Milford chronicle., 1928-05-18
POULTRY RAISERS
ADVISED ON GROW
ING HEALTHY CHICKS

In the circular letters and Other
literature which has been sent re-
Gently from the offices of the county
agricultural agents to all the poul-
try raisers in the State in regard to
the care and management of young
chicks, sanitation has been empha-
sized as being one of the most i'm
portant factors, according to H. S,
Palmer, Extension POultryman OF
the University of Delaware, under
whose direction this Grow Healthy
Chick program is being conducted in
each of the three counties.
Sanitation alone, however, will not
insure the health of baby chicks, as
there are several other conditions
such as heat, fresh air without
drafts, sufficient floor space, regular
supply of food and water, sunshine,
green food, shade, and close atten-
ton to prevent the formation of bad
habits which must be taken into con-
sideratiOn if the poultry raisers are
to meet with success in their busi-
ness.
During the first week the chicks
requires a temperature of 95 to 100
degrees Fahrenheit, as temperatures
only slightly above or below this
range for longer than few minutes
at time may result in disorders of
serious consequences. After the first
week, the heat may be lowered grad
TALLY, but at no time should any
sudden changes in temperature oc-
CIR in the hrOOder bOuSa
1t is quite difficult to admit fresh
air to the brooder house without
causing floor drafts, so it is very es-
sential that a guard be placed
around the hover to break any cross
currents of cold air from the out
side. The windows and ventilators
should be adjusted as often as need
ed to keep the temperature and air
conditions uniform. In large, deep
houses those adjustments should be
made twice day, while in the small
colony houses, it is necessary to
make these changes five or six times
a day in order to prevent the young
chicks from becoming too hot or too
cold. This is more important, of
course, if the chicks are confined in
their houses than if they are allow
ed to run outside.
Some poultry raisers make the
serious mistake of crOwding too
many chicks into one house, and
most of the damage from crOwding |
takes place at night. If less than |
three-tenths of square foot is al
lowed for each chick at the time !
they are placed in the brooder house,
arrangements should be made to /
provide more room by the time they
are four or five weeks old, even if
they are running outside during the
day.
Young chicks need a regular sup
ply of food and water and plenty of
sunshine which should be supple
mented with green food in order
that they may be supplied with the
proper vitamines for their growth
and development into strong and
healthy birds. From the very start,
chicks should be exposed to the di-
rect rays of the sun, and every
brooder house should be provided
with lot in which green food is be-
ing grown for them to run upon and
eat while in the open.
Chicks should be watched very
closely while they are being confn-
ed in the brooder houses, as toe
picking, tail picking, and feather
pulling, and other forms of canni-
balism often occur under such con- !
litions. Opinions seem to differ as to
The real cause of these habits as
some poultrymen think they are due s
% deficient rations, while others t
contend that the chicks are hungry c
md have nothing to do. 1t is agreed, I
however, that these troubles are in /
creased by close confinement and T
conditions. d
Each poultry raiser in the State is n
,eing supplied with record cards on T
which to keep an account of the n
,hick losses, and when this infor- tt
nation is tabulated at the end of the c
eason, it is hoped that it will be of F
-alue in conducting another Grow
Iealthy Chick Campaign next il
pring. These records are being re- c
urned to the offices of the three
ounty agricultural agents who are l.
with the Extension d
pecialist in securing this informa- n
on, and in assisting the poultry II
aisers as far as possible with their Of
roblems in flock management. W