Brooding For A Storm

We all had a lot of warnings.  There was a lot of time to prepare way before the expected landfall of Megi, Typhoon Juan in the Philippines.

For pastured chicken farmers like you and I, what can we do?  Moreso when you have a batch brooding.

For now, we are brooding in the same range housing.  They were in shaded areas, but no good fencing around.  Doc Rey wanted an area that will have windbreakers, near the caretaker's house, accessible to water.  So he assessed what we had that may work for us:

1) In the garage, he saw unusued aluminum vans and the dismantled truck bed enclosures.  He asked that be brought to the spot he saw that had trees that will be good windbreakers.  Close to the house of the caretaker and the water pump.

2) Not just sitting them on the ground, he sort of had it buried a bit.  Dug canal around the cages and area, for drainage.

3) Found old roofing materials that was wrapped all around.  Why?  Don't forget the RATS!  They will surely want dry ground for themselves too :)  They can't climb the slippery surface.  

But can the chicks have good air circulation inside that cage?  There was a reason why they were retired to the garage.  These pieces of roofing material had holes on them already. Perfect for air inlets.  The wire mesh all around the cage was guarantee enough that fresh air circulates and bad air escapes.

Others were set on top as roofs. They were tied to the cages.

4) Trucks' tarpaulins were set on top of the roof.  Remember those yeros were butas already :)  Roofweights were needed.  Got old tires and the stacked chicken crates that were near the water pump for washing.

It was very good!  Did what it was supposed to do, as planned, from materials that were to be found around you.

The trees all around fell and didn't withstand the strong winds of Juan, but it did to the cage its purpose.  It protected the brooder from the rage of the typhoon.  The brooding Sunshines were very healthy and energetic when the cage was opened after the storm!

We had several of the cages set up.  You don't want them to pile up one on top of the other when they get afraid and cold.  Stampedes are less likely in smaller spaces.

Let's take a closer look inside.  Aside from the gas brooder that was good for 1000 birds, there was another standby brooder for the same capacity.  If you will notice, this area isn't for 1000 birds, so why have big capacity brooders being used?  You have to make sure they are warm.  It will be terribly cold out there during the storm and no such thing as over prepared. 

From the other side and behind:  The fallen tree was acting as shade before the storm came, as it was prepared a couple of days prior.  The large LPG tank, the source of energy for the gas brooder.....heavy stuff, can't be blown away.  Doc Rey still played safe.  He had charcoal heaters on standby.

We've learned over the years.  I hope you have taken some points from us too to guide you through.

Here Comes The Sun

 Touted as a super typhoon....we had days to prepare as information dissemination had been non-stop and with the availability of the internet, there is no reason to feign ignorance of the obvious comings.  Some newspaper was so safe and printing news that they cited several weather observation stations' predictions of Megi's route. 

It was said to be hitting the Northern tip of Cagayan.  I must have drank coffee that night and had been clicking "refresh" on my browser so often.  I know that just before I slept, I saw the path switch downward....or maybe dreaming?

Not to be too alarmed about our Sunshines....our buildings are strong, so I wasn't worried about housing going down.  This is the design we are now using for the ranges.  It withstood the strong winds :)  The Sunshines they housed were not a bit affected.

Electricity wasn't an issue too...there are alternative sources of heat like your charcoal etc.

We were brooding a batch and will be close to 2weeks when the storm passes us.  That was what Doc Rey secured.  How he secured the brooding calls for another post :)...so I won't show you yet the photos of brooder.  The photo below will be a good preview.

We hurried to the farm the day after....fallen trees all around.  The brooding area is surrounded by Banana trees....all down to the ground. That looks like a lot of FPJ in the next weeks.

The 14day old Sunshines still got out to their range on the appointed 14day outing!  They were excited to to go out, while we were appraising the damages to the farm.  The Sunshines took their walk with us among the fallen trees.

