High-density winter brooding in a solar facility

Broilers were brooded under high-density and low ventilation conditions in a solar facility to 25 days of age and then moved to conventional facilities for growout. Nonstatistical comparisons were made on the performance of these birds to that of broilers grown under conventional conditions starting at day-old. Body weight differences during the brooding phase were primarily due to density with birds in the solar house weighing an average of 10.2% less than those brooded in a conventional house. Growth depression continued during the growing phase but was reduced in magnitude to 3% at Day 46. During the brooding phase no definite trends were seen with regard to effects of ventilation or density on feed conversion. Compared with conventionally-housed birds, feed conversion of the birds in the solar facility was slightly poorer at the end of the brooding period. This trend was reversed in the growing phase due to compensatory growth, giving the solar brooded birds an overall advantage at the end of the study. Mortality during the 46-day study was within the expected range for both the solar-brooded (3.1%) and conventionally-brooded (3.0%) birds. Energy consumption for supplemental heat and ventilation in the solar facility (.76 kWh/bird) was similar to that reported for energy efficient, environmentally-controlled houses and about half that for conventional facilities. Litter moisture in the solar facility was excessive due to the high bird density, low ventilation rates, and the use of a concrete slab floor.