Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ment. We can begin the transition to a pasture-based life by regulating their day with
natural light and feeding them grasses and other plants on the patio. This method has
reduced our pasture mortality to almost zero.
We prepare the interior of the brooder to accommodate 200 to 300 chicks for two to
three weeks. The previous year's pack is removed and shoveled into the pig pens for
further mixing and composting. We air out the brooder and check for holes. During
the winter, under deep pack, the rats may have spent a lot of time figuring out how to
gain entry. Any holes are covered with hardware cloth and torn plastic is replaced.
The patio is also shoveled out and allowed to dry. We do not wash, sanitize or steril-
ize the brooder.
Once the brooder is sealed up again, we start a new pack with 6 to 8 in. of hard-
wood shavings that we buy in bulk from the local sawmill. We do not use sawdust
(too dusty), cedar, walnut, or cherry shavings (risk of poisoning). Two 250-watt red
heat lamps are suspended from the ceiling on the side of the brooder away from the
door. Directly inside the door are two or three low 3 ft. trough feeders and two 1 gal.
plastic drinkers placed on boards for stability on the shavings. As the chicks grow
larger, feeders will be added, and a Plasson bell drinker with a 5 gal. bucket will be
suspended from the ceiling. When the chicks first arrive we offer them chick grit and
feed on old egg flats for easy access and later keep grit supplied in a metal feeder on
the wall.
The Amenities
No matter how large your brooder is, it is vital to have it ready and waiting when the
chicks arrive. Right after I hang up the phone with the post office I turn on the heat
lamps and prepare warm water with molasses and apple cider vinegar. Warm water is
particularly helpful to chicks that arrive in March. To each gallon of warm water I
add 1 tsp. of organic blackstrap molasses for energy and 1 tbsp. of organic apple
cider vinegar to increase the acidity of the chick's gut and help prevent coccidiosis.
Needless to say, I do not add any coccidiostats. Using this water mix and a deep litter
I have only had one brief bout of coccidiosis in layer chicks that resulted in the loss
of 10 chicks out of 200.
When I place chicks in the brooder I make sure to dip their beaks in the warm wa-
ter. It's like priming them. Typically they will then huddle up under the lamps for a
while before venturing out to peck feed and grit out of the egg flats. Within a few
hours they are well distributed among the heat, feed, and water locations. I am care-