They ran to the door.  Took a peek and sighed that they saw their elder sisters on other pens, ranging.  "Everyone was OK"!

The day after Typhoon Megi (Juan to us in the Philippines):

The rage of Juan the previous day, was now forgotten....as they took their first steps and bites of grass.

The fallen trees became instant playground!  They loved to climb the branches and can't get enough of burying themselves in the trees on the ground.

Brooding is utmost.  The housing is very important.  If the chicks are secure in good brooding cage, have the right space and are warm, enough food...then they will be OK even during a storm.

Height

Most cases, height is might. The taller, the better.

Not in the case of your heat source in your brooders.

Note the height of the bulbs in this photo:

This was taken during the day, but you can imagine that the chicks will be grouping together at night when the air is cold. That will result in climbing and jumping on top of one another to get closer to the source of heat and to get warmth from the other chicks. Don't smile thinking of a "group hug"! Detrimental to them. A lot will get trampled upon and result in death. Others will get so weak after all that pushing and fighting for space and heat.

Ideally, you have the bulbs at a height grazing their heads and backs. Have the wires around a bar, that you can raise or lower, as needed.

Remember that the best gauge are your eyes. Observe, observe and listen to cries. If they are cold, DO NOT wrap the cage to cut off the cold wind. ADD bulbs or lower the source of heat. They need fresh air circulation.

Just like people When we are cold, we don't close the windows totally, nor pull up the blankets to our heads. We can't breathe and will suffocate. We should have thicker clothing, but not cover face :)

Pro Active

We always think of ways to make it easier for the farmhelp to cope with the ever increasing workloads. Goes with either growth or you get more work when you are lax and you always go back to fix things :(

I want to think that we are always busy because we are growing.

Our ranges have the nipple drinkers as water system for the Sunshine rangers. I don't know why we haven't done it for our brooding area and houses too??? We were meeting on how to make things lighter for labor and talks about motorized curtains so you just flick a switch, auto feeders even in houses, additional water pumps installed, solar panels for lights...and of course why not nipple drinkers in all houses!

A drum is attached to a faucet outside the housing. You just have to open the faucet to let water into the drum. If you need to add some concoctions to your drinking water, it is easily done in this drum. Water is dispensed when the chicks peck on the nipples. As a bonus, they have a perch.

Habits are hard to break and there are still waterers placed inside the housing. The farmhelp will stop doing that once he is convinced that he isn't being eased out of his job.

Eventually we will go into mechanized feeding system for the Sunshines. Not really to get rid of farmhelp...it is so for them to do other things that machines can't do...like plant vegetables and trees :)

It Goes Up

The temperature may be very high these days, but we have observed that early mornings in our farm tends to be breezy and cool. Today was no different, so Doc Rey instructed to have several of these drums set inside the brooders. The chicks will have a choice, when they feel warm they go away. But when chilly, they have warmth to run to. The brooders are well ventilated, so there will be no problem of having it too warm.

I have written about this drum in several past postings. You put holes around the drum. Set it atop a base like hollow blocks...so the chicks won't burn if they get pushed towards the drum. When elevated, the chicks may walk around and under :)

Am not sure what was used today, but normally they burn coco shells, wood, rice hull.....fire goes up.

Some are wary about using alternative heaters such as charcoal or burning other materials, as they think the smoke will suffocate the chicks.

See how the smoke goes up? Have you ever seen smoke that bends and goes down? Unless they are seeking ways to escape :) I know.... you have images of burning rooms in movies, where you see smoke crawling under closed doors. Then, eventually once they are out, they go up again.

After the material used had burned...you have charcoal or carbonized rice hull that is perfect for use as bedding material or for your organic vegetable plots.

Use Your Senses

Tonight Doc Rey was in a farm to check on brooding. When he got there late in the afternoon, he asked that additional heating source be added. Not contented with what science suggests, he set to eat dinner and decided to stay longer. The sky was dark and the wind was starting to blow stronger.

