The brooding place is prepared. All matters are set. All you require are the chicks. Upon anticipating the day of their arrival, you should get yourself ready otherwise things would go out of hand. Here’s what to do once the chicks arrive.
Tip 1
When the chicks arrived from elsewhere, you need to examine them thoroughly. They should arrive in a condition which is nowhere near “diseased”. If you detected that the babies came in hapless condition, you might let the postal employee check the shipment once more. It is required that the employee certify the cargo arrive in good condition. Advise the right authorities on what the troubles are about the shipment for immediate action.
Tip 2
Prior to putting the babies in, the brooder must have its suitable temperature which is at least 90 degrees. Be sure the area is warm and maintain this for at least a week. You may cut down the temperature for 5 degrees each week that goes on for the first 5 weeks. After the first five weeks, the poultry would no longer need the heat supplemented. You have to remember that there should be adequate space where the chicks can move freely either to or from the source of heat. This is advisable particularly during extreme temperatures.
Tip 3
Fill up the fountains using fresh clean water with an added half cup of sugar for each gallon filled. This would help boost the babies’ energy. It is not urged to add any chemicals no matter what advertisements tell you.
Tip 4
Premix fine grit with a ratio of 1:10. Fill the lids using feeds that won't be more than a quarter-inch. Then add up the fine grit mixture then splash a very generous amount of mixture or feed on top of the material that covers the litter.
Tip 5
Poultry can be the source of thousands of microorganisms which are possibly harmful. With this, you have to be really careful and certain safeguards must be abided by. Proper handling should be practiced. This can keep the spread of all kinds of oral or fecal transmission from fowl to person to person. Adults should give proper guidance to their young ones about how to correctly handle their poultry. Avoid taking any poultry inside the vicinity of your family space. Wash your hands and any part of your body that came in contact with the babies using water and a trustworthy soap.
Tip 6
For starters, upon removal from the box, dip the creatures beak into the water mixture to acquaint them where their feedings come from. Do the transferring one chick at a time. Make sure that the brooder is already warm enough for the baby to be put in.
Tip 7
Keep an eye on the babies for a few hours after transferring. This can help you identify the environment they are in. Is it sufficient or are there needs deficient? Is their activities virtually equated to the heat? Changes can be observed merely by looking at their behavior. If they crowd over the brooding area, it entails that heat is not that warm. If they scatter from the heat and go in areas that aren’t covered by the warmth, it only implies that the heat is too much for them.
If you're already confident and comfortable with the situation, you can now breath easily with raising your chickens in your backyard.
Copyright © 2011 Athena Goodlight
