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Before You Buy

  • Research the type and breed characteristics for your situation.
  • Clean and disinfect the area, waterers and feeders if they have been previously used
  • Setup and heat brooder ring 24 hours ahead of time
  • Bed with absorbent litter ‐ shavings

Brooder Temperature Tips

  • Provide a heat source in the center of brooding area
  • Test temperatures at the chicks' level – approximately 6 inches from the floor
  • During the first week, heat at 95 degrees F
  • Lower temperatures 5 degrees F each week until you reach a temperature of 70 degrees F

When You Buy

  • Purchase chicks from well‐known, National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) approved hatcheries

Once They're Home

  • Keep dry, protected from cold, drafts, entry by other animals
  • Observe chicks to ensure they are comfortable, and spread uniformly under the heat source
  • Provide fresh, clean, room-temperature water at all times
  • Clean waterers daily
  • Provide a waterer that will restrict bathing (no open containers)
  • Add Stress Pak (electrolytes and vitamins) for the first week or two

Feeding The Right Grain

Start with Poulin Grain Chick Starter Crumbles

  • Formulated to give chicks a healthy start and build a strong frame.
  • Feed 2‐3lbs per week per bird for 6 weeks (12‐18lbs per chick)

Broilers

Layers

  • At 6‐8 weeks switch to Poultry Grower Finisher Crumblet (12‐13lbs per bird during the 12 week period).
  • When they begin to lay (5‐6 months of age) switch to a Layer Pellet, Mash, Crumble or Egg Production Plus.
  • Layers need 14‐16 hours of light per day to produce eggs.
  • 10 birds should produce 8 to 10 eggs per day.
  • You will need 100 to 195 pounds of feed to produce about 20 dozen eggs per bird in 13  months (.25‐.50lbs of feed per day per bird).

Turkeys

Game Birds

Ducks and Geese

Backyard Biosecurity Measures For a Healthy Flock

  • Disinfect feeders, waterers, brooders, pens and coops before introducing new birds to the area.
  • Thoroughly wash your hands after cleaning or working in the chicks' environment.
  • Don't introduce unnecessary visitors to your flock.
  • Quarantine new birds from the existing flock for 30 days to avoid introducing new diseases.
  • Supervise children when handling poultry. Do not nuzzle or kiss chicks, and wash up when through with handling.
  • Always report sick birds to your State Veterinarian.

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If you would like to learn more about Poulin Grain's quality livestock and equine feeds and personalized services such as complimentary forage testing and diet balancing, please visit www.poulingrain.com or call 800.334.6731