Charcoal Heater

When I was doing an interview for an article, my question on what beddings and manner of brooding came up. I was expecting the normal brooding practices of either conventional or natural farming, but this was a nice blend of science and natural.

Charcoal Heater: Using this kind of artificial heater is a big advantage to natural farmers because it  is very cost efficient and at the same time the smoke helps repel mosquitoes that is the carrier of fowl pox. The heat is very much scattered equally at the brooder that even if you are standing at the edge of the brooder, you can feel the heat that is produced. One heater can be used for up to 1000 heads of chicks.   If you used it for just 14 days for brooding time, you can re use it for as much as 5 times for 14day cycles. It is made of  thin galvanized plain sheets, so it burns over time as you use it.

Cost: P380 per piece in Cagayan de Oro

Description:  Heater is made of plain sheet, charcoal powered. 

It has own ash collector at the bottom.

How to use it:  Use wood charcoal around 2kls. 

If you start around 9pm it will last around 4am.
Cost to use:  PHP300/sack contains 9kls. 

Approximately PHP67.00/usage 

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.

Debutantes Stepping Out

We had several batches on trial runs for the white broilers for free ranging already, done, observed, harvested and eaten :) Starting with 100, 200 and 300 at a time. I was never around to see them step out for the first time as work took me most of time away from the farm.

We had all been blinded about the whites not being able to survive on the open range, but in our pursuit to give the farmers cheaper and safer food alternatives, there must be a way to have cheaper and more accessible free ranging chicks :) Thus the study on the whites. These chicks are readily available in most areas and pricing range dips to a level that will be very attractive to farmers.

Doc Rey here observing them while inside the brooder. He was ready to let them out now at 18days, just instructing for a manual count and weighing in before set out to range. 14days is what he practices now for brooding time. That will be a separate topic on the observations on brooding the whites for free range.

Average weights taken and head count done....the side doors were opened. See how happy they are? Doc Rey and I were discussing that you never see the industrial white chickens this way in their cramped coops. We thought that all they knew was eat, sleep and fight. Well I guess it is really on the environment. See how happy chickens are chickens naturally? Irregardless of their color :) Same characteristics when out on open areas.

Rats are the biggest problems, so Doc Rey instructs that a side of the metal walling of the brooder be lifted. That way, it will be easier for them to be herded back to safety after they go home at night. This is done as precaution because they are let out open at 14days.

Early evenings, once grouped inside, the metal sheet walling may be slid back to position so they will be safe from the Rats.

Time For Change?

I had been toying with some ideas...not quite sure if it is a GO or not....we'll see in the next days :) This post made me think I should GO and move.

This morning at the farm, I chanced upon a bedding change being done.

When do you change? Better than scientific 1 2 3, let your senses tell it is time:

1) When you enter the housing or when you clean up and feed, if you feel teary eyed...it is time for change.

2) When you pass the housing and there is a foul smell, it is time for change.

3) I doubt if you will taste it :)

How to change?

1) Some have a thick layer of beddings and they just turn over the layers every so often.

2) In this case, they gathered the used rice hull. They will shovel that into an empty sack. Lay a new layer of fresh rice hull. The used sacked ones may be used for your compost pile for organic fertilizer.

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 :)

Where There Is Smoke, There Is Heat

Talk about alternative heat for brooding, aside from brooding bulbs or the gas brooders...people are amazed and surprised when we say they can burn things inside a drum or tin can.

You can use rice hull which will give you carbonized rice hull after. Depending on what is abundant in your area, you may use coconut husks, coconut shells, wood that gives you charcoal later, or charcoal itself.

The point it to have a heat source that is available, convenient to use and economical :)

Most are scared about the chickens getting suffocated by the smoke.

Did you ever see smoke that blows down?

Worm Out Stress

When we visited the 2nd day old chicks in Natividad Farms, last Valentine's Day, we were shown that they were given worms already for food. In their natural habitat, mother hen really hunts for worms to give to her chicks. This was in supplement of the chopped bamboo leaves with brown rice that Jojie Lim prescribed to them.

