they would lose more heat from their body and end up not surviving.
Hypothalamus in the brain does not function completely at an early age and if there is no brood of chicks done then it leads to the inactivated digestive system, thermoregulatory system and immune system.
Brooding is important to not be susceptible to infections due to less immunity because of growing in low temperatures.
Brooding ensures the proper growth of body tissues in chickens.
The development of tissues through brooding helps gain a proper body temperature and a good body framework.
The body temperature regulation through brooding also makes for the chicks to develop a good feather cover.
Brooding is very important also because it activates the endocrine system in animals.
The process of brooding also ensures that the animals have a well activated digestive system.
The most important effect of brooding is that it develops a better immune system in the chicks that helps them lead a long and healthy life which is the main purpose.
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