b 2H ^ VJ I ^ 50<|; Brooding Chicks >» \ Extension Circular 854 Revised June 1983 ORGGON STATG UNIVGRSITY GXTGNSION SGRVICG Chicks grown commercially for either meat or egg There are no breeds that are efficient on a commer- production are brooded artificially. Many smaller cial scale for both meat and egg production, although producers, hobbyists, and fanciers also use artificial such breeds as Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Islands, New brooders to raise their chickens. Natural brooding was Hampshires, and Wyandottes are often referred to as commonplace until the 1930's; however, today it is "dual-purpose." most unusual to see a mother hen with her brood of The performance of either egg- or meat-type stocks chicks. The brooding period is usually considered to of other poultry producers in your area is a good basis extend from the time the chicks hatch, or are received for choosing a certain stock or strain for your own use. from the hatchery, until they are about 6 to 8 weeks old. Start chicks at the right time Good brooding and rearing practices bring out the Large-quantity egg producers may start several good qualities inherited by chicks, whereas poor brood- broods of chicks a year, starting chicks as often as ing practices can ruin chicks of the best breeding. monthly or bimonthly. With the right equipment and Success in brooding pullets for layers is indicated by a suitable housing, chicks started at any time of year will uniform flock of fast-growing, well-feathered, healthy develop into profitable egg producers. Small producers, pullets. Success in brooding broilers results in rapid and 4-H members, and hobbyists may desire to brood only uniform growth, good efficiency of feed use, fast one or two flocks a year. In this case, start the chicks feathering, and a low rate of mortality. between February I and April 15 for best results. Regardless of the date of hatching, it is normal for Start with healthy chicks hens to molt in the fall of their second year—the usual Purchase only day-old chicks from a reliable hatch- period being from October to December. Normally ery, one that follows a good disease-control program hens do not lay during the molting period. Thus, chicks and has a good local reputation. To avoid possible expo- hatched early in the year (January to March) will sure of chicks to diseased fowls in transit, many hatcheries commence laying when about 6 months old and will deliver chicks, especially when the number ordered is produce eggs for 13 to 15 months before the annual relatively large. With smaller orders, you may have to molt. Chicks hatched in May or June may lay for only 8 go to the hatchery for chicks. In some cases, chicks of to 10 months. Also chicks hatched early in the year will the more uncommon or exotic breeds may not be avail- be as much as 2 to 3 weeks younger in age when they able locally and must be shipped considerable distances. start to lay. Broiler chicks are brooded successfully at In obtaining these breeds, day-old chicks are much less any season; however, there is reduced market demand of a disease risk than older or "started" chicks. for them just before Thanksgiving and Christmas. To avoid pullorum or typhoid disease, obtain chicks You should place your chick orders with the hatch- from hatcheries meeting specific requirements of the ery well in advance to insure getting your chicks at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Oregon De- desired time. partment of Agriculture. A list of such hatcheries is available from the latter. Provide adequate housing Since most chickens reared today are confined, com- Purchase chicks bred for the job fortable and roomy housing is essential. Chicks are artifi- If it's eggs you want, select a strain or stock that has cially brooded successfully by the following methods: high egg production, low mortality rate, relatively small 1. under brooders and on litter on the house or pen body size, and lays large eggs of good quality. There are floor, more good egg-production strains of White Leghorns than any other breed. Since Leghorns lay white-shelled 2. in battery brooder units, and eggs, persons demanding brown-shelled eggs may ob- 3. in wire cages in houses with controlled temperature tain reasonably good egg production with some of the and ventilation. egg-strains of Rhode Island Reds or Plymouth Rocks. Regardless of the method used, the house and equip- Some of the large organizations breeding chickens for ment should be cleaned thoroughly and dried out be- commercial egg production have developed brown-egg fore the arrival of the chicks. chickens that lay well