Even then, you can see the Sunshines loved the worms, although they were two day energized then.

Five (5) days later, as we were commenting and observing the chicks eat and what they ate....Ed Fajardo said that we should hear their sound as worms are brought to them.

Watch and let me comment later :)

Geezzzzz....I wasn't prepared for this! As the Natividad boys came with their trays of worms...the Sunshines literally BUZZEDDDDD and jumped all around! You saw and heard it yourself.

They brought in 1kg at that time of worms. Retail value of about PHP1000 :) But remember, this farm went into Sunshines to get rid of their worms.

The hosts were so happy and proud about the chicks' behavior. Am sure you will be too...unless you are a veterinarian or a poultry man hahahahhaha

STRESS in capital letters! They really bump into one another. Maybe a new game of Bump Chicks will be developed after getting inspiration from this.

Doc Rey didn't tell them outright DON'T....he suggested that the chicks numbering 200, be given about 2kgs of chopped worms in the fermented feeds. If chopped, that way the chicks have no need to be excited with the wiggly, live protein. If chopped, they can be relaxed eating their high protein diet and Natividad Farm's vermi is rid of the over production.

Originally I titled this as Worm Bank...owing to the amount of worms in this farm. But, the stress it brought to the chicks was the point I wanted to bring out after reviewing the video.

Stressful matters may be turned out to good...if properly handled :)

Mother Hen

I saw this pic while surfing.

Did you notice that the feathers are standing and sort of spiked? She seems to be alarmed or furious! Maybe the photographer came too close :)

Mothers are naturally and generally very protective of their offsprings. In this case the chicks are well protected. The hen takes them under her wings to keep them warm and/or when the chicks need protection.

How do we keep them protected from predators in artificial brooding? Screens, nets, metal sheets etc to keep predators off their cages.

Natural Brooding

When Ed Fajardo of Natividad Farms showed us what he has printed on free range chicken, I saw that he has several pages from this blog :) and he had attached some pics he "googled images".

This pic is a nice one that shows natural brooding. Explains WHY we need the proper temperature when brooding. The chickens naturally have a slightly higher temperature than humans, and the chicks from day1 to day21 need the warmth while they are still developing their protective feathers.

Notice the space. They are not crowded and have their own areas :)

All over this website, we can't reiterate enough how important brooding is. Please take time to read and make copies.

Mother knows best. In artificial brooding, we learn as much from the mother hens and approximate it as closely.

Don't Take For Granted

You always have to check caretakers, even after you have tried to teach them (granting that you know what you are doing too). We made a quick trip today to check on brooding this week in a new developed area. New caretaker too, so Doc Rey wanted to see how he followed...

Can you spot the mistakes from here?



Ok good. He has his hammock there. Radio playing...I forgot to tell him to tset it to the radio station where we broadcast our info ads in Isabela...that should be his audio bibles :) I take the radio was for him, and not for the chicks.

Maybe now at closer view, you can?

Maybe you can't tell too? Common sense in brooding is not really common sense to a non knowing like me also.

Since I have some knowledge already after all the seminars, farm visits, and listening to Doc Rey...this is what I can tell:

1) Infrared bulbs were sent to be used. What was sent was 150w each and I sent six (6) pcs. We were brooding five hundred (500). He just used four (4) all in one side and had incandescent bulbs on the other side. I heard Doc Rey asking him (his way of teaching the how and the why) if the chicks last night were bunched under the red bulbs and not merrily walking around.

2) The rat protection is better when there are no corners where there may be a tendency to group and they can get crushed. Doc Rey reminded him that he was told to make that in an Oval shape. Ideally round, but it will be difficult to go around the pen with a big circle in the middle.

3) There were no standby heaters. There were drums outside and the ricehull were ready in sacks too. He should have had them ready and staged on pedestal hollowblocks (w/c were sitting quite far so it will be difficult to put together incase of a power outage in the middle of the night).

