PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DAILY CARE, VACINATION AND MEDICATION OF POULTRY BIRDS

                                                             CHAPTER 1

THE LITTER

When you are starting poultry, the knowledge of litter comes first. A number of materials are suitable for deep litter, but some are more suitable for deep litter than others. The main attributes of a litter are that it should be absorbent and as free from dust as possible. The following are used on their own or in combination with others: Peat-moss, Chaff, Cut Straw, Shaving, Saw-dust and Wool shoddy.

1.      PEAT-MOSS

 PEAT- MOSS is very dusty and as such not recommended for the Tropics. It is very absorbent and long lasting. Because it is dusty, the interior of the house tends to get covered with a fine brown dust. It is dark and does not reflect light. A good grade peat-moss with as little dust in it as possible should always be used.

2.      SAWDUST

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It is extensively used because of its quality and beautiful color. It is less dusty than peat and almost equally absorbent. Although it is an excellent absorbent deep litter yet it is not recommended for the north or West African because it leaves whitish dust on the walls.

Poultry inhale the dust which creates chest congestion that lead to fowl bronchitis.

33. STRAW & CUT STRAW

Whole straw will mat. The litter becomes damp and unpleasant if it is used as a starting material.
Wheat straw is a little better than oat straw. Cut-straw can make a useful litter. The length should not be more than 4 centimeters long (One and a half inches).

44.  SHAVINGS

Timber-shavings are very good and highly recommended. They are lighter than peat or saw dust. They do not tend to pad down so much. Their absorption capacity is good. They do not blow about easily. They are easily and cheaply obtainable. They can easily be removed and replaced. (Many people call this saw dust, but it is not).

55. CHAFF

It is too light to be comfortable for the birds. It scatters all over the place. It is not too absorbent and it is not really suitable material. Wool shoddy, Cavings and oat hull are all the same. Not good.

66.    COMBINATIONS
The following combinations can be used as a satisfactory base deep litter.
1)  Shavings and sawdust in equal quantities- sawdust as foundation.
2)  Shavings and peat moss; 50-50 combination; use peat as foundation.
3)  Shavings and cut Straw- Shaving as foundation plus sawdust in the middle (60-15- 25) combination. There are several other combinations.

We should not forget to use sand when shavings or none of the above is available.
i) By far, the simple method of starting the litter is to put in to a depth of 15 cm (6 inches) wood shavings right away. This is called deep litter.
ii) There is yet another method. You start with only 5cm of litter (2 inches); add to it at regular intervals (say 2 weeks) as the droppings accumulate until the depth reaches 15cm for chicks and 24cm for pullets. (7in-10in).
iii) The other practice is changing the litter at regular intervals. In schools and Colleges where the poultry farm may be nearer to classrooms the litter must be replaced every week. This will prevent odour and bad scent in the school to the distaste of students, visitors and the authority.
This system is recommended only in the layer houses.

iv)  In the grower house the litter is changed when the birds leave the house, but the litter must be dry. 

v) Where the layer house is far away from human settlement the litter can be allowed to build up, for, say, six months.
vi)  In garages and backyards the rooms must be cleaned every week. The droppings contain ammonia, which people do not like to smell. Ammonia is dangerous to health.  Ammonia can kill children, and even adults.  Also, the waste attracts files into nearby homes.  “The smell affects neighbours, so be a good neighbor, keep it tidy and clean often.

CHAPTER 2

PREPARING FOR DAY-OLD CHICKS

Some farmers may like to have a simple incubator for practice. Incubators differ in operation. One thing is certain, though, that the eggs must be in the incubator for 3 weeks. They should be turned over from time to time.

Preparing to receive them

After the first day, the day-old chicks are sent to the farm or are given to you, the farmer.

1.      Prepare the chicken house before the chicks arrive. Disinfect it at least 24 hours before their arrival, and raise the temperature in the house to 35⁰C. 

2.      The temperature is raised by closing all windows and doors in the chicken house, and leaving the lights on for 24 hours.

3.      Spread wood shavings, sand, hay, or dry wood chippings on the floor of the house.

Provide 15 sq cm (6 inches) of room space per bird. To calculate this, measure the length and breadth of the chicken house and multiply those figures obtained. Then multiply the product by 2 again. (It is better to measure in feet). The new product is the number of day-old chicks required in that house. For example, a building (60ft x 30ft) 2= (1800sq ft) 2   This gives a figure of 3600 day-old chicks needed to fill that room. 

Drinking space is