Market Broiler Management Practice Test

Maintaining proper temperature in the brooder is crucial for what reason?

1. To ensure adequate feather growth

2. To promote social behavior

3. To optimize feed conversion

4. To prevent disease outbreaks

The correct answer is: To ensure adequate feather growth

Maintaining proper temperature in the brooder is essential primarily because it directly affects the thermal comfort of young chicks. When chicks are kept at the appropriate temperature, they can conserve energy for vital processes such as growth and development, including feather growth. Proper warmth helps ensure that chicks are not using excessive energy to keep warm, which in turn allows them to grow feathers more effectively. Feather development is crucial for their long-term health, as it contributes to their ability to regulate body temperature as they mature. Inadequate temperatures can lead to a variety of problems, including poor feather growth, slow weight gain, and increased stress, which can compromise the overall well-being of the chicks. Therefore, ensuring the right environmental conditions, including temperature, is vital for promoting healthy feather growth and supporting the chicks' overall development.