ENVIRONMENT
- Keep them clean & dry.
- Provide warm, dry housing without drafts.
- Make sure predators (dogs, cats & children too!) can’t get inside.
SPACE REQUIREMENT
- No crowding allowed.
- From hatch until 6 weeks old they need .8-1.0 square feet per chick.
- Six weeks and older they need 1-2 square feet per bird.
TEMPERATURE
- Avoid chilling!
- When they are a day old, keep the temperature at 90° – 95°F.
- Use a heat lamp or a light bulb, approximately 20” above chicks.
- Heat in advance, raise or lower light to adjust the temperature.
- If the chicks are cold, they will huddle under the light.
- If they are too hot, they will huddle in the corners.
- Reduce temperature 5° every week until a minimum of 65°F.
WATER
- Use a 1-quart fount per 25 chicks. Use fresh, cool water.
- Clean daily.
- Dip beaks to induce drinking.
- Elevate the waterer after the first week to reduce contamination from litter.
- Water should not be higher than the chick’s back.
- Double waterer capacity at 6 weeks.
FEEDS
- Use chick starter until 16-20 weeks old (they should be feathered).
- Then for hens switch to a 16%-20% complete laying feed.
- If you’re raising other types of birds, ask a store employee what you need to feed your birds.
LITTER
- Use dry mold free bedding (such as Bed-O-Cob) to keep dry & comfortable.
- Slick surfaces can cause leg problems, especially for turkeys, broilers, and waterfowl.