Hydration is key to keep chicks healthy during transit

For broiler farmers, ensuring chicks get off to a good start is a priority if they are to achieve the desired performance. The first few days are crucial. Newborn chicks are 80% water, but they will soon start to lose weight if this water is not replenished soon after hatching. A dehydrated chick will become lethargic and less likely to move around or take on food or drink, exacerbating the problem. Struggling chicks that have not gained an appetite will quickly fall behind others and fail to achieve the desired growth rate. The time spent in crated transport could be an additional challenge, unless there is a solution that conveniently provides both hydration and nutrients whilst they are in transit. Agrivite Hydrocubes are designed to do just this.

What are Agrivite Hydrocubes?

Agrivite Hydrocubes are a dietetic feed, in the form of gel cubes, that have been especially developed to mitigate the stress and dehydration that chicks may experience during long periods of transit. The Hydrocube formula is 90% water and 10% essential nutrients, including trace elements, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Each highly palatable gel cube weights 25g and can be administered to chicks within the crates with minimum fuss and mess.

When to use Hydrocubes

The cubes prove most beneficial on journeys of six hours or more, as the chicks are more likely to acclimatise to travel conditions and settle to consuming the cubes when travel times are more extended. The birds then arrive at their final destination alert and hydrated, avoiding a week start on placement. Hydrocubes can also be given to chicks that are held over in the hatchery for more than six hours to sustain them for the intervening period until they are delivered for placement. Two blocks per crate of 100 chicks is sufficient. and they can also be used to provide a boost to chicks that are in a weakened or compromised state.

Proven in trials

In trials, chicks that were administered HydroCubes within their transport crates arrived in considerably better health than those that received nothing. There was a 40% reduction in 7 day culls with the batch that received the HydroCubes in transit, and an overall 70% reduction in 7 day mortality. In addition to this, batch uniformity improved significantly, which leads to better profitability.

Why is hydration in transit important?

Often described as the ‘forgotten nutrient’, water is extremely important for bodily functions such as heat regulation, food digestion and nutrient absorption. Reduced water intake can lead to reduced food intake, which is a recipe for disaster in a 38-day race to ideal bodyweight. Dehydration also weakens the immune system, making chicks more susceptible to infection and disease. Lack of water can also lead to heat stress in warmer temperatures. Without water, chicks on long journeys are likely to arrive dehydrated and lacklustre with a probable depletion in numbers.

Give chicks the best start possible

All hatcheries want their chicks to arrive at the sheds in tiptop condition. It therefore makes sense to take reasonable measures to ensure that they receive vital hydration and sustenance during transit. This makes it more likely that they will start to feed soon after they arrive at their destination and less likely that they will pick up disease or infection due to a weakened immune system.

At the time of placement, chicks can be given a further boost with Agrivite ProStart Chick Gel, which ensures swift engagement and positive hydration. It’s easy to provide chicks with this healthy hydration both in transit and on placement, and the results speak for themselves. Contact our experts today to find out more – use the Live Chat in the bottom right of the screen to speak with a specialist today.