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Seventy-five battery brooded (up to 3 weeks) broilers were transferred on conventional rice husk littered floor (CRLF) and were reared up to 49 days of age. On the other hand, seventy-five broiler chicks were reared on CRLF from day-old to 49 days of age served as control. The body weight of the battery brooded birds at 28 days of age was significantly (P<0.01) higher than that of floor reared birds. Rearing battery brooded broiler on CRLF following transfer depressed growth rate (at 35 days of age) in comparison with CRLF birds, but at the end of the experiment, there were no significant differences in body weight gain. Non-significant differences were also observed in case of feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and dressed yield between two management systems at the end of the experiment. There were no birds having breast blister irrespective of management system. Mortality percentage was higher in case of CRLF than that of battery brooded birds on CRLF. Battery brooding up to 3 weeks of age saved space. Males had higher body weight (P<0.05) and shank weight (P<0.01) than those of females. From the present study it is evident that battery brooder can serve as a positive brooder, because after transfer from battery brooder to CRLF there is no negative effect on overall performance.
