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Poultry Management Guide

WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

We have added the information below to help you get your chicks started correctly and to eliminate any potential problems that might arise. Please read this information carefully and be prepared when your chicks arrive.

• Cornish Giants
• Brown or White Leghorns and other Specialty Layers
• Turkeys
• Ducks and Geese

Cornish Giants

FEED:
"ALLOW CHICKS TO DRINK FOR TWO TO THREE HOURS BEFORE FEEDING"

The use of slide top feeders (one per 25 chicks) is ideal to start the chicks. On the first day cover the litter with newspaper and spread some feed on the papers and have your feeders full also. Begin removing the feeder lids as soon as chicks have adjusted to eating from the permanent feeders, usually within five to seven days. Raise feeders off the litter gradually as the birds grow. The top lip of the feeder should be level with the birds backs. Keep feed in front of the birds at all times. Provide one feeding tube or pan per 25 birds. Feed Nature Wise 20 % Chick Starter for the first 4 to 6 weeks of age. A Rule of Thumb is to provide 1 Kg. Then gradually switch to chick grower such as Thunder Bay Feeds 18% Broiler Grower (mash form) or Nature Wise 16% Grower (crumble form).
Once the birds have reached 5 to 6 weeks of age, feed restriction can be used to slow down growth and promote a healthier bird. Feed what the birds can eat in 20 to 30 minutes 2 to 3 times per day. Caution must be used, as too little feed can leave the bird malnourished. Electrolytes in the water can be used during feed restriction.

AIR:
Ventilation serves several functions: removal of excess heat and moisture, provides oxygen while removing harmful gases, prevents ammonia build-up which can blind birds, reduces dust, and improves the overall air quality. Poor air quality can lead to Ascites (an accumulation of fluid in the body cavity) in chickens.

WATER:
”FILL WATERERS SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE DELIVERY SO THAT WATER IS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE WHEN CHICKS ARRIVE”

Along with adequate heat, water is the most critical determinant of early chick mortality. Birds must have easy access to clean water from day one onwards. Use a minimum of one - 4 litre drinker per 50 day old chicks. Place waterers between feeders and close to brooder hoovers of the source of heat. Wash and refill chick waterers each day. Never allow waterers to go dry. Gradually move chick waterers toward permanent drinkers. When chicks have learned to drink from permanent drinkers remove chick waterers. Water should be medicated with either an antibiotic pack or electrolyte combination for the first 7 days. Although this is not crucial, it does help to reduce mortality under stressful conditions.

LIGHT:
The physiological pressures of rapid growth can lead to poor livability. Research has indicated that the use of a controlled lighting program can be advantageous in improving broiler livability by controlling mortality due to leg problems, sudden death syndrome and ascites. If cannibalism (excessive picking ) becomes a problem replace conventional incandescent bulbs with red bulbs. Day old beak trimming will also reduce cannibalism and is recommended if birds are reared in tight confinement or under less than optimal conditions. Bright lights for the first 5 days will enable chicks to easily located feed and water. Thereafter lights should be dimmed to prevent excessive cannibalism, flip overs, and leg problems.

In order to slow growth and improve livability, light is given in a step-up fashion. The following lighting program has proven to be effective:

Comfortable chicks will be quiet and uncomplaining. During stressful times it may be necessary to increase the house temperature temporarily. If birds are exposed to cool temperatures or drafts they will crowd together.

SURROUNDINGS:
Chilling or overheating of chicks, even for short periods of time, can result in vent pasteing and excessive mortality. Activate heat source far enough in advance so litter temperatures reach 90 degrees before chick arrival. Dry soft bedding is critical to bird health and carcass quality. Straw and coarse particle wood shavings make excellent litter material. Barley straw, on the other hand, is less absorbent, does not readily break-up, and will often result in leg problems during growing. If wood shavings are too fine birds may eat the litter and become impacted. Allow a minimum of one square foot of growing space per bird from 4 weeks of age until market.

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Brown or White Leghorns and other Specialty Layers

FEED:
NatureWise20% Chick Starter should be fed for the first 6 weeks, followed by either Thunder Bay Feeds 16% Developer (mash form) or NatureWise 16% (crumble form) up to 16 weeks of age. At 16 weeks of age, pullets should receive Thunder Bay Feeds 18% Laying Mash, or NatureWise 18% Eggmaker (crumble form). Provide enough trough space for more than half the birds to eat at one time.

NESTS:
One nest box (12"x12"x12") for every 4 to 5 hens should be sufficient. Keep nest full of shavings or straw. Gather eggs often to avoid egg breakage. Provide 2 sq ft/bird for overall living floor space.

FEATHER PICKING:
Feather picking can result from overcrowding, bright lights, poor ventilation, boredom or lice or mite infestation.

LIGHT:
Proper nutrition and lighting programs will ensure year round egg production. Use 40 watt bulbs at 8ft. centers, with an 8 foot ceiling, to ensure adequate light intensity and distribution. An inexpensive time clock can be used to program lights to turn on and off. The following program will ensure optimal growth, development, and egg production:

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Turkeys

FEED:
NatureWise Turkey/Gamebird Starter 26% (crumble) should be fed for the first 9 weeks. Feed approximately 2.5to 3 kg of starter per turkey. Then feed NatureWise Turkey/Gamebird Grower 20% (crumble) from 11 to 17 weeks of age or until ready to change gradually to NatureWise Turkey/Gamebird Finisher 18 (pellets). Feed NatureWise Turkey/Gamebird Finisher as the sole ration to:

1. Heavy Toms- normal weather from 14-18 weeks.
2. Heavy Toms- hot weather from 15 to 19 weeks of age.
3. Early Finished Toms - from 13 to 15 weeks of age.

WATER:
Turkeys will drink 2lbs. of water for every 1 lb. Of feed consumed. Never make sudden changes in items like waterers or feeders-make them gradually. Turkeys can lose track of where feeders and waterers are located.

LIGHTS:
Start the chicks on 23 hours of light and 1 hour of darkness for the first week. Over the next 6 weeks gradually bring your lights down to match outside natural light patterns.

TEMPERATURE:
Turkeys require a higher starting temperature (95-100 degrees) than other birds. Reduce temperature there after by 5 degrees per week to a constant 70-75 degrees. Use one 250 watt lamp for every 25 poults. Allow room for the birds to move away from the heat.

SURROUNDINGS:
Turkeys require more patience than other birds. Turkeys will consume stray debris which will quickly cause their death. Keep lids on pails and pen birds up at night. Turkeys don’t seem to be are of dangerous situations and will play “follow the leader”even to their death.

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Ducks and Geese

FEED:
NatureWise Duck and Goose Starter 19% (crumbles) should be fed for the first 4 weeks. Do not feed any medicated feed as it is toxic to their systems. Feed NatureWise Duck and Goose Grower 17% along with supplemented greens from 4 weeks onwards. Keep insoluble grit freely available at all times in separate feeder.

LIGHT:
Start waterfowl on 23 hours light and 1 hour of darkness for the first 2 weeks. Move to the same hours as natural outside conditions as quickly as possible.

TEMPERATURE:
Starting temperature should be 85 to 90 degrees for the first 7 days. Reduce temperature thereafter by 5 degrees per week to a constant 70-75 degree until birds are 6-8 weeks old or until they are feathered.

SURROUNDINGS:
Ducks and geese have no water protective feathers for the first 2 months. Try to keep them dry until then.

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