Chick e-Tips - Week 2


For all of your animal feed and information, visit your nearest Purina® product dealer:	Your chicks are well dispersed throughout the brooder, have access to all the feed and clean water they could want and appear happy and content… congratulations! You’ve gotten through the first week with flying colors! Now that your chicks are settled in and off to a good start, don’t forget to enjoy them! Chicks are very social and will provide hours of entertainment. You will see their unique personalities emerge as each day goes by and they will grow into mature chickens before you know it! Chicks will emit a soft cheeping sound when everything is right in their world. This sound can be used by you as a means of determining their comfort status. A chick that is stressed due to conditions being too hot or cold, wet litter, or one that is hungry or thirsty will have a shrill or higher pitched cheep or may cheep very rapidly. Translate this as a call for help and look for the problem.

Things to Do This Week
	• The brooder temperature should be reduced to 85°F (lower 5° each week to a minimum of 65°F). • Chicks should be exposed to at least 10 hours of light per day after the first week. • The brooder guard can be removed now if it hasn’t been already. Chicks should be able to find the heat source by this time. • After the brooder guard is taken out, the feeders and waterers can be moved further away from the source of heat. As the chicks become more active and continue to grow, this will give them more space for exercise and will help keep the feeders and waterers cleaner. • Any paper or pans used to feed should be taken out if you are sure chicks are eating from the feeders. The level of feed in the feeders can be decreased a little each week until they are 1/2 full at all times. This will help reduce the amount of feed waste.
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Tips to Grow On
Keep checking on chicks to make sure they are comfortable. Again, chick behavior is the best measure of the ideal brooder temperature. Continue to provide unlimited feed and water at all times. Clean and refill waterers daily. Remember, good sanitation is critical to avoid health problems when caring for young chicks. Keep litter dry by removing wet and soiled litter and replacing it with clean, dry litter. Always store feed in a well ventilated, dry area that is insect and rodent-free. Equip brooder with waterers and feeders. These are available in several different sizes and shapes to fit your particular needs. Back to Top
Looking Ahead
Feeding extra grains or scraps to your chicks can reduce the amount of complete feed they eat and may prevent them from getting all the nutrients they need to grow and develop properly. A complete and balanced feed will provide all the nutrition your chicks need to grow into healthy, productive birds. One of the most common and deadly diseases in chicks is coccidiosis. Caused by a parasite, it is spread through the droppings of infected birds. Coccidia love damp, warm environments so wet litter and unsanitary brooder conditions are a prime breeding ground for this parasite. Most birds will come into contact with coccidia at some time but appear to be most susceptible to the disease between 3-5 weeks of age. If chicks are healthy and live in a dry, clean, well managed environment, they are often able to fight it off or may only get a mild case which can even go undetected. Symptoms of coccidiosis can include diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, weight loss, no desire to eat, ruffled feathers and an overall sickly appearance. If you suspect coccidiosis, seek treatment immediately. Untreated, it can spell disaster. Commercial vaccines and medicated feeds are available to prevent coccidiosis. However, the ideal prevention for this disease is maintaining a dry, sanitary, stress free environment through good management. Back to Top
Looking Ahead
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