By Dr. Brian Fairchild
Special to Poultry Times
ATHENS, Ga. — The main objective in brooding chicks is to efficiently and economically provide a comfortable, healthy environment for growing birds. Temperature, air quality, humidity and light are critical factors to consider. Failure to provide the adequate environment during the brooding period will reduce profitability, resulting in reduced growth and development, poorer feed conversion, and increased disease, condemnation and mortality.
Temperature and chick physiology
Maintaining the correct temperature is critical in chick brooding, especially during the first two weeks of the chick's life. Early in life, the. . .