with body size similar to commer- cial Leghorns. With egg-type chickens, sexed pullet Set up the brooders and start operating them several chicks are preferred since it is usually not profitable to days before the chicks arrive. This will reveal any miss- raise the males for broilers or fryers. ing or malfunctioning parts, permit temperature ad- justment, and help to remove moisture from the house If it is meat you want, select broiler or meat stock or litter. that grows rapidly and becomes covered with predomi- nantly white feathers in a hurry. Most broiler-type Temperature chicks are breed crosses, with the Plymouth Rock and The required heat for the chicks may be supplied by Cornish breeds often involved. natural or "bottled" gas or electricity. Gas is a reliable and relatively inexpensive source of heat. Electric brood- COMFORTABLE TOO COLD ers are easy to regulate, but electric power is now quite expensive. The source must be dependable since a power failure could be disastrous. Kerosene, coal, briquets, and wood were once common fuels for brooding. When the chicks are day-old, the temperature should be from 90 to 950F at the level of the chicks on the floor. The temperature is usually lowered about 5 to 6° each week until a temperature of 70 to 75° is reached or until the chicks are 6 to 8 weeks old and fully feathered. A reliable thermometer and observing the actions of the chicks will enable you to provide comfortable tempera- TOO HOT DRAFTY tures. If the chicks huddle or crowd together and cheep, they are too cold (figure 1). If they move away from the source of heat or from underneath the brooder, pant and hold their wings away from their bodies, they are too warm. Chilling chicks may result in their piling and smothering. Too-cool temperatures also cause diarrhea and increase susceptibility to infectious diseases. Too- high temperatures result in reduced appetite and re- tarded growth. Body temperatures above 117° will kill chickens. Figure 1.—Chicks will "tell" you when they are comfortable. Brooder guards of corrugated cardboard or cloth- covered wire 14 to 18 inches high and 1 to 3 feet from the edge of the brooder will confine the chicks to the brooding area and prevent floor drafts (figure 2). A small 71/2- or 10-watt attraction light under the brooder will also tend to keep chicks from straying away and becoming chilled. Space requirements Each broiler chick should have V* to 1 sq ft of floor space. Each Leghorn pullet chick to be reared to laying age should have from IVi to 2 sq ft, and heavy-breed layer replacements 2Vi to 3 sq ft. The amount of space required under the brooder (or Wf\T hover) will vary from 7 to 10 sq in per chick. More space is required under electric brooders than with those using other types of heat, and more brooder space may be required during cold than during mild weather. As a general rule, place no more than 500 chicks under each individual brooder or hover, regardless of size. Feeding equipment Feeder space varies with the age of the chicks. With regular trough-type feeders, chicks should have 1 lineal inch of feeder space to two weeks of age, 2 inches from 3 to 6 weeks, and 3 inches after 7 weeks. In figuring feeder space, remember that chicks eat from both sides Figure 2.—Place food and water close enough that chicks do of a feeder; thus, a feeder 4 feet long provides 96 inches not move too far from heat source. of feeder space and is adequate in size for as many as 100 day-old chicks. Also, as the chicks grow older, mechanical or hanging circular feeders are used later. increase the width and depth of the feeders (or feed With mechanical feeders, allow 2 inches of feeder space capacity). Feed is wasted when the feeders are too per chick, and with 15-inch diameter hanging feeders, small. Figure 3 shows different sizes of chick feeders. provide 15 to 20 for each 1,000 chicks, or two for each Often chicks are fed the first 4 or 5 days with 100. With round feeders and waterers, about half the chick-box lids or cut-down chick boxes, especially when space recommended for straight troughs is required. Figure 3.—As chicks grow, they require more space at the feeder. A poultry operation will require several types and sizes of feeders. Waterers Litter Provide a 1-gallon waterer for each 50 to 100 chicks Have 2 to 4 inches of dry litter on the floor at the the first two weeks (figure 4). With trough-type water- start. Later increase depth to 4 to 6 inches. Materials ers that allow chicks to drink from both sides, allow 20 used for litter ideally should be clean, mold-free, and lineal inches of trough per 100 chicks during the first 2 absorbent.