Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
SHEDS NOT ADEQUATE
FOR GAME CHICKS
I don't recommend merely enclosing a section of a small shed or building for use as
a brooder for game birds; that sort of setup is a high-risk proposition. Because of the
wild nature and diminutive size of these young ones, a great number would be lost to
chilling and escape.
Use uncoated (instead of glossy) newspaper for the base bedding material and then
place the excelsior pad that accompanied the chicks in the shipping box under the heat
source. This provides the footing needed to keep them from slipping. This is the same
brooder setup I use for all my birds. Specifics can be found in
chapter 4
, Baby Basics.
Food and Water
Make sure you have purchased a small-lipped, no-drown fount base to attach to a quart
(1 L) fruit jar for water. Do not use a regular chick fount base or some babies will cer-
tainly drown. The “no-drown quail base fount” is a must.
Many game birds use a standard game bird starter that has between 28 and 31 percent
protein content. Waterfowl game birds need a regular chick starter, however. Offer it in
a small, flat dish or make sure that it is easily accessible. It's sometimes helpful in the
first few days to sprinkle a little of the feed all over the newspaper and on the chick pad
where they can find it. This will give their diets a boost.
Heat
Temperature must be kept at a constant 95°F (35°C) at the level of the birds for one
week and then, as with all birds, decreased 5°F (3°C) per week. Check the temperature
by placing the thermometer under the heat lamp at the end where they will be sleeping.
Game bird temperature regulation requirements can be drawn from the material
found in
chapter 14
on raising guineas. Check your heat initially with a thermometer and
see that it is close to 95°F, then watch your birds and see how they are doing.
When raising game birds, it's vital that you observe them. As with all poultry, the
birds offer more information than does a thermometer. They'll tell you when they're too
cold by huddling together with closed eyes and chirping continuously under the heat
source. They'll tell you they're too warm when they scramble everywhere in the brooder
and can't seem to settle down. Cannibalism will also kick in when they are too hot.
