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In winter the same feed, the same chicks and the same farmer often give a worse FCR. A batch that finished at 1.65 in September can end at 1.80 in December, and on 5,000 birds that gap is a lot of feed money gone. The good news is that most of the loss comes from a few things you can control: warmth, litter, air, gut health, feed handling and a steady water routine. Here is how to hold your FCR in winter, and how the IMN Pyrophos winter 42-day schedule fits in.

What FCR is, in one line

FCR (feed conversion ratio) is total feed eaten divided by total live weight produced. If 5,000 birds ate 17,500 kg of feed and gave 10,000 kg of live weight, FCR is 1.75. Feed is the biggest cost in a broiler batch, so every 0.05 of FCR you lose is real money. To compare batches fairly at different weights, use CFCR; our free CFCR calculator does it in a minute.

Why FCR gets worse in winter

  • Cold chicks burn feed for heat. Feed that should become meat goes into keeping the body warm. Chilled chicks also huddle, eat less and become uneven.
  • Wet litter and ammonia. Closed curtains trap moisture and gas, which damage the eyes, airways and feet and cut feed intake. See how to control ammonia in winter sheds and wet litter and loose droppings.
  • Gut upsets. Cold water, wet litter and sudden feed changes cause loose droppings. Feed passes through undigested and FCR rises.
  • Respiratory and ascites stress. Poor air in a closed shed leads to breathing trouble and ascites in fast-growing birds. Sick birds eat but do not grow.
  • Feed wastage. Damp feed, spilled feed, rats and wrong feeder height all quietly raise the feed you use per kg of meat.

Where your FCR leaks, and what to do

AreaWhat to checkWhat to do
Brooding temperatureChicks spread evenly, not piled under the brooder or running away from itPre-heat the shed before the chicks arrive and reduce the heat slowly week by week. Our winter brooding guide has the details.
First 3 daysCrop fill at 8 and 24 hours; chicks drinking and eatingGive clean warm water and a start-up supplement instead of the old gud or sugar solution.
LitterDry and crumbly under your hand; no smell at bird heightFix leaking nipples, give minimum ventilation, and use an ammonia binder on day 1.
VentilationNo stuffy air, no draught on the birdsOpen curtains a little on the side away from the wind, and run fans in short bursts.
DroppingsFirm droppings with a white cap, not watery or foamyWarm the water, support the gut, and treat the cause of loose droppings early.
Feed handlingDry feed store, no spilled or caked feed, feeders at back heightFill feeders little and often, remove wet feed and keep rats out.
WaterClean, not ice-cold, enough drinkers and nipplesLet tank water reach shed temperature before chicks drink it. Birds that drink less eat less.
Weekly weightWeigh 50 birds each week and compare with your breed chartIf you are behind at day 7 or day 14, correct it now. A late start is very hard to recover.

FCR summary for winter broilers: 7 checks, IMN 42-day schedule and Grotek

The IMN winter 42-day schedule and your FCR

The IMN Pyrophos winter 2026 schedule gives a planned water-product programme for each day from day 1 to 42, per 1,000 birds. Each phase supports a part of the FCR story. The full day-by-day table is in our winter broiler medicine schedule.

DaysWhat the schedule givesWhy it matters for FCRApprox. cost per 1,000 birds
1–4Easy Brood, Vitaden H, Pyrocal B, Alcaeu. ND-IB vaccine on day 4, with no medicine in the vaccine waterA strong, even start. Early deaths and weak chicks are the most expensive FCR losses.₹275
5–10Vitaden H, Pyrocal B, Sel-E Boost, Nexamune, Nephrowin, Hepasol DS, Grotek, RemiproImmunity, liver and kidney support, and the first Grotek and Remipro for feed intake and gut flora₹482
11–22Septima, Ascitox, Respoze, Nexamune, Hepasol DS, Grotek, Goutster, Alcaeu and othersThe fast-growth period: loose droppings, breathing stress and ascites risk are managed here₹1,901
23–30Plain water on day 23, then Respoze, Grotek, Goutster, Hepasol DS, Septima, Remipro, AscitoxKeeps feed intake and gut health steady in the heaviest feeding weeks₹1,181
31–42Nexamune, Hepasol DS, Remipro, Ascitox, Grotek, with plain-water rest daysFinishing: keeps weight gain going to market weight₹1,020

The whole 42-day schedule costs about ₹4,859 per 1,000 birds, which is about ₹4.9 per bird. Compare this with the feed you save when FCR improves, and with the cost of one bad batch. Always use the exact quantities and the plain-water days shown in the full schedule.

Note: This schedule supports good management. It does not replace warmth, dry litter, fresh air, clean water, vaccination or a vet’s advice. Never mix products into vaccine water.

