It is hatching season across the United States. Chicks will soon travel from hatcheries to new homes, bringing an exciting promise of new flock members, quality lessons and undeniable enjoyment. But, for those of us welcoming new chicks, how can we give them a solid start?

Gordon Ballam, PhD, director of lifestyle innovation & technical service for Purina Animal Nutrition, says to best transition chicks into a flock, provide comfort, care and complete nutrition from day one.

“A chick never gets over a bad start,” he says. “The actions we take before chicks arrive and the care we provide in the first few days can help set-up our chicks to be happy and healthy long-term.”

Before they arrive: Set up the brooder

“Set up your brooder about 48 hours before your chicks arrive,” Dr Ballam recommends. “This allows time for bedding and equipment to dry and the temperature to set.”

Equipment for day one includes:

• Brooder: The brooder is the first home of new chicks. Be sure it is comfortable, warm and draught-free with at least three to four square feet per chick. The area should be circular and expandable.
  
  
• Heat lamp: Assemble a heat lamp in the centre of the brooder for bird warmth. Hang the heat lamp about 20 inches above the litter, with 2.5 to 3 feet between the lamp and the guard walls. The temperature under the heat lamp, or comfort zone, should be 95 degrees Fahrenheit and adequate room in the brooder should be available for the chicks to get out from under the heater if they get too hot. After week one, gradually reduce heat by five degrees Fahrenheit each week until reaching a minimum of 55 degrees.
  
  
• Bedding: Add an absorbant wood shavings bedding to the floor of the brooder. Place bedding three to four inches deep to keep the area dry and odour-free. Remove wet bedding daily, especially around waterers. Do not use cedar shavings or other types of shavings that have a strong odour because the odour could affect the long-term health of the bird.
  
  
• Lights: Provide 18 to 22 hours of light for the first week. Then reduce light to 16 hours through the growing period or to the amount of light they will receive when they are 20 weeks of age. The amount of light intensity required would be provided by a 40-watt bulb for each 100 square feet (10’ x 10’) of floor space.
  
  
• Feeders: Offer four linear inches of feeder space for each bird. Clean egg cartons filled with feed make excellent and easily accessible feeders for young chicks. Provide low-lying feeders, or trough feeders, for after the transition.
  
  
• Waterers: For every 25 chicks, fill two one-quart waterers with room temperature water and place them in the brooder. To help water stay at room temperature, place the waterers in the brooder, outside the comfort zone (do not position underneath the heat lamp), 24 hours prior to the chicks arrival.

Introduce chicks to water

Once chicks arrive, introduce them to the brooding area. Water, at room temperature, should be available, but wait a couple hours to introduce feed.

“This gives chicks a couple hours to drink and rehydrate before they start eating,” Dr Ballam says, explaining that fresh, quality water is essential for healthy chicks.

“Dip the beaks of several chicks into the water to help them locate it. These chicks will then teach the rest of the group to drink. Monitor the group to ensure all chicks are drinking within the first couple hours.”

Teach them to eat

After chicks have had a chance to rehydrate, provide the nutrients they need through a complete starter feed.

Provide a feed with at least 18 per cent protein to help support the extra energy needed for early growth. The feed should also include amino acids for chick development; prebiotics, probiotics and yeast for immune health; and vitamins and minerals to support bone health.

“Feeding a complete feed from the start helps provide the nutrition chicks need as they develop,” Dr Ballam says.

“First, teach the chicks to eat by placing feed on clean egg flats, shallow pans or simple squares of paper. On day 2, add proper feeders to the pens. Once chicks have learned to eat from the feeders, remove the papers, pans or egg flats.”

Adjust feed as chicks develop

To keep feed fresh: empty, clean and refill waterers and feeders daily. Also, raise the height of feeders and waterers so they are level with the birds’ backs as chicks grow.

At age 18 weeks, adjust the feed provided to meet the birds’ evolving nutrition needs.

Dr Ballam adds: “As chicks mature, their nutritional needs change. Transition layer chicks onto a higher-calcium complete feed when they begin laying eggs at age 18 to 20 weeks. For meat birds and mixed flocks, choose a complete feed with 20 per cent protein and feed this diet from day one through adulthood.”

To learn more flock nutrition and management tips, visit www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed or like Purina Poultry on Facebook.

March 2015