Day 15 marks the official end of partial brooding. Remove brooding partitions to give the flock full floor space, transition from starter crumble to 2.5mm grower pellets, and dial in ventilation for increased flock biomass.
Broiler growth rate surges beyond 50g per day this week. Releasing full floor space prevents crowding-induced heat stress, stabilizes litter moisture, and prevents feed competition that wrecks flock uniformity.
•Opening the full house without pre-heating the newly opened zone to 23–24°C, causing cold shock and piling.
•Switching from crumble to 100% hard pellets overnight, triggering feed refusal and crop stagnation.
•Failing to charge and flush newly opened drinker extensions before birds drink stagnant water.
•Leaving feeder flood pans open at chick level, resulting in severe feed wastage and billing-out.
•Inspect intestinal integrity during routine mortality necropsy; check for early Eimeria acervulina (white ladder-like transverse lesions in duodenum).
•Veterinary Escalation: Immediately isolate and summon poultry vet if daily mortality exceeds 0.1% (1 bird per 1000) or if necropsy reveals fluid in pericardium or abdomen.
•Walk the house boundaries four times today to gently encourage birds to explore the newly opened area.
•Pre-fill the new drinker extensions with sanitized fresh water 4 hours before dropping divider curtains.
A sudden transition from crumbles to 2.5mm pellets shocks the gizzard and digestive enzymes, causing birds to reject feed or pass undigested grain. A 48-hour 50/50 blend allows gut flora and gizzard grinding capacity to adjust seamlessly.
Ensure the temperature, lighting intensity (20–30 lux initially), and drinker heights in the new area match the brooding zone exactly before raising curtains. Walk slowly through the house to guide the flock.
