Management Practices for Raising Production Poultry for Monroe County IN 4H-Projects
By John and Anne Foley
Special Requirements of Young birds
Chicks and turkey poults: When not raised naturally by hens, both of these are extraordinarily susceptible to coccidiosis (a pathological bacterial colonization of the intestine). Medicated chick starters are required. The most common medication for control of coccidiosis is amprolium.
Recommended feed: Purina’s Start and Grow or Turkey Starter with Amprolium
Ducklings/goslings: Ducklings or goslings do not require medicated feed. In fact, some antibiotics (medications) in feed can be toxic to waterfowl. However, amprolium is not toxic to waterfowl and chick starters with this are fine for ducklings.
Taking birds off medicated feed. This is not recommended until the birds are about 8-weeks-old (or even longer).
Protein requirements
Protein is often the limiting factor in feed for a growing bird. Bird growth requires high levels of protein. However, once growth is achieved, protein requirements often drop.
Chickens:
Chicks to young adult birds: 20% (Purina Start and Grow)
Layers: 15% (Layer pellets or crumbles)
Waterfowl:
Ducklings/goslings to young adult birds: 16 to 20% (Purina Flockraiser)
Adult breeders: 15 to 16% (Waterfowl chow, Layer crumbles)
Turkeys:
Poults to young adult birds: 28% (Turkey or Game Bird starter)
Adult birds: 25% (Turkey or Game Bird feed)
Protein problems: Corn or scratch protein content is ~9%. This is the old way of feeding poultry and it appears to stunt the growth of most young birds. Feeding a mix of corn or scratch with a formulated feed leads the bird to pick out the corn and leave behind the crumble or pellet.
Water
All birds require abundant clean water to grow fast. If there are shavings in the water or the water is otherwise dirty, the birds will not drink much and growth is slowed. Change water often.
With poults, chicks, ducklings/goslings water can be a danger. Use small plates with an inch or less of water in them. Chicks and poults can drown in large bowls of water. Ducklings/goslings will want to swim in large bowls of water. This should be prevented because without maternal oils spread on their down, wet ducklings/goslings cannot maintain body temperature and often die. However, ducklings/goslings absolutely require water to eat efficiently.
Light and temperature
Young birds: For maximal growth until adulthood, 23 hours of light is recommended for chickens and turkeys. Day-old chicks require 95oF and this requirement decreases 5oF per week until chickens and turkeys are completely covered with non-fluff feathers and ducks are 4 weeks old. Usually at this time, it is ok to place them in a non-heated building during spring-time weather. Heat lamps are best for getting young chicks the heat they need.
Layers: produce best with 15 to 16 hours of light
Exercise
Chickens:
Early in life, roosts and large run areas are not recommended because they can contribute to injuries that produce crooked keels bruises, lameness and blisters. With dual-purpose birds (like our broilers), roosts and larger runs permit exercise to help build breast and leg muscle in the 4 to 6 month period.
Waterfowl:
After a month or so, large containers of clean water should be provided to waterfowl to swim and exercise in and keep themselves clean. Water should also be provided close to the food. Large to free range runs permit the ducks to flap their wings run and build breast and leg muscle.
Turkeys:
Early in life, roosts and large run areas are not recommended because they can contribute to injuries that produce crooked keels bruises, lameness and blisters. However, after 2 months, turkeys should exercise some to keep leg muscles strong enough to support large carcass sizes. Roosts are not generally recommended, but are probably ok for non-terminal breeds such as the Black, Narragansett, Bourbon Red, etc.
Environment
Manure: A very strong detractor of meat quality is manure burns. Poultry manure is high in ammonium related compounds and will burn skin on contact. Shavings in the bird’s enclosures must be changed often so birds do not rest on manure.
Intra-species competition: Duck, turkey and chicken meat project birds should be raised separately. Ducks usually outcompete everything for feed, meaning they grow fast and everything else grows slow. Also, ducks make everything wet and this can cause disease in turkeys and chickens.