Aside from the above, these I heard from Doc Rey:

1) Set the basin feeders near the heater bulbs. If it is cold, they will want to stay near the bulbs and of the food is far, they won't go to eat.

2) Set the drinkers horizontally instead of vertically. Again, set it under the bulbs. Same concept. Make food and water accessible to them even when the temperature is low.

As I was studying picture now as I used it for the topic....it dawned on me that it will be better it the grouping was divided into two (2) or three (3) of those iron sheets. That was, the caretaker goes around the groups, changed the water and cleans out basins with out stepping on beddings. Maybe that was the reason caretaker opted to set the waterers and basins near the edge...so he can easily reach out.

Oh well.....we will be back later at the farm to eat freshly picked veggies. I will discuss that with Doc Rey :)

Natural & Conventional

Opposite poles attract. Everything has pros and cons. No one thing is solely right nor wrong. Everything has its benefits. Total different ideas and practices may meet.....Those are some things we learned over time....experience dictates so.

Andry and Doc Rey are BOTH...take note, BOTH Pisces Horses. Both born in March and in 1954. The worst combination for my Leo Rat! Jojie and I are so different from Andry and Doc Rey, but then again, the four (4) of us are all so different from one another.

But, experience led us to the wisdom that the differences should help one another and everything is doable as long as the doer accepts it....so let's give everyone the choice to select what they want to do...for it to be doable and sustainable.

Remember when we all first met. Both men had their eyes closed. Maybe it was Jojie and my chit chatting that made them realize that they had to listen as they had no choice being thrown in that company.

They both realized that natural farming has to know, listen to conventional practices. Same with Doc Rey, he just had to see reasons and outcome to accept the natural farming way. Even if you don't practice...JUST LISTEN and be open. Later, you will find you way into it also, w/o realizing it. Because eventually you will see the logics and the whys.

That is what happened. Natural farming and conventional practices may and SHOULD be merged. There will be practices in poultry management or in all aspects, that we can't throw away.

Classic examples are the followers of natural farming. They attend Andry's seminar. When they go into Sunshines, there may be problems encountered. Brooding most especially..then hygience when they don't follow the spraying of the IMOs properly :)

Most who attended both Andry's and Doc Rey's seminars separately do better...because they are able to merge and select.

Lately and when possible...Andry and Doc Rey are present in one another's seminars. Even when silent, they both know that they can both count on one another. When technical questions arise..the ones that you don't just read on...Doc Rey can show the light. When the natural feeds are asked...oh...Andry has the floor, dancing around.

Bottom line is...for natural farming enthusiasts...you can't throw away conventional and scientific ways. We need both and all. Knowledge about both will give you a larger picture to play color or edit :)

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 :)

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 :)

MMS

By 6am, I got a text that Sunshines were enroute to Guimaras already.

This couple has the energy, excitement, enthusiasm....but no real experience in brooding :)

What comes to our rescue? MMS....they were sending pictures of the brooding...I was calling to comment. That exchange went for about 3 or 4 photos/calls. By the 4th photo and call, we were over "comfort zone 101".

Well...we said 101...so it means this will be a whole semester :)

Keeping in touch is a requisite.

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.

CRH

Carbonized Rice Hull

Some people really make CRH for use in organic fertilizers. In Isabela where we are based, we have the luxury of CRH from the many rice mills around. The coveted CRH is a byproduct and can be taken with a telephone call :)

How do you, as a raiser of free range chickens, acquire for yourself? You may use some charcoal and rice hull as alternative source of heat. Put holes around tin pails/drums. Have rice hull and some charcoal and ignite. The burning rice hull will give off heat. You may also burn coconut husks or shells :)

Instead of throwing away the resulting material inside your drums, mix them with sand and make them as beddings in your brooders and pens. Very good for diarrhea prevention...remember your own medication?

I like Black..looks clean to me. I also like the caring detail the grower here has given to his babies. He built them a perch stand! Thoughtful that it is natural for chickens to want to perch and that also helps them safe from predators.

Incidentally, you may even sell your organic fertlizers to your neighbors, from your Sunshine's waste :)

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.