Again, do not be contented with the suggestion of 1watt per bird during brooding. Observe and use your senses. Your eyes and ears will tell you if the chicks are comfortable and contented.

Remember....they need enough heat, but equally important - they need fresh air that circulates. Let the fresh air enter and exit, not just circulating inside that becomes stale.

In cold weather, like tonight, do not put curtains or wrap the brooder's walls....instead, add source of heat.

Think of installing wind breakers :)

No Power, NoEffort

Recall Jojie's Crib.

This requires no electricity. Assembles like 1 2 3. Minimal cost. Easy to maintain.

Last weekend, Zac Sarian featured it in his Agri Page of the Manila Bulletin.

Read about it here.

Prepare

Often times we are asked when can we deliver. I always ask if they are prepared. Ordering day old chicks is easy. All you have to do is call and book an order. What's most important is that your brooder is prepared and your caretaker is psyched for the cradling of the chicks :)

See how nice it is when before the chicks have arrived, the brooder is all set.


The chicks transfer from their chick boxes to the brooder, gracefully and no stress :)

Brooder Hut

By 8am, we were crossing a small brook to get to this piece of property in Laguna.

Doesn't the brooder look inviting? Am sure the Sunshines were excited to be let free in there :) The brooder even had a sort of ante room.


Look at them...excited....they were literally jumping to freedom :)

The only thing that was ready when we got there were the three (3) lights. They laid the newspapers when we got there. We guided them in mixing brown sugar with the first drink. Instructed them on placing stones in the drinkers....It was actually good, as we were able to video the preparation of the drinkers...a new input for our presentations :)

When the Sunshines were set free, they were sort of in an OJT. Observed how they all gathered under the three (3) existing bulbs...they knew that they had to add bulbs to keep them warm.

Jojie's Crib

When natural farmers engage in a project, cost cutting and practicality also are in play.

See Andry here, beside the Sunshine Crib of Jojie Lim. Jojie says the cost is about PHP200. The metal sheet makes sure no rats may get to your bebes. The mosquito net, protects it from predators and mosquitoes. The bell attached to the mosquito net, should alarm the caretaker if there is an intruder :)

This size of crib takes care of about 30 Sunshines til 21days....the size and price, is perfect for a household "grow your own chickens" project. Incidentally, Doc Rey commented to Jojie that brooders don't need that height, plus it doesn't have proper ventilation. They agreed that the cost may be cut into half because the sheet may make two brooders.

Jojie has so many ideas....let's wait for her protocol...coming up.

Alternative Heat

Hanged


Or set on hollow blocks

Charcoal may be used to keep your chicks warm. Burning rice hull or ipa, may also be used as alternative source of heat. Compost material is also a good idea for keeping your chicks warm and close to their natural brooding temperature. Just make sure that the chicks can't be burned :)

Doc Rey suggests that if you are using electric bulbs or gas brooders, have on standby, alternative means to brood. The time spent thinking, planning and preparing may mean that they start crowding and piling up one on top of the other. Wanting to get heat and pushing against one another, extols a lot of pressure on them.

Alternatives

In these trying times, you always seek ways to gain and save, learn to unlearn, move forward to go back to basics, withdraw to be able to give, meet problems to find solutions, find alternative routes in all aspects....

Presented with a problem of supply, some industrial consumers opt to raising their own consumption. Sunshine Chickens need the space for ranging and you look for land that is cheaper to buy. You find ways to cross rivers to get at the other side :) Don't worry, come rainy season, there is a road that leads to that land, though 20kms farther.

He had tasted Sunshine Chicken from our stocks of dressed chickens used for marketing purposes during trade shows. The go-go entrepreneur decided he can use this for new recipes he had in mind. Conservative start, he loads 5,000 heads as he will easily consume that in 3weeks, so he may cycle brooders.

