Artificial Brooding to Increase Chick Survival of Native Chickens
The native chicken is preferred over commercial broilers because of its distinct taste, leanness, yellow pigmentation, and suitability to Filipino dishes. Thus, the meat and eggs of native chickens command a higher price than those of commercial broilers.
Artificial Brooding
Under a traditional management system, native hens produce only 40 - 60 eggs per year. However, with improved management and better nutrition, egg production can be increased to 130 - 200 per year. Each egg weighs about 50g.
Traditionally raised native chickens weigh one kilogram when they are 18 - 20 weeks old. However, native chickens raised under improved management system can attain a body weight of 1 kg as early as 12 weeks old.
Brooding refers to the process by which heat is supplied to newly hatched chicks, until such time that their thermo-regulatory mechanism is functional. Under traditional practices, hens provide the needed heat to the chicks from their own body. However, brooding inhibits the ability of the hens to lay more eggs.
It is recommended that upon hatching, chicks should be placed in an artificial brooder to allow the hens to begin laying eggs sooner. To induce egg laying, the hens should be confined in well-lighted and well-ventilated cages.
The Brooder
The brooder cage should protect the newly hatched chicks from adverse weather conditions and predators. The cage may be made of bamboo, scrap wood, chicken wire or net. Proper temperatures and ventilation would be maintained by providing curtains around the brooder cage. Curtains may be made of jute cloth, sacks or newspapers. The curtains should be rolled up when the temperature is too high, and rolled down when the temperature is too low.
The chicks should be kept warm during their first month by using some of the common artificial brooders: liquified petroleum gas (LPG) with hover-type resistant coils, or a kerosene lamp or an electric bulb (Fig. 1).
If an electric bulb is used, 1 watt is good for a chick. Therefore, a 25-watt bulb is good for approximately 25 chicks. It is important to adjust the height of the bulb to optimize the heat.
The chicks should be provided with commercial feed during their first month. They should be allowed gradually to roam outside the cage and look for their own food in the field, such as worms, insects, seeds and grains (Fig. 2).
Native chickens are not efficient feed converters, so it is recommended that commercial feeds be provided only when naturally occurring feeds are limited, or during inclement weather when birds are not able to scavenge for food in the field. Otherwise, they should be provided with supplements like maize, grated coconut or rough rice. These supplements should be given in the morning before they graze, and in the afternoon as they return to their house. Home-made feeders and water containers can be used, as long as proper design and management are followed.
Index of Images
Figure 1 An Electric Bulb Used to Heat a Brooder
Figure 2 Native Chickens under Free Range Type of Management
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