Ozbert Farms Best Practices on Taking Care of Chicks

ozbert farms

licensed poultry, chick, & hatching egg dealer

1212 Morphus Bridge Road - Wendell, North Carolina 27591 Call 919.365.7885 OR 919.633.5854

Care

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When we started our own backyard flock, there was so much information from different sources about how to raise your chicks. You will find that there are plenty of resources online or in books to guide you in raising your chicks.

Through our research with trusted friends who maintain backyard flocks and other online and written resources, we adopted these best practices that have served us well:

Preparing for the New Arrivals:

Clean area: Before your chicks arrive be sure to provide them with a clean, disinfected area and free of poultry for 7-10 days if possible

Bedding: Cover the entire area to a depth of 2-3 inches.Peat moss, wood chips, and rice hulls work the best. Keep in mind that cedar chips are toxic to baby chicks. We use wood chips. Never cover the area with paper of any kind. The chicks will slip on paper, and leg spraddling can become a problem. This problem is irreversible so please do not use paper.

Heat: Start with a temperature of 95°F for the first week and reduce the temperature by 5°F to 7°F per week for 3 weeks. Best advice we received was using light bulbs 12-18 inches from the litter at the following intensities:

Week 1: 100 watt light bulb (warmer weather 75 watt)

Week 2: 75 watt light bulb (warmer weather 60 watt)

Week 3: 60 watt light bulb (warmer weather 40 watt)

If the chicks are crowding under the heat they are too cold or if they are getting away from heat if they are too hot.

Space: Try to provide 1/2 square foot per bird at the start. For starting 50 chicks use a draft shield and make a circle about 5 to 6 feet across. For 100 birds, make the circle 7 to 8 feet across. Crowding can lead to problems including death.

Draft Shield: Cardboard, corrugated paper, baled straw or hay put in a circle about 12 inches high around the birds helps cut down drafts on the floor. Be sure the circle is large enough to allow the birds to get away from the heat if they want to.

Feed and Water - Chicks must have fresh feed and water at all times

Water: Room temperature water should be in the founts (waterers) when the chicks arrive. To this first water, add one-fourth cup of sugar per gallon. Let the chicks drink this water for one hour before providing them with feed. Use fresh water for the next 2 days. Use founts that you can purchase at a feed store instead of an open dish which could place the chick at risk of drowning. After this time you can provide them with 3 days of Biotin Stress Pak or Vitamins/Electrolytes, and then give the fresh water again. Use Vitamins/Electrolytes as recommended by the manufacturer.

Feed: One of the best pieces of advice we received was starting your chicks off with a 20% (medicated) chick starter/grower. For all chicks, this should carry them through 8 weeks of age except for Cornish-Rock broilers. At 8-9 weeks switch your egg-type, bantams, rare and unusual breed chicks to an 18% grower ration. At 16 weeks of age, commence feeding them a 16% Complete Layer ration. Avoid providing grain on the side during any period of the chick's life.