5-0013: Long-term effects of rearing layer chicks with dark brooders on welfare, laying behavior and production performance?

DIEGO A. GUZMÁN; ANJA B RIBER

Beijin

Congreso; World´s Poultry Congress 2016; 2016

World´s Poultry Science association

Chicks require heat to maintain body temperatureduring the first weeks after hatch. This may be providedby dark brooders; i.e. horizontal heating elementsequipped with curtains. The aim was to testlong-term effects of rearing layer chicks with darkbrooders on plumage and skin condition, mortality,laying behavior, and egg production in layers. Fourbrooder treatments differing in the size of the brooder(Large or Small) and in the management of theheight of the brooder (Movable or Fixed) were tested.Groups of 102- 103 Isa Warren chicks werereared either with one of the 4 types of brooders(n = 4 per treatment, i.e. 16 in total) or with wholehouse heating (control: n = 6). At 16 weeks of agethe group size was reduced to 50 individuals. Plumageand skin condition were scored at age 7, 16, and28 weeks. Data on egg production and mortalitywas registered daily. We found that brooder birdshad a better plumage condition throughout the experiment(P