On-station and on-farm evaluation of the 'Hay-box chick brooder' using different insluation materials at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and Denbi Village, Adaa Wereda

Trials were conducted on-station at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center and on-farm at Denbi village to test the suitability of the 'hay-box chick brooder' to brood chicks using different insulation materials. During the on-station trial, the survival and comparative performance of chicks raised using: 1) conventional electric brooding (control),2) the 'hay box brooder' insulated with barley straw, 3) the 'hay box brooder' insulated with tef straw and, 4) the 'hay box brooder' insulated with wheat straw, was evaluated. Data were collected on feed intake, water consumption, body weight change and mortality of chicks. Feed and water consumption and body weight gain were significantly higher for chicks raised using the conventional electric brooder compared to those raised under the hay box brooders insulated with either of the cereal straws. However, there were no significant differences in survival rates between chicks brooded using any of the methods tested. The levels of mortality at the end of the brooding phase (8 weeks) were 18.7% and, 18.3, 20.8 and 18.9% for chicks raised under the electric brooder and hay boxes insulated with barley, tef and wheat straw, respectively. Statistically, the performance and survival of chicks raised under the 'hay-box brooder' using any one of the insulation materials was not different from each other. The on-farm trial was conducted at ten households using tef straw and wheat straw as insulation materials. Data were collected on parameters similar to the on-station trial. The results indicated no significant variations in performance and survival of chicks raised using the 'hay box brooders' insulated with either type of straw. The rates of mortality under this condition were even lower (7-10%) compared to those recorded on-station. In conclusion, the hay box brooder can successfully be used to brood chicks to eight weeks of age using either of the two types of cereal residues as insulation materials.