Causes Of Early Chicken Mortality

1
Causes Of Early Chicken Mortality
2
Whether you are new in the poultry farming
business or have heaps of experience with it,
early chicken mortality is an issue that most of
you have faced at some point in time. After the
hatching period, during the early stages of their
lives, chicks are very fragile. Due to this,
early chicken mortality cannot be completely
eradicated, irrespective of what the poultry
medicine companies tell you. But the frequent
occurrence of early chicken mortality can be
reduced through sound management of your flock.
But to reduce it, we first need to understand the
causes behind it.
3

• Neonatal infections
• In simple words, if the chicks came from infected
  mothers who werent given vaccination and proper
  medications at the right time, there is a high
  chance that the chick will be under a constant
  threat of death if there is no intervention in
  time. If you want to increase the chances of the
  chicks survival, you must consult your vet if
  your flock is sick.

4

• Improper brooding conditions
• It is important to understand that chicks cannot
  keep themselves warm in the early stages of their
  lives. They rely upon their caregivers (us) to
  make sure that the temperature conditions are
  appropriate for them. Apart from giving the
  proper vaccination for chicken, we must also
  maintain optimal temperature, provide sanitized
  water and good quality feed to them at all times.

5

• Biosecurity
• Biosecurity literally means the safety of living
  things. Biosecurity practices are implemented on
  poultry farms to reduce the risk of catching
  infections and diseases from outside sources. If
  the flock isnt completely isolated and
  quarantined from disease-causing pathogens, the
  chicks will likely suffer the brunt of such
  malpractices.

6
To reduce the rate of early chicken mortality in
your poultry farm, it is vital to ensure the
vaccination for chicken is administered timely.
Also, make sure that the rest of your flock is
looked after properly and given medications for
broilers to avoid transmission of infection and
diseases. For more information on medicines, get
in touch with one of the poultry medicine
companies if advised by your vet.