Warm Welcoming

Warm Welcoming, a photo by Catcher In My Eye on Flickr.

I bought my RHODE ISLAND REDS & HIGH PRODUCTION chicks thru TRACTOR SUPPLY's "Chick Days" last March in the Spring of 2011.

I followed the TAKING CARE OF CHICKS instructions from TRACTOR SUPPLY.
I knew nothing about chicks or chicken before visiting my Edmond, OK store.
Whether making a trip to my local store or a phone call to our store, TRACTOR SUPPLY managers were always helpful and answered all my questions.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/knowhow/livestockcare/livestock_care_raising_chicks

Taking Care of Chicks

LITTER: To keep the brooder clean and sanitary, change the bedding at least once a week. Use 2-3” of wood chips, oat hulls or ground cobs (not finely ground). The box should be draft-free and cardboard is always a good choice.

HEAT: Pay close attention to how the chicks behave. If they're crowded together directly under the heat source, then they're too cold. If they're around the edges of the brooder trying to avoid the heat, then they're too hot! For the first week, the temperature should be 95°. Reduce the temperature 5° per week until you get to 70°.

WATER: A chick waterer is by far the best way to provide water for your chicks. Saucers or other make-shift containers spill easily, making the brooder wet and unsanitary. For the first hour after chicks arrive, provide them with water ONLY (no feed). Add ¼ cup sugar and 1 level tsp. of Duramycin per gallon. After the first hour, chicks should be ready for food. Continue the Duramycin at 1 tsp. per gallon for the second day (no sugar), and then clean fresh water after that.

FEED: Place filled feeders inside the chick pen AFTER the chicks have consumed water for 1 hour. Start the chicks on a 20% protein (24% protein for broilers) starter ration. At eight weeks old switch to 18-19% chick grower.

DRAFT SHIELD: When your chicks first arrive, make sure to create a shield of corrugated paper, baled straw or hay surrounding the starting area. Chicks MUST be able to get away from the heat source if they get too warm.

FLOOR SPACE: Each chick needs one-half square foot of space for the first two weeks. After two weeks, increase to one square foot per bird.