Executive Summary: The Poultry Innovation Research Division of Maverick Innovation recently has conducted their first experimental trial to study how stocking density during the first week of rearing affects the growth performance of broiler chickens reared for up to 4 weeks in cold weather conditions. The trial aimed to determine whether allocating 0.5 or 1 sq ft of space per bird during the first week is effective for managing broiler chickens under cold wave in further research trials. A total of 320 commercial straight run day-old broiler chicks (DOCs), purchased from Nourish Poultry and Hatchery Limited, Bhaluka, Bangladesh, were considered for the trial. The chicks were reared for 28 days in an open sided gable type house. There were two treatment groups: T1 = 0.5 sq ft per bird during the first week and T2 = 1 sq ft per bird during the first week. Each group had 16 replications and 160 birds per treatment. Immediately upon arrival, the DOCs were weighed and then randomly assigned to the floor pens as per treatments. The area of each floor pen was 10 sq ft i. e. 1 sq ft per bird. For T1 group, 20 birds were housed per pen during the first week to provide 0.5 sq ft area per bird. Then, after the first week, 10 birds per pen were distributed in each pen. For T2 group, 10 birds were placed per pen were housed during the first week to provide 1 sq ft area per bird and continued up to the end of the experimental period. Before starting the experimental trial, the whole house was properly cleaned, washed and disinfected, and allowed to rest for 7 days. Feeders, drinkers, buckets, and all other necessary equipment were also cleaned, washed, and disinfected thoroughly. Fresh, dry wood shavings and saw dust were used as litter materials at a depth of 3 cm. Lighting schedules were maintained as follows: 23 hours/day for the first 3 days, 20 hours/day by day 10, and 16 hours/day thereafter. The birds received a three-phase feeding regime: pre-starter (day 1-14), starter (day 15-21), and grower (day 22-28). Feed and water were supplied ad libitum for the all-treatment groups. Both the temperature and relative humidity of the experimental house were recorded six times daily. The body weight and feed supply of the broiler birds were recorded on arrival and weekly during the experimental period. Residual feed was recorded weekly to determine the weekly feed intake per bird. Subsequently, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated weekly by dividing feed intake by weight gain. The mortality of the broiler birds was recorded daily to determine their survivability. All the data were subjected to an independent t-test to determine the effects of treatments and differences were considered significant at P < 0.05. The initial body weight of the treatment groups was nearly identical. The average body weight and body weight gain between the two groups were statistically significant; where the birds in the T2 group (1 sq ft area/bird) achieved the higher body weight (232.29g) and gain (187.58g) compared to those kept in T1 (0.5 sq ft area/bird) for the first week (225.14g and 180.62g, respectively). But, from the second week onward, no significant differences were observed among the treatment groups in body weight, feed intake, FCR, or survivability. Therefore, even if no notable differences were observed during the later stages, it can be concluded that, for future research trial purposes, each chick should have a space of 1 sq ft per bird during the first week to gain the better early growth performance under any weather conditions.
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