Proper management is essential to raising healthy chicks.Here are a few guidelines to help you raise chicks the Purina Way.

ENVIRONMENT- Keep it clean, keep it dry.
•Warm, dry housing without drafts. Make enclosure predator proof.
•Clean and disinfect housing, feeders and waterers before chicks arrive. Disinfect regularly. Litter (bedding) should be 2"-5" deep; use wood shavings, straw, etc.

SPACE REQUIREMENT- No crowding allowed.
•Hatch until 6 weeks: .8-1.0 square feet per chick
•6 weeks and older: 1.0-2.0 square feet per chick

TEMPERATURE- Avoid the Big Chill.
•Day old, 90º-95ºF. Heat lamp or light bulb, approximately 20" above chicks. Heat in advance, raise light to adjust temperature. Place thermometer at chick level. Comfort can be observed. If chicks huddle under light, too cold. If chicks huddle in corners, too hot. Reduce 5ºF each week until minimum of 65ºF.
•Turkey Poults- Slower to understand eating and drinking, watch closely first few days. To get poults started, dip beaks in water and feed.
•Ducklings/Goslings- May swim in water after 4 weeks. Keep dry until then. Place marbles in the waterer to reduce splashing.

WATER- Wet their whistles.
•One 1-quart fount per 25 chicks. Use fresh, cool (not cold) water, clean daily. Disinfect waterers prior to use and then weekly. Dip beaks to induce drinking. Elevate waterer after first week to reduce contamination from litter. Waterer should not be higher than the chick’s back. Double waterer capacity at 6 weeks.

FEED-Stay with Purina all the way.
•Feeder(s)- One foot long per 25 chicks. Keep full at all times, scatter Purina starter ration on newspapers first 2-3 days to encourage eating.
•Egg Laying Chicks- Give Purina Start & Grow (medicated) until 18-20 weeks old and then switch to Layena. For best egg production, use artificial light in laying house to create maximum 17-18 hour day. Do not decrease the length of lighting period when flocks are in production.
•Broiler(meat chicks)- Feed Purina Meat Builder to finish. Pullets being kept for egg production should be fed Layena beginning at 18-20 weeks.
•Ducklings/Goslings-Feed Purina Meat Builder from hatch on. (Medicated feed not approved by FDA.) For more detailed feeding information, ask about the Purina Duck/Geese feeding program.
•Turkey Poults- Use Purina Turkey Starter 0-6 weeks, Purina Turkey Grower 6-14 weeks and finish with Purina Turkey Finisher. Purina Turkey Starter and Grower Feed Products are available with and without medication. Purina Meat Builder can be used as an alternative product.
•Game Birds- Requirements are different for each species. Ask about Purina Game Bird life Cycle Feeding.

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UPON ARRIVAL: Dip their beaks in water to ensure they get their first drink as soon as they arrive. If they just sit with their eyes shut, they are probably dehydrated and may need several more assisted drinks throughout the day. Remove all leg bands within a week, as they do not expand as the bird grows.

FEED: You should feed them starter crumbles (20-21%) protein) up to four weeks of age. Most medicated feed is acceptable. Grower pellets (15-16% protein) are preferred after four weeks. Whole and cracked grains can be added to the feed to reduce the protein level and expense. Layer pellets can be introduced gradually in early spring. Try to avoid mash as it is difficult for waterfowl to eat Green grass and vegetable trimmings can be given at any time.

WATER: Waterfowl should not have access to swimming water until they are fully feathered (about two months of age). Since they have been hatched in an incubator, they do not have their mother’s protective oil on their down and are easily chilled if allowed in water. Drinking water should be available at al times. Waterers can be placed on raised floors of 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth to prevent the splashed water form being tracked throughout the pen.

HEAT: They need access to areas heated to 90º their first week. This can be reduced 5º per week. For small numbers, a heat lamp suspended 1-1/2’ above the bedding is fine. Heating may take daily adjustments. If they are huddled or climbing on one another, increase the temperature. If they avoid their heat source, reduce the temperature.

HEALTH: Keep the bedding as dry as possible (wood shavings are the best). Once your ducklings or goslings are one month old allow them outdoors during the day. They can stay outside in good weather once they are six to nine weeks old. Protect them from dogs, cats and other predators. You should have few health problems if you follow the above instructions. If you do have any problems, try adding chilortetracycline, neomycin, novobiocin, Rofenaid or terramycin to their diet.

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