IMN products that fit an FCR plan

Easy Brood chick start-up supplement by IMN Pyrophos

Day 1–2 · in place of jaggery water

Easy Brood

Start-up solution for chicks: electrolytes, osmolytes, glucose for energy, vitamins C and B, betaine, glycine and probiotics. Reduces transport stress and dehydration, helps early navel healing, lowers the chance of yolk sac infection and early mortality. No need for jaggery, sugar or salt solutions. Antibiotic free. 250 g pack ₹295.

Dose: in the IMN winter schedule, 70 g per 1,000 chicks in the first water on day 1 (as soon as chicks arrive) and day 2. Label: 3–4 g per litre of drinking water, i.e. 50–70 g per 1,000 chicks per day. Prepare the solution before the chicks arrive.

500 g ₹565MRP ₹898

Ammobond by IMN Pyrophos

Ammonia binder · litter only

Ammobond

Ammonia binding and reducing agents in a powdered carrier. Cuts ammonia emissions in the farm by 50–60%. Helps heavier birds, better FCR and lower mortality, and lowers keratoconjunctivitis, tracheitis and foot burn problems. Do not feed to birds; use only in litter.

Dose: Sprinkle over the litter by broadcast method, like sowing seed, using gloves: 5 kg for every 2500 birds. In closed or EC-house brooding, mix it into the litter on day 1, then repeat the same dose on day 16–17, and on day 32–34 if needed. Do not rake the litter or add lime or bleaching powder after applying.

5 kg ₹1,655MRP ₹1,950

Remipro by IMN Pyrophos

Gut health · bestseller

Remipro

Probiotic, prebiotic (MOS) and Saccharomyces with betaine, methionine and vitamin C. Restores gut flora, reduces loose droppings, improves digestion and FCR, and helps in recovery from coccidiosis.

Dose: 1 g per 8 kg body weight or 1 g per litre of water for routine gut health; 1 g per 5 kg body weight or 2 g per litre in infections and loose droppings; 1 g per 100 chicks in brooding.

500 g ₹626MRP ₹950

Grotek weight gainer for broilers, lowers FCR, by IMN Pyrophos

More weight · lower FCR

Grotek

B group vitamins, minerals and herbal antioxidants (amla, ashwagandha, tulsi). Improves feed intake and reduces FCR, increases growth rate to reach market weight early, supports the liver, and helps keep weight during infections and antibiotic use. Contains no iron.

Dose: 1–2 g per litre of water for 15–18 hours a day for 5 days; during or after infections 1 g per 5 kg body weight.

500 g ₹679MRP ₹940

A simple weekly FCR check

  1. Note the feed bags used each week.
  2. Weigh 50 random birds each week and find the average weight.
  3. Estimate total live weight (average weight x birds alive) and work out FCR so far.
  4. If FCR is high, look first at litter, air and droppings, then at feed wastage and water. Fix one cause at a time.
  5. At the end of the batch, find CFCR with the calculator and compare with the last batch.

Common mistakes that raise FCR in winter

  • Closing all curtains for the whole night with no air change
  • Letting drinkers leak and then trying to fix wet litter with powder alone
  • Starting the schedule late, or skipping the plain-water days
  • Giving the vaccine water and medicines together
  • Giving ice-cold tank water at dawn
  • Not weighing the birds, so the problem is found only at the end
  • Changing the feed brand or form suddenly in mid-batch

Frequently asked questions

How do I maintain FCR in broilers in winter? Keep the chicks warm, the litter dry, give minimum fresh air, keep the gut healthy, handle feed carefully and follow a steady water routine. Weigh birds every week so you catch a problem early.

What is a good FCR for broilers? It depends on the market weight, the breed and the season. As a rough guide, a well-run batch at about 2 kg is often in the range of 1.6 to 1.8. Compare with your breed standard and your own earlier batches, or use CFCR.

Why is my FCR worse in winter? Birds use more feed to stay warm, and wet litter, ammonia, loose droppings and breathing stress all reduce how much feed becomes meat.

Which IMN products are used for FCR? Easy Brood in the first days, Ammobond in the litter, Remipro for gut flora and Grotek to support feed intake and growth. The full day-by-day plan is in the winter schedule.

What is the IMN winter schedule cost? About ₹4,859 per 1,000 birds for the full 42 days, as shown in the schedule. Prices may change, so confirm on WhatsApp.

Does the schedule replace good management? No. It supports it. Warmth, dry litter, fresh air and clean water come first.

How do I calculate FCR? Divide total feed eaten by total live weight produced. Use the CFCR calculator to compare batches fairly.

FCR high in your batch? Send the batch age, number of birds, feed used, average weight and a photo of the litter on WhatsApp +91 98715 84101. Dr. Ibne Ali’s team will help you find where the feed is leaking. Ask on WhatsApp

Also read: winter 42-day schedule · winter brooding guide · winter broiler management · CFCR calculator · ammonia binder · IMN poultry products

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