Abstract
A study was conducted to determine whether broiler performance is adversely affected when chicks are brooded under limited-area brooding densities or on a wire floor and then transferred and grown on a litter floor. Results showed that brooding broilers for the first 14 or 21 days at densities of 186 and 287 cm2, either on wire or litter, and then allowed a growing density of 697 cm2 on litter did not adversely affect the body weight at 14, 21, or 49 days, feed efficiency at 49 days, breast blisters at 49 days, or deformed legs at 49 days when compared to broilers brooded and reared on litter at a density of 697 cm2. At 186 cm2, the density is comparable with that of one-fourth house brooding; at 287 cm2, the density is comparable with that of one-third house brooding.
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