Page 212 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Advantages of artificial incubation
(a) Large number of chicks may be hatched at a time.
(b) Sanitary measures are carried out easily.
(c) Infertile eggs can be removed from the incubator at any stage of incubation.
(d) Chick supply is constant.

Challenges of artificial incubation
(a) There is high initial and running costs.
(b) It requires skilled labour hence high labour cost.

(c) There is high possibility of eggs contamination if collection of eggs is from
contaminated sources.
(d) Production of chicks may stop completely due to break-down of machines
especially where spare parts and technicians are not reliably available.

Artificial brooding: Where a large number of chicks is to be reared at once, artificial
brooding is done. This is done by keeping chicks in a structure called brooder where
feeds, water, and heat are provided. Most brooders should be in a round shape

because corners encourage overcrowding. Often chicks are reared in the brooder
rings for two (2) weeks. Figure 9.5 shows chicks in brooder ring while Figures 9.6
(a) to (d) show distribution of chicks in brooder rings as response to different levels
of temperature and other conditions such as distress.

Brooder management: Brooder has to be well prepared before the arrival of chicks.
Good management has also to be adhered to at arrival of the chicks as well as day-
to-day management of temperature and comfort to chicks.
(a) Preparation before the arrival of chicks: Brooder should be ready 2-3 weeks
before the arrival of chicks by preparing it. This includes washing and
disinfecting the brooder house, spreading litter material and covering it with
newspapers, placing feed and water, and providing heat sources in the brooder.

(b) Arrival of the chicks: Remove the dead chicks and dispose them. Count the

newly arrived chicks, record each necessary data, and vaccinate them if they
were not vaccinated in the hatchery. Ensure that there is proper ventilation for
air circulation and relative humidity in the brooder house.

(c) Management of temperature and comfort: Regulate the temperature as per
guideline of the specific breed and control the temperature by observing the
response or behaviour of chicks to the brooder temperature and other stimuli as
shown in Figures 9.5 and 9.6 (a) to (d).

Student’
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