Space Requirements for Brooding Chickens

Abstract

Energy requirements for brooding chickens can be reduced by restricting the growing area during the 4-week brooding period. Since use of the live weight of chickens per unit of floor area is not a suitable method of establishing the space requirements for the brooding period, it was postulated that a reliable criterion might be live weight per unit of volume actually occupied by the chickens. Data were obtained which relate broiler chicken height and body weight from 1 day to 8 weeks of age. These data were found to fit the parabolic equation W = 0.098 H3.03, where W is body weight and H is standing height of the chicken. A linear equation that relates chicken weight, height, and floor space allowances was developed for use in determining space allowances for the 4-week brooding period.