The proper configuration of brooding and rearing equipment is fundamental to cultivating high-quality replacement breeding stock. Staged environmental management provides precise support based on the growth and development characteristics of chicks. Brooding and rearing equipment mainly includes heating equipment, feeding equipment, drinking equipment, and perches. Heating equipment is the most critical during the brooding period. It can be achieved using brooder umbrellas, floor heating, or hot air furnaces to ensure chicks receive a suitable temperature of 32-35 degrees Celsius in the first few days, gradually decreasing the temperature as they grow older. Feeding equipment should be selected according to the chicks' age, using starter trays, feed troughs, or automatic feeding lines to ensure sufficient feeding space and prevent competition that could lead to uneven growth. Drinking equipment should use vacuum drinkers, nipple drinkers, or water troughs to provide clean and sufficient drinking water. Perches provide activity space for replacement breeding stock, promoting bone development and muscle training, and improving later reproductive performance.

The focus of environmental management during the brooding period is on temperature control and hygiene and disease prevention. Chicks have poor thermoregulation and are sensitive to changes in ambient temperature. Therefore, the temperature needs to be kept stable, decreasing by two to three degrees Celsius each week until they are weaned off the heat around six weeks of age. Humidity in the brooding house should be controlled between 60% and 70%. Excessive humidity can induce coccidiosis, while insufficient humidity increases dust and causes respiratory problems. Air quality in the brooding house is equally important; adequate ventilation should be ensured while maintaining warmth to remove ammonia and carbon dioxide. The brooding period is a critical time for immunization. Vaccinations should be administered on time according to the immunization schedule, while minimizing the impact of vaccine stress on chicks. Hygiene management requires daily cleaning of droppings and changing of bedding, and regular disinfection of waterers and feeding equipment to prevent the growth of pathogens.

During the rearing period, environmental management focuses on light control and body condition regulation. Light is a crucial environmental factor in regulating the sexual maturity time of breeder chickens. During the rearing period, a constant or gradually decreasing light duration should be maintained to prevent premature laying and negatively impact egg production performance and hatching quality. In terms of feeding management, a restricted feed program should be adopted during the rearing period to control weight gain within the standard curve range and avoid excessive weight gain that could affect later egg production performance. Exercise space and perches are particularly important for rearing breeding chickens. Appropriate exercise can improve their physical condition, reduce leg diseases, and lay a good foundation for later breeding. Before transferring them to the laying house in the later stages of rearing, strict screening and grading should be carried out to remove underdeveloped and overweight individuals, ensuring the uniformity of the breeding chickens entering the house. Through scientific configuration of brooding and rearing equipment and phased environmental management, robust, uniformly developed, and high-performing replacement breeding chickens can be bred, providing a fundamental guarantee for the continuous and efficient production of the breeding farm.