How to Care For Your Baby Chicks:

Here is some information to help get your poultry off to a good and healthy start. Following through on these simple steps will help you in reducing any problems you may experience.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH MORE THAN A POUND OF CURE!!

Generally, people who have trouble raising baby chicks are those people who try to cut corners in their feeding and management program. Here are a few basic considerations for raising most varieties of chicks.

FEED…use a good starter mash. Have feeders filled before chicks arrive. Cover litter with paper and scatter feed around the house on papers. Figure one inch of feeder space for each chick( 3’ feeder will handle 75 chicks).

WATER… have waters filled when chicks arrive. Figure one(1) gallon water for each 50-60 chicks. We recommend adding Noe-Terramycin or Terramycin to wateer at 1 teaspoon/gallon level for first 4-5 days, and Vitamins and Electrolytes or similar water soluble vitamin products to water for the first 2-3 weeks.

HEAT….temperature of 90-95 degrees 2” off the floor is desired. Reduce temperature 5 degrees per week until no futher heat is needed …70 degree minimum. A 250W heat bulb (red preferred) hung 18” from the floor works well. It also provides light for chicks to prevent piling.

FLOOR SPACE… provide at least one-half square foot per bird. Use draft shield around chicks, making sure it is wide enough diameter to permit chicks to get from under heat lamps if they desire.

LITTER….peat moss (best), wood shavings and rice hulls make excellent litter. Litter must be at least one inch deep…two inches is better. Stir it daily to prevent compacting. Cover with newspapers for first three days ( not feed sack or other hard textured paper which, if used, can cause spraddle legged chicks).

CROOKED TOES… are generally caused by cold floors, compacted litter and /or lack of Vitamins A and D. Special attention to these management considerations will help reduce incidence of this “sometimes” problem.

Following through on the above points will go a long way in reducing any problems you might have in growing chicks. And above all, is the ever-present need for tender loving care. This can and does make a difference.

On arrival of baby chicks, dip each bird’s beak in warm sugar water several times for the first day or two. This gives them added energy after shipment. Place baby chicks in a brooder or under a heat lamp at about 90 degrees temperature. Use a good chick starter high in protein. Good Luck with your chicks and and thanks for this chance to be of service to you.