Day-old chicks must be handled with care. A flock that gets off to a good start is easier to control. It has a higher body weight at the start of rearing process, is more uniform in size, has a better health status and reaches genetic potential more easily. There are a number of basic things for you to bear in mind: Before chicks arrive, check that everything in the house is working properly.
Requirement
- Before chicks arrive, check that everything in the house is working properly: high temperature, enough fresh air coming in, feed and water and enough light.
- Heat the house 24 hours before the chicks arrive.
- Maintain a temperature of 30⁰C to 32⁰C in the first week. Prevent cold air from falling on chicks. Ensure the drinking water is lukewarm: greater than 20⁰C but less than 28⁰C.
- Ventilate the house to remove stale air and bring in the fresh oxygenated air. High carbon dioxide levels may kill your birds or cause water born disease.
- Use Paper or gunny bag material in feeding for a minimum of 3 days.
Tips to note:
- House at a spacing of 1 bird per square foot, with 80 birds per drinker and 100 birds per pan feeder.
- Feed 25g per day for days 1 to3 and give Multi-Vitamins for 3 days.