Brooding of Chicks & Floor Space Requirements

Brooding of Chicks & Floor Space Requirements

Brooding of Chicks: Brooding is the art and science of rearing baby chicks. Newly hatched chicks cannot regulate body temperature properly during the first few weeks of life. Proper brooding temperature and management are essential for healthy growth and survival.

Floor Space Requirements

Type	Age (Weeks)	Deep-Litter (ft²)	Cages (ft²)
Egg-type Chicken	0–8	0.60	0.20
	9–18	1.25	0.30
	>18	1.50	0.50
Meat-type Chicken	0–4	0.30	—
	4–8	0.75	—

Temperature Requirement of Chicks During Different Ages

Age in Weeks	Temperature Under Hover (°C)
0–1	35°C
1–2	32°C
2–3	29°C
3–4	26°C
4–5	23°C

Important Diseases of Poultry

• Bacterial Diseases: Fowl Cholera, Diarrhea
• Viral Diseases: Ranikhet Disease, Marek’s Disease