By Hannah Cargill, contract broiler production manager, Avara Foods
Every winter, the same conversations about chicks come round again. “Hatchery problems.” “Transport didn’t help.” And to be fair, winter does put real pressure on chick quality long before birds ever reach the farm gate.
Egg age can be higher, or with supply pressure, sometimes too low, hatcheries are battling cold external air, and transport conditions are far less forgiving in February than they are in June. Modern broilers are also incredibly efficient — and that means they’re less tolerant of early stress. None of that can be ignored, and none of it sits with the farm.
But winter performance isn’t decided in the hatchery alone. What happens in the first 24–48 hours on farm still has a huge influence on how those chicks perform – especially when quality isn’t perfect.
One of the biggest controllables is pre-heating. In winter, “the house feels warm” isn’t enough. Chicks don’t respond to air temperature on a controller; they respond to the floor they’re placed on. Floor temperature, not just air temperature, is often the difference between a chick that settles and one that struggles to start. Cutting corners here nearly always shows up later.
Uniformity across the house matters more in winter too. Cold spots, draughty corners and uneven temperatures punish poorer chicks first – and those chicks will always find the worst areas if they’re available. Sealing leaks in the sheds gives better control of the air coming in, and reduces the cold spots in the sheds.
Then there’s early stockmanship. Winter chicks need more time, not less. Watching drinking behaviour, checking crop fill properly and being prepared to intervene early all make a difference. If a flock is behind at 24 hours, it’s very hard to claw that back.
Water is another underestimated factor. Line flushing, water temperature awareness and drinker access are all firmly within farm control – and they matter more than we sometimes admit.
None of this removes responsibility from the hatchery or transport. Winter is challenging for everyone in the chain. But farms still have the biggest influence on whether a small chick quality issues become long-term performance problems.
Winter chicks are rarely perfect; but discipline, patience and attention to detail pay dividends. When farms focus on what they can control, winter stops being an excuse – and becomes a real test of good broiler management.