One week after, we visit to check on brooding. We cross again the river....oh yes, this time I made sure I had batteries charged for my documentation :)

The Sunshines look great in 7days. The chicks are moving around comfortably. Well fed, enough space, clean surroundings and beddings...good start.


Since they used former pig pens, they were advised to make holes/windows in the pen's walls, for ventilation. Or, they may install bamboo flooring so they elevate the chicks and they have more air. They opted to make the brooding area large and divided the 5,000 chicks into several pens. Consequently, they will need more gas brooders as more pens were used. To answer that problem, they elected to use charcoal/rice hull for heating. Placed inside drums, with holes all around, to distribute the heat evenly. A very clever and practical way of saving.

Summer is here and the sun's orientation is bad for the brooding area. I overheard Doc Rey suggesting to speed up the ranging area already as outdoor brooding is feasible for this farm. There are 14hectares, a lot of trees....so we can play with a lot of shaded areas.

Movable chicken pens are being constructed, with elevated flooring of bamboo slats. Nets are being ordered. The ranging Sunshines will surely do a lot of fertilizing here.

I was getting restless after walking around and taking pictures. Peeked inside what is obiously the caretakers' lounging area, as it is where the loud music was blaring from. I have to say I always get touched by the way an employer takes care of the employees. Says a lot about them. No junk here for the farm people. He saved on some, but takes care of what is essential and comfort for his men.

Oh btw, the naked necks are showing to be doing very well in the onset of Summer :) See how they love showing off their skin. As they say...flaunt it!

Step Back, Sit Down And Relax

We need those.

So does almost everything.

Trivia questions are thrown weekly to listeners of Kaunlaran sa Agrikultura over DWWW 774, for a prize of 10 Sunshine Chicks.

Today's question was : Bakit kailangan na nakakapahinga ang pag gamit sa brooders? (Why is there a need to rest the use of brooders?)

The winning answer was from Marie Almodavar of Binan, Laguna: Para ma break ang cycle ng life cycle ng bacteria and virus still present in the poultry house. After cleaning and disinfecting them, allow about 2weeks. ( So that you are able to break the life cycle of the bacteria)

True, the brooders have to to rest, sit back and relax. Let them sun bathe also :) Sunshine is great for them too.

I was texting with a client who had tried two batches of growing already in Gen San. He wants to start to raise 100 chicks a week. I suggested to have six brooders ready, so he has resting ones.

Actually, I think I will talk him into 200 every two weeks, or 300 every three weeks. Less personnel, less biosecurity risk...

Keep In Touch

They started with 10 Sunshines to try. Then loaded 300 towards the end of September.

During Agrilink 2008, we had the pleasure of meeting them and discussing about marketing.

Nice to market new growers. You learn from one another and then they step on their own little by little. Never ending as new groups come into the picture and you guide them again :)

They took this video of their brooding house. That always happens, the Sunshines are camera shy first an run around when you take their video from inside the brooder!

Very important to keep in touch. Videos are helpful. Seems the walling is high if done on all four (4) sides. They might not be getting enough fresh air? If you will notice, the flooring are bamboo slats, so fresh air comes from below.

Weekends

Our lives just roll...am not sure where the week starts nor ends :)

So busy the past weekends more so the past days.

Sunday, I had to take a quick trip to go to Heat at Shang Edsa as there was a family lunch going on and I had to at least show my stressed face to my mother :) Was just there for less than an hour. When I confirmed lunch, the 4th Sunday seminars skipped my mind. The buffet spread at Heat was very inviting to my eyes....must make a trip back there soon in social timetables.

Monday, visited Boystown, to see the ranging area for the Sunshines as demo farm in tandem with AANI. Hopefully we will bring the rangers there by Friday.

Tuesday, we left Manila at 6am for Tarlac, La Union and Baguio, bringing brooders to dealers. Got to Isabela by 12midnight!

Very fruitful past days. Reconnected with some people. Discussed some topics for thesis projects using Sunshines.

Exciting days ahead ....

