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COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY <br />EXTENSION <br />Brooding and Space Requirements <br />for Poultry <br />Fact Sheet No. 2.502 <br />by H. L. Enos* <br />Brooding Temperatures <br />Livestock Series I Health <br />Proper conditions are necessary for baby poultry changes during the first weeks of life. <br />Ensure baby poultry are dry and bedding materials are not wet. Hypothermia due to wet con- <br />ditions is one of the most common causes of baby poultry deaths in small farms. Poultry flock <br />owners should strive to follow the suggested temperatures in the chart below by regulating <br />heat in the brooding unit. The temperatures should be measured at the outer edge of the hover <br />(a canopy type brooding unit/lamp) 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) above the floor. <br />Room temperature should not be over 75°F (23.9°C) during the first few weeks. It is advisable <br />to keep room temperature in the correct range to encourage rapid feathering of the chicks. If <br />weather conditions change outside of the brooding unit, attend quickly to temperatures to see <br />if adjustments need to be made. <br />Age <br />Brooding Temperature <br />0 to 1 week <br />93° to 95°F (33.9° to 35°C) <br />1 to 2 weeks <br />88° to 90oF (31.Io to 32.2°C) <br />2 to 3 weeks <br />83° to 85°F (28.3° to 29.4°C) <br />3 to 4 weeks <br />78° to 80oF (25.6° to 26.7°C) <br />4 to 5 weeks <br />750F (23.9°C) <br />5 to 6 weeks <br />70oF (21. PC) <br />6 weeks and over <br />Comfort Zone 50' to 70oF (10° to 21.1°C) <br />Space Requirements for Poultry <br />Chickens <br />Per Bird <br />Square feet* of space <br />Linear inches* of trough/100 <br />birds <br />Weeks of Age <br />Floor <br />Cage <br />Feeder <br />Waterer <br />Brooding <br />0-4 <br />1/2 <br />1/2 <br />11/2 <br />24 <br />Growing <br />4-12 <br />1 <br />3/4 <br />21/2 <br />48 <br />Roasters <br />8-12 <br />2 <br />1 <br />21/2 <br />48 <br />12-16 <br />2 <br />1 <br />3 <br />48 <br />Replacements <br />8-12 <br />2 <br />1 <br />3 <br />48 <br />12-21 <br />2 1/2 - 3 <br />1 1 <br />4 <br />60 <br />Layers <br />Leghorn type <br />21+ <br />2 1/2 - 3 <br />1 <br />4 <br />60 <br />Dual-purpose <br />21+ <br />3 - 3 1/2 <br />1 <br />4 <br />60 <br />*H. L. Enos, CSU extension associate professor poultry science (revised 8/1/79) <br />Robin Young, Archuleta County Director; Travis Hoesli, Grand County Director; Todd Hagenbuch, Agriculture Agent <br />Routt County; Sharon Bokan, Small Acreage Coordinator Boulder County (Revised 10/18). <br />Quick Facts <br />• Proper brooding <br />temperatures are necessary <br />for chicks to be healthy and to <br />rapidly feather. The brooder <br />temperature will decrease <br />with each week of age. <br />• All poultry requires a <br />minimum amount of square <br />feet in coops, runs and <br />cages that increases with <br />age to maintain health and <br />to prevent social problems. <br />They also require a certain <br />amount of space at feeders <br />and waterers. <br />©Colorado State University <br />Extension. 8/79. Revised 10/18. <br />extension.colostate.ed u <br />