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Care of Chicks
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Nutritional Guidelines
Care of Berg's Chicks
Fresh litter placed on floor of a well disinfected brooder house. Litter materials most commonly used for brooding is good quality wheat straw. Soft wood shavings can be used, but must have virtually no sawdust in them. Three or four inches of litter should be used, spread evenly over the floor.
DO NOT USE HORTICULTURAL PEAT MOSS AS IT MAY CAUSE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AND YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A BEDDING FOR THEM, NOT NEWSPAPER OR CARDBOARD AS IT DOES NOT HOLD HEAT AND IS SLIPPERY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CHICK'S LEGS.
The brooder should be capable of maintaining a temperature of 95° F (35° C) at the edge of the hover measured 2" above the litter. As the chicks age, they require less supplement heat. The down which covers the body at hatching is replaced with feathers which reduce the loss of heat from the body. This means that the amount of heat supplied to poultry can be reduced as they grow older. The initial brooding temperature of 95° should be reduced to around 65° - 70° at about 6 weeks of age. A brooding schedule should look like the following:
***do not use white heat bulbs for brooding chicks, only red bulbs***
| Age of Chicks (Weeks) | Room Temperature |  |
| 1 | 95° F (35°C) | |
| 2 | 90° F (32°C) | |
| 3 | 85° F (29°C) | |
| 4 | 80° F (27°C) | |
| 5 | 75° F (24°C) | |
| 6 | 70° F (21°C) |
The above table should be used as a guide only. The best thermometer to use in determining proper brooder temperature is the chick or poultry itself. If the birds huddle too close to the brooder, the temperature is too low. If the chicks tend to congregate some distance away from the heat source the temperature is too high. If the proper brooding temperature is used, the chicks should be evenly distributed over the entire brooding area. The diagrams below show how to use chicks as a guide for the correct brooding temperature.
| JUST RIGHT A contented peep, and evenly distributed chicks around the hover indicates comfortable conditions.  |
TOO DRAFTY When the chicks chirp and wedge behind the hover, There is a draft.  |
TOO COLD If too cold the chicks will group and pile up under the hover.  |
TOO HOT If the chicks move away from the heat source and are drowsy the temperature is too warm.  |
As the birds grow older, lower the temperature about 5 degrees per week until 65° is reached. A temporary increase in brooding temperatures of about 5 degrees may be of value for reducing side effects of stress resulting from handling and moving.
Extra Tips:
PULLET REARING - Egg Layers
Clean and disinfect, brooding, water is all the same as the Cornish Cross Giants.
1. Floor Space - the first 3 weeks 1/2 square foot per chick.
Expand to 1 1/2 square feet per bird for the balance of growing period.
2. Feed - To start baby chicks use small troughs, box tops or egg flats.
Then switch to 3-50 lbs. feeders per 100 or equivalent.
3. Lighting - Day old to 16 weeks the birds will need 8 hours of
light. Gradually add 1 hour per week until you're at 16 hours of light for maximum
production.
4. Nests - The bottom of the nests should be 27 inches above the floor.
With a two tier nest provide one nest hole for every four birds in the laying
flock. nests should be filled with an ample supply of clean nesting materials.
Close nests at night to keep them clean. Open nests early in morning to avoid
floor eggs.
5. Flock Health - Dead and culled birds are a source of disease and
therefore should be collected and disposed of daily.
For good management practices keep complete, accurate records of daily feed and water intake, egg production and mortality.
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Berg's Hatchery |
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NOTE: Sorry we cannot mail any started birds so please order day olds
if you wish to receive them via mail.
Please contact us for mailing or air costs.