As the colder months approach in Alberta, brooding chicks and poults can be challenging. Maintaining the right environment is essential to promoting healthy growth, minimizing stress, and avoiding losses. Here are some practical tips for successful brooding during the winter months.
1. Preheat the Brooder Area
Winter in Alberta can be harsh, and it’s essential to preheat the brooder area before the arrival of chicks or poults. Preheat for 24-48 hours before placement or 72 hours in extreme cold weather conditions. Ensuring the barn and litter are warm before the birds arrive reduces their stress and helps them adapt quickly.
Ideal Air Temperatures at the level of the birds:
Chicks: Start at 32-34°C in the first week
Turkey poults: Start at 35-37°C in the first week.
Tip: Test heating equipment in advance to avoid sudden temperature drops during the critical early days.
Tip: Use a thermometer to check vent temperatures at placement and 12 hours after to check if the internal temperature is as it should be (about 40°C).
2. Maintain Proper Ventilation Without Drafts
While keeping the brooding area warm is crucial, proper ventilation ensures air quality and prevents moisture, CO2, and ammonia buildup, which could lead to respiratory issues.
During the winter months, minimum ventilation is recommended to direct and circulate exterior air into the barn. Use draft-free ventilation systems that allow fresh air to circulate without chilling the chicks or poults. A circulation fan can help reduce temperature stratification.
Monitor humidity: Ideal relative humidity is between 50-70%. Too low, and it can cause dehydration, too high, and it increases disease risk.
Tips: Position heat lamps or heaters so they maintain warmth but don’t compromise the ventilation system. Seal gaps that allow for unwanted airflow.
3. Provide Supplemental Heat
Brooding in winter requires efficient heat sources. Most producers rely on heat lamps, brooders, or gas-powered heaters to create zones of warmth.
Tip: Supplemental heaters should be securely placed and positioned evenly across the brooding area.
Monitor behavior and adjust the supplemental heaters accordingly. If chicks or poults huddle closely under the heat source, they are too cold. If they are close to the walls and spread out too far from the heat, they are too hot. The birds might be panting or sitting with their outstretched wings.
Tip: The birds must have enough space to move closer or farther away from the supplemental heat according to their needs. If the temperature is correct the birds will spread evenly in the brooder area.
If the chicks/poults are too cold, they’ll feel uncomfortable and they might stop eating or drinking. On the other hand, if they’re too hot, they can become dehydrated, increasing the risk of high mortality in your flock.
4. Insulate the Brooder House
Insulation plays a vital role in maintaining consistent temperatures in the winter.
Insulate the floor using a deep litter method (Minimum of 4 inches of bedding). Straw or wood shavings are excellent at retaining heat.
Trick: Use draft shields around the perimeter of the brooder area to prevent cold air from sneaking in at chick/poult level.
5. Ensure Adequate Lighting
Both chicks and poults require proper lighting for growth and development. For the first 24 hours after the placement of chicks and poults in the barn, continuous bright light should be provided to help the birds find their feed and water sources.
Check your Management Guide to find out the right light intensity and appropriate duration of light and dark periods for your birds.
Tip: Consider using timers for lighting systems to ensure consistency and avoid stress on the flock.
6. Feed and Water Management
Keeping water and feed easily accessible and at ambient temperature is vital during winter brooding.
Water: Should be fresh and clean. Ensure water doesn’t freeze by using heated waterers or insulating water lines.
Feed: During the first weeks, in addition to the feeding troughs, small amounts of feed should be provided in shallow trays or paper close to the water so that the birds can easily find and access it. The use of high-quality starter feed will provide the essential nutrients chicks and poults need for early development.
Tip: Monitor for water spillage and replace wet litter quickly as it can cool down the birds.
7. Monitor for Cold Stress
Cold stress can cause health issues such as poor growth, respiratory problems, and even mortality. Regularly monitor the birds for signs of cold stress.
Signs of cold stress: Piling or huddling under heat sources, reduced activity, chirping loudly, or refusing to eat/drink.
Trick: Invest in thermometers or temperature sensors to automate monitoring and quickly respond to changes.
8. Gradually Transition to Cooler Temperatures
As the birds grow, they will need less supplemental heat, but avoid sudden temperature drops. Gradually lower the temperature by 2-3°C each week until 21°C. Birds will not need as much heat when they are fully feathered.
Conclusion
Successful winter brooding involves careful planning, continuous monitoring, and responsive adjustments to the environment. By ensuring proper warmth, ventilation, and nutrition, you can help your chicks and turkey poults thrive, even in the coldest months.
References:
Beginner’s Guide: Raising Broiler and Layer Chicks. Masterfeeds. link
Brooding Solutions in Extreme Cold. Western Poultry Conference. link
Brooding: Strong out of the gate. Canadian Poultry Magazine. link
Bulletin #2187, Poultry Facts: Turkey Brooding and Management: Giving Poults a Good Start. University of Maine. link
Environmental Factors to Control when Brooding Chicks. University of Georgia. link
Maintaining bird comfort in the winter. Canadian Poultry Magazine. link
Poultry – General Brooding and Rearing FactSheet. Saskatchewan Agriculture, Natural Resources and Industry. link
Thania joined PIP as the PIP Extension technician in 2021.