Brooding In Warm Weather Ala TJ

TJ knew how uncomfortable staying indoors are these days, for the caretaker and his Sunshine chicks. He decided to brood outdoors, in the very same ranging pen. He set up the infrared brooding bulbs, just a few and have planned fallback positions of the Sunshines needed more heat. The photo shows the bulbs are positioned too high and he had been advised.

He set up the metal sheet around the brooding space. What does the metal sheet do? Partition? Wall? More importantly, it secures the chicks from predators like rats, as they can't climb the slippery surface.

Infrared Red Brooding Bulbs

When asked what we suggest to use for brooding, we reply that we personally like to use infrared red brooding bulbs.

These bulbs are designed to give out heat. Unlike the incandescent bulbs that were meant to emit light and expire in a few days, these infrared bulbs are built to last and come out to be very fairly priced in the long run.

Comes in clear and red. The red bulbs were designed for poultry use, to limit feather picking.

Take a peek at the Sunshine hatch of 30 November. We are now brooding 3000 heads for a Southern Luzon client who wanted ready to free range Sunshines. The photos were taken at day1 and day3.

See how they move at day4. For the Ilokanos out there....you might get brooding pointers here.

How to brood your Solraya's Sunshine Chicks

BROODING THE BIRDS: By practice, use one (1) watt per bird for heating bulbs. It is better to use several bulbs in smaller wattages, rather than using a100watt bulb when you brood 100 chicks. Temperature should be 70 to 75oF with the temperature at chicks’ level to be 95oF during the first week. The area assigned to these chicks should have some flexibility such that they can move through a range of temperatures (95 to 75oF). Monitor the birds for signs of stress; for instance, if the chicks are scattered around the area and chirping loudly, chances are they are hot; conversely, if you notice the chicks all huddled together in one area, they are likely cold . They should be comfortably scattered, moving around. That is your basis that temperature is right. The temperatures given are just guides. USE YOUR EYES to monitor them. At the end of Week 1, begin dropping the temperature by 5oF per week until you reach 70oF, and then try to maintain that temperature.

One common mistake: When the breeze is cold or the wind is strong, most people have this misconception about wrapping the brooders with curtains or laminated sacks. That builds up ammonia fast inside and no fresh air is circulated. Remember that fresh air comes from below and hot air escapes at the top. If you will drape a curtain around the brooder, leave space below for air entry and keep the top (roof) open. If the Sunshines are cold, add more bulbs to keep them warm. Scatter bulbs to even heat around. 1watt per bird is just a guide, you may use more as needed.

Best gauge: How we feel is also how they feel. If you walked into their brooding room feeling warm and gasping for air....so do they!

WATER AND FEEDS: The most neglected and overlooked nutrient is water. What appears to be a bowl of “clean water;” may contain millions of bacteria. The bacteria will stress the digestive system of the bird, such that it will not grow at the rate believed to be their potential. The waterers and feeders should be cleaned routinely (weekly or sooner) with a product like chlorine to reduce the incidence of microbial formation. Fresh water needs to be supplied everyday to insure healthy birds. During the periods of extreme heat, there is an increased risk of microbial growth.
We suggest using probiotics/vitamins in their drinking water, and adlibitum feeding of chick booster for the 1st 21days, prior to ranging. Make sure feeding trays are NEVER EMPTY. Medicate only when necessary.

VACCINATIONS: Day 7 - B1 B1; Day 14 - B1 La Sota

Here are samples of styles of brooding. Let's work on what is available and easy for your requirements. What is important is that the system is one that works for you, so feeding and cleaning is not a task but an enjoyable way to bond w/ your Sunshines.


Remember, aside from Doc Rey, we have veterinarians to assist, we are very accessible by cellphones and landline calls that are forwarded to us (NO COST TO YOU), email, YM etc... Let us keep in touch always so we can monitor. We do farm visits for FREE. What is important is we are able to grow the Sunshines properly. Happy customers, means success to all of us.