How to raise chicks better?

The physiological characteristics of chicks, if you understand these characteristics, you can raise chickens well.

1. Imperfect thermoregulatory function

The body temperature of new-born chicks is 2-3 degrees lower than that of adult chickens. It starts to rise slowly and evenly at the age of 4 days, and reaches the body temperature of adult chickens at the age of 10 days. The body temperature regulation function is gradually improved by the age of 3 weeks. After 8 weeks of age, it has the ability to adapt to changes in the external environment temperature.

2. Rapid growth and vigorous metabolism

The body weight of egg-type chicks at 2 weeks of age is about twice the body weight at birth, at 6 weeks of age, and 15 times as much as at 8 weeks of age.

The growth is fast in the early stage, and then gradually slows down with the increase of age. Chicks have strong metabolism, fast heartbeat, pulse rate up to 250-350 beats per minute, and the oxygen consumption per unit body weight and the amount of carbon dioxide excreted at rest are more than double that of livestock, so feeding medicines to meet nutritional needs, management should pay attention Supply fresh air.

3. Feather grows fast

Feather growth in young chicks is particularly rapid, with feathers accounting for 4% of body weight at 3 weeks of age, increasing to 7% at 4 weeks of age and remaining largely unchanged thereafter.

From hatching to 20 weeks of age, feathers are shed 4 times, at 4-5, 7-8, 12-13 and 18-20 weeks of age. The protein content of feathers is 80%-82%, which is 4-5 times that of meat and eggs. Therefore, chicks have high requirements for protein levels in the diet.

4.The stomach volume is small, the digestive ability is weak

The digestive system of young chicks is not well developed, the stomach volume is small, and the food intake is limited.

At the same time, there is a lack of certain digestive enzymes in the digestive tract, and the gizzard has low ability to grind feed and poor digestion. In feeding, attention should be paid to feeding low-fiber and easily digestible feeds, otherwise the heat generated cannot maintain physiological needs.

5. Strong sensitivity

The lack of various nutrients in the feed or the excess of toxic drugs, young chicks will reflect a pathological state.

6. Poor disease resistance

Young chicks have poor adaptability to the external environment and weak resistance to various diseases.

7.Gregarious, timid

Chicks like to live in groups, and a single stray will croak. Timid, lack of self-defense ability, if it encounters external stimuli, it will continue to chirp, so the brooding environment should be quiet to prevent all kinds of abnormal sounds and noises and novel colors from entering. There should also be measures to prevent animal damage in the chicken house.

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