Determination of amount of charcoal used in pot charcoal chicken brooder by evaluating heat generation capacity and survival of chickens

Abstract

Experimental study was carried out to determine amount of charcoal required for pot charcoal chicken brooder by evaluating heat generation capacity and survival of chickens at the University of Gondar teaching and research poultry farm, Ethiopia. One hundred seventy commercial B102 strain day-old chickens were randomly assigned into five groups (n=34); three groups brooded by using pots containing 500, 750, and 1000 gm charcoal, the fourth group brooded in electrical brooder (positive control), and the fifth group was left in brooder guard for negative control. Death/survival of chickens was strictly followed throughout 24 hrs for 15 days in each group. Heat produced was measured at three points (25, 75, and 125 cm) away from the source of heat within intervals. The 500, 750 and 1000 gm pot charcoal brooders maintain average maximum and minimum temperature of 41.33, 44.33, 50°C, and 20.3, 21.33, 23.67°C when the temperature was measured on the liter at 25 and 125 cm from the edge of the pot, respectively. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Almost equal (4-5) number of deaths of chickens was recorded in all the pot charcoal chicken brooders tested compared to that of the conventional electrical brooder, and to that of the negative control brooder (100% death was recorded). Therefore, even though the amount of charcoal varies depending on number of chickens, farmers can reduce cost and effect on forest by using 500 gm charcoal and brood up to 50 or some more chickens. Further experimental study determining number of chickens which can be brooded per unit volume of charcoal, and factors affecting under Ethiopian condition would be suggested.

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