The chicks will initially be place in a maternity. It can be a cage of part of a building. The ground has to be clean and dry. If needed, it should be disinfected.
If possible, a circular guard will be placed in the shelter. This will prevent chicks from stacing in a corner in the event of stress.
Chicks are particularly interested for predators. Make sure the place is very well protected: concreted ground, wall without opening, netting. To protect a small number of animals, a cage for dwarf rabbit can prove an easy and inexpensive solution.
Everything should be ready before the arrival of chicks: litter, food, water, heating and light if necessary.
The first day, the food can be deposited on a newspaper on the ground. This encourages the dynamism of young chicks while placing the food at their disposal very easily. Do not wait before giving access to food: the reserve of the vitelline bag is hardly enough for a few hours. If the fast is longer, their growth will definitively suffer from it.
Then food will be placed in mangers whose height (height of nozzle) and size will be adapted to the size of chicks. This will put it away from dejections.
The mangers must be visible as well with the level of the color as of the luminosity. Failing this, the chicks will not find food and could die of hunger.
Make sure the size and/or the number of mangers are adapted to the number of chicks. Failing this, strong chicks will eat more and grow better than weakest.
The proverb «You are what you eat» does not apply only to the men, but also to the animals.
The food of chicks is a key element of the development of the animals. Indeed, all the launching phase determines the development of the animals: growth, robustness, size of the adult animal. The quality of the food must thus be considered with serious.
Indeed, you may raise some hens for their eggs of roosters. So you know what you eat, or at least you think you know it. But do you know really what your poultries eat? Did you really read the label of the food you buy? You could be surprised at ingredients used, to the point that you decide to change food.
Since tens of years, research developed to improve the avicolous production. Research at the same time concentrated on the metabolism of the animals, their needs, the selection of more productive stocks, the composition of food, etc. This made it possible to obtain a faster growth with less food.
The fast-growing breeds have more important protein needs than slow-growing breeds.
The chicks of roasters will usually have a larger body. The chicks of layers will also satisfies their development; which is important when you know that a large hen lays large eggs.
A lack of protein can lead to picage and even cannibalism.
It is thus at the stage chick that the needs of protein is the most important. This will allow optimal growth of young chickens.
During the growth, the protein needs will decline. Future broilers will require more energy and hens have special needs in calcium (for the egg shell).
The food adapted to the chicks can be found in specialty shops. It contains protein, vitamins, minerals, fat, calcium and sometimes some additives. While some prepares a homemade food, the risk of an imbalanced food is more important.
Most commercial chicken food have a protein rate of 20%. But some studies have shown that the minimum requirements could rise to 23% or even more for some breeds.
Such a composition is rarely available on the market; you should then choose food for wildfowl whose protein level is usually 23 to 26%.
Methionine is one of the essential amino acids for poultry. It is necessary for growth, the formation of feathers and eggs. Most food contains a supplement in methionine to offset their low content in seeds and cereals.
Methionine deficiency leads to low produciton and, in serious cases, to cannibalism.
Recommended rates generally range from 0.30% to 0.50%.
Some food labels contain DL-methionine instead of methionine. It is a form of synthetic methionine, which is equivalent to methionine with regard to the metabolism of poultry.
Lysine is another essential amino acid needed to chickens and especially turkeys. Commercial food is generally enriched in lysine.
More recent research shows that the addition of L-carnitine to food increases the production of meat in broilers. This has no influence on the taste of the meat.
Vitamins are substances that the body needs in very small quantities and is unable to produce or in much too reduced quantity. Their presence is essential to the achievement of certain chemical reactions in the body.
Food contains usually a guaranteed level of some vitamins:: A (retinol), D3 (cholecalciferol) et E (tocopherol).
This quantity is expressed in IU/kg (International Unit per kg of food) or in mg/kg.
The conversion from one to another is depending on the vitamin (see specific documentation of each vitamin for more details).
The levels of vitamins are generally about:
Minerals are also essential for development.
In particular, calcium is necessary for the growth of bones.
Clean water will be provided daily. The drinker and its height will be adjusted to the size of the chicks. If water is put on the floor, there is great risk that it is contaminated by excrements.
The first 2 days, it is preferable no to give too cold water (16 to 20 °C).
There should be enough drinkers. Otherwise there is competition between animals: the strongest will grow better.
Chicks are placed under a lamp at 35 °C. The temperature should drop a few degrees each week until they can go outside (6 weeks).
Here is a sample plan for decreasing temperature for chicks:
The temperature can be provided by:
If an infrared light is used for heating, it will also provide light. Nevertheless, some people think that this tends to induce picage.
In this case, it is preferable to use a heating system which does not produce light and add, beside this, a conventional light.
During the first few days, you can cover the ground with a newspaper. Food can be given on the newspaper itself. The amount of food should not exceed the needs of a few hours; otherwise the excess will be contaminated with excrements.
Then a well-absorbent and thick litter will be provided. Wood chips or straw, as desired.
It will have several functions:
Then, it will be replaced as often as necessary, so that it retains its role of insulation and absorbing. Otherwise, the risk of serious illness increases.
Among others:
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