Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Feeders and Founts
THOUGH YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED
to improvise when it comes to feeders
and waterers - using such things as small dishes for feed or shallow plastic containers
for water, you'll raise happier, healthier birds if you purchase regulation chick feeders
and founts. Open feeders are too easy to soil (read: poop in), and open water dishes
are too easy to stand in (or even fall into), risking a fatal chill.
CHICK STARTER FEED
Besides the correct type of brooder, this is the most important item on your chick list.
You can buy medicated starter feed or organic. Be warned, though, that if you opt out
of the medicated feed, you'll need to prepare for the most common and significant ail-
ment affecting chicks: coccidiosis (see box opposite and description on page 121). Good
management and early treatment are the best ways to avoid this heartbreaking disease.
To help your birds grow up healthy - or to grow up at all - I advise going with medicated
feed from day one since the medicated feed is a coccidia preventive. While there is some
value in a completely organically raised chick, it may be more for
you
than your chick-
ens. If you want organic eggs, you can always switch to a regime of organic feed when
the girls are laying. Your chicks will thank you.