4 Reasons Broiler Day-Old Chicks Fail on the Farm

Day-old chicks (DOC) play a key role in successful chicken farming. If you don't know how to raise DOC properly, your farm can end up losing money. When many chicks die, losses follow, because only a small number of birds will make it to harvest. And harvest numbers are what drive your farm: the more birds you harvest, the bigger your profit. The harvest also has to be good quality, since a large harvest is pointless if the birds are poor.

A successful broiler farm shows in birds that reach a normal body weight at harvest. A farm that is losing money, on the other hand, harvests only a few birds, and they fall short of their target weight. You can avoid a thin harvest by raising your DOC properly.

Also read 4 Ways to Build the Right Coop for Day-Old Chicks

Why Broiler DOC Fail

You want to avoid failure when raising DOC so that as many chicks as possible survive until harvest. Several things can keep DOC from surviving or cause them to die early. Here are the causes of DOC failure in broiler farming that you need to watch out for:

Overcrowded Coops

The first thing that can cause early DOC deaths is an overcrowded coop. A DOC coop shouldn't be too large, but it shouldn't be too crowded either. The chicks stay in that coop until the starter phase is over. Every DOC coop has its own ideal capacity, so putting too many chicks in it leaves them jostling for space, which is bad for their growth and development.

No Vitamins

Another mistake in raising DOC is failing to give them vitamins. Vitamins are part of raising chicks the right way. Their job is to strengthen the chicks' immune system. You can mix vitamins into the drinking water. Give them on a regular schedule so the chicks are protected from the many diseases that come with a weak immune system.

Also read 6 Ways to Raise Layer Chicken DOC

No Glucose Solution

A common cause of DOC deaths is skipping the glucose solution. Glucose gives the chicks an energy boost. Without enough glucose, they become weak and listless.

Too Much Ammonia

Excess ammonia is another reason broiler DOC fail. A DOC coop that isn't cleaned often quickly builds up ammonia. Ammonia is a gas released by animal droppings. Chicks that breathe in too much of it become weak and fall ill. Signs that a chicken has inhaled a lot of ammonia include constantly watery eyes, loss of appetite and lethargy.

Signs of Healthy DOC

Once you are caring for your broiler DOC properly, it is important to know what healthy chicks look like while they are on your farm. You may buy high-quality DOC, yet poor care on the farm can still cause their condition to decline and the birds to get sick. Here are the signs of healthy day-old chicks to keep an eye on:

1. Bright, clear eyes. The eyes also tell you whether a chick is sickly. Watery eyes are a sign of an unhealthy chick.
2. Active and quick on their feet.
3. Symmetrical wings that don't droop.
4. A smooth gait with no limping.
5. Glossy feathers.

Those are the main causes of DOC failure in broiler farming to watch out for. We hope this information helps.

Also read 6 Ways to Choose High-Quality Day-Old Chicks