Transcript Power Point presentation

Poultry Improvement Project
House Preparations
Getting Ready for New Chicks
• Remove any feeders, waterers, manure, feed
bags, etc from the chicken house.
• Clean building: sweep, etc.
• Wash all equipment and facilities with
soapy water two weeks prior to receiving
chicks.
• Disinfect (bleach) facilities and equipment.
Brooder/Heat Lamps
• We will be using heat lamps to keep the
chicks warm.
• Start lights before chicks arrive to maintain
a floor temperature of 90-95 degrees F.
• Place a cardboard chick guard around the
heat source. Use for approximately 7 days.
• Gradually reduce heat over a period of
weeks, making sure the chicks are warm.
Too Cold or Too Hot?
• Chicks are too cold if they huddle together
under the heat source. They will also chirp
a lot.
• Chicks are too hot when they lay down in
corners(or outer areas of chick guard).
• Chicks are the correct temperature when
they form a ring on the floor under the heat
source.
Litter
• Cover floor with 2-3 inches of litter.
• TIP-Wood shavings are highly preferred.
Using straw requires extremely good
management and may result with ammonia
burns on the feet, thus a loss of points at the
contest.
• Remove wet litter as soon as possible.
• TIP-Do not cover litter with newspaper as
“The Small Poultry Flock” suggests.
• TIP-With broiler chicks, the newspaper will
be so slippery that the chicks will develop
leg problems which may lead to poor
growth or death, thus resulting in loss of
points.
Ventilation
• Plenty of ventilation is very important or the
chicks may get either too hot, too cold, or
suffer from diseases associated with
ammonia orders and too high of humidity.
• Ventilation slots may be placed in the
house.
• A small fan may have to be installed.
Is My Ventilation OK?
• If the chicken house smells badly of
ammonia, increase ventilation.
• If the chicken house feels very humid,
increase ventilation.
• Chicks do not like drafts.
• If they appear cold due to drafts, plug some of the
slots in the house or reduce fan speed.
Space Requirements
• Day old chicks need 1/2 square feet per bird
up to three weeks of age.
• Chicks also need adequate feed and water
space.
• If they have to fight for feeder space, you
will be inhibiting growth, which will end up
in a loss of points at the contest.
• Allow for 20 linear feet per 50 birds.
Insulation
• Insulation may be necessary during this
contest.
• A building which is entirely heated is the
best situation.
• This may be impossible, thus insulation can
help keep the chickens warm.
Lighting Requirements
• Keep lights on in the chicken house 24
hours a day.
• TIP-This will help keep the chickens from piling up
if they get scared.
• TIP-It will also encourage the birds to stay awake
and eat, thus making them grow faster!!!