Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
to the ground and the yolk sac breaks, the chick will usually get blood poisoning and die
within 24 hours.
It's best to let the chicks regulate their bodies and start moving around on their own
before you handle them. The more you fuss with them, the more stressed they become.
Restrain yourself, handle them only when absolutely necessary, and wait until they're
three or four days old to pick them up simply to hold them close.
Managing Shipping Stress
Shipping stress is perhaps the most common ailment among shipped-in day-old baby
poultry. This common problem is often misinterpreted as anything but what it really is.
The first-time chicken raiser may think that the birds are diseased or have some sort of
physiological or intestinal problems, but any poultry shipped during extreme weather
conditions will arrive at your location under an extreme amount of stress. They may be
alive but appear to be unhappy. Even if they look okay, they likely have arrived with
stressed body systems. You must deal with these stresses.
LOW RISK FOR SALMONELLA
I have handled thousands of chicks with no problems whatsoever; however, a great
deal of germaphobia exists these days, and many folks fear that handling baby
poultry can cause serious illness. It is possible to acquire salmonella from a baby
chick, but if you use common sense and don't lick your fingers or wipe your nose
right after, the chances of becoming sick are very small. Simply wash your hands
with soap and hot water after handling the chicks.
Pregnant women should use more caution around baby chicks. Extra vigilance to
wash thoroughly once they have held the young fowl is a smart practice.
You should never have to worry about salmonella if your chicks are purchased
from a hatchery kept free of diseases and produced using tested breeding stock.
Warming
If chicks have become chilled, they might never recover. Keep them as warm as possible
— remember, the temperature at their level must be 95°F (35°C) — and perhaps try to
give them some extra food, such as a mashed-up hard-boiled egg. The bright color will
attract them and the nutrition gets them moving quickly. Once you have them eating and
drinking and warmed up, they usually shed the stress symptoms more quickly than if
you took no measures to help them.
Feeding and Watering
