The rainy season often worries chicken farmers, because it can affect the health, productivity and quality of chickens. Cold, damp and wet weather can cause chickens to become stressed, susceptible to disease and lacking nutrition. Therefore, special care is needed for chickens in the rainy season to keep them healthy.
Come on, take a look at some tips for caring for chickens in the rainy season below!
Tips for Caring for Chickens in the Rainy Season
Here are some tips for caring for chickens in the rainy season that Champion Friends need to know:
1. Carry out cage management
The first tip for caring for chickens in the rainy season is coop management. The chicken coop should be comfortable, dry and warm. You need to repair a leaking roof, make a gutter to collect water or dirt, set up a system for opening and closing the cage curtains, and keep the cage lights on when it's cloudy or rainy.
If the chicken is still cold, you can add a heater or increase the temperature. A dry and warm coop will prevent the development of pathogenic microorganisms and an increase in ammonia levels which can cause disease in chickens.
2. Carry out feed management
During the rainy season, chicken feed needs to be stored properly so that it does not get damp and spoil. This condition can cause a decrease in quality and nutrition, as well as become a medium for the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and fungi. The danger of feed contaminated with mold can cause digestive disorders, decreased egg production, organ damage, and even death in chickens.
It is best to store feed in a dry, closed place and protected from rainwater. Apart from that, provide feed regularly and according to the portions needed by the chickens. Don't leave unfinished food in the cage, because it can be a source of disease.
Also read: Recommendations for Chicken Feed that Makes You Fat
3. Change drinking water regularly
You need to maintain the cleanliness and quality of drinking water, and change drinking water regularly. Drinking water for chickens must be clean, fresh and sufficient. Contaminated drinking water can contain pathogenic microbes such as E. coli, which can cause colibacillosis. This disease is characterized by white diarrhea, lethargy, ruffled feathers, and hunched over in chickens.
4. Increase the immune system of chickens
Chickens' immune system is very important to protect chickens from disease attacks that often appear in the rainy season. You can take the following steps to increase the chicken's immune system:
- Vaccinate regularly and according to a predetermined schedule. Vaccination can prevent or reduce the risk of disease in chickens. You can consult a veterinarian or animal health officer to find out the right type and dose of vaccine.
- Give medicines appropriate to the chicken's condition. If the chicken shows signs of disease, immediately give it appropriate medication as prescribed by a veterinarian or animal health officer. Don't give medicines carelessly or without the correct dosage, because it can cause dangerous side effects for the chickens.
- Provide vitamins and minerals that can increase the chicken's immune system. You can provide vitamins and minerals contained in the feed, or provide additional supplements that are sold in feed stores. Vitamins and minerals that are good for chickens in the rainy season are vitamins A, C, E and B complex, as well as minerals such as zinc, selenium and iron.
Also read: 4 Chicken Diseases in the Rainy Season and How to Prevent Them
5. Observe chicken behavior
You need to be more observant in observing chicken behavior, especially during the rainy season. If the chicken shows symptoms such as respiratory problems, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, hunched over, wounds or spots on the skin, or decreased egg production, then you need to immediately carry out appropriate examination and treatment, Champion Friends.
Now, These are some tips that you can do to maintain the health of your chickens during the rainy season. I hope this helps!
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Reference:
1. How to Care for Winter Chickens. URL: https://duniabinatang.net/ayam/cara-merawat-ayam-musim-dingin/#google_vignette (accessed 12/20/2023)
2. How to Care for Chickens During the Rainy Season. URL: https://ayamhias.id/cara-merawat-ayam-saat-musim-hujan/ (accessed 12/20/2023)
3. Tips for Raising Chickens During the Rainy Season to Keep Chickens Healthy. URL: https://www.scribd.com/document/354545555/Tips-Memelihara-Ayam-Selama-Musim-Hujan-Agar-Ayam-Tetap-Sehat (accessed 12/20/2023)