Cage Brooding Followed by Floor Grow-Out: A Technique for Rearing Broilers ,

Abstract

Broiler chicks were maintained in Petersime brooding batteries for three weeks and then transferred to floor pens in a conventional broiler facility for five additional weeks. Hatchmates were reared in floor pens for eight weeks. Comparisons of growth, feed efficiency, carcass quality, and a survey of physiological fitness of both treatment groups were made. The battery brooded birds exhibited lower final body weights and lower feed conversion ratios than the floor reared birds. Differences in mortality, general product quality, and physiological fitness were not found. However, humoral immune responsiveness, as indicated by increased anti-SRBC antibody levels, was better in the floor reared birds. This management technique is suggested as a possible method for the commercial rearing of broilers.

Effects of Population Density on the Growth, Organ Weights, and Plasma Corticosterone of Young Broiler Chicks

“…This value was based on theoretical consideration of the height and weight of chickens of different ages and not experimentally tested. Thaxton et al (1980) found 190 cm 2 /chick to give growth comparable to 280 or 370 cm 2 / chick for 3 weeks. Deaton et al (1981) found that growing chicks at densities of 186 and 287 cm 2 /chick for 14 and 21 days, respectively, did not adversely affect 49-day broiler weights.…”