Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Plastic tubs work fine for other species of poultry. They are a great choice for messy
waterfowl, as the tubs are easy to clean. They are also superb for guineas and turkeys
as they eliminate drafts. Plan on being able to house about 15 to 20 ducklings, 10 to 15
goslings, and 15 to 20 turkeys per tub.
Food, Water, and Medicine
Now that you have a home established, you need to start furnishing it with necessary
eating and drinking equipment. There are almost as many choices for feeders and drink-
ers for young fowl as there are feeds and medicines. Wise choices for all of these neces-
sities will help your young flock grow and thrive.
The Waterer
The first thing your babies will need for sustenance is a no-drown chicken waterer. The
part of the waterer you buy is a dish-like bottom piece or
fount
you can buy at most farm
stores. Then you simply screw the bottom onto a standard quart or pint glass Mason jar.
Some will even come with an attached plastic jar all ready to go. You will need either a
no-drown fount or one that's a little bit larger, depending upon the type of baby poultry
you are raising.
If it's waterfowl you're caring for,
choose a water source that allows them to dip
their bill. With these, they can rinse their nostrils.
If you've acquired chickens, turkeys, or guineas,
try to choose a waterer that has a
smaller surface so that they don't get too wet when getting a drink.
Refer to
chapter 2
, Housing and Supplies, for more information about proper feeding
and watering equipment.
The Feeder
Next you need to obtain equipment for feeding your young ones. Available feeders are
either round, with holes in the top, or long troughs. I recommend purchasing feeders that
are plastic or metal and attached to a jar so you can feed less frequently. These quart
jars hold more feed than a flat trough feeder does, and the feed comes out at the bottom
where chicks have easy access and can self-feed. Although it's not the best long-term
solution, if you need a feeder in a pinch, you can always just put the feed on an old
plastic yogurt or cottage cheese container lid. The more chicks you have, the bigger the
lid should be.
When raising baby turkeys,
it is frequently best to sprinkle the food around where
they are sleeping so that they can get used to pecking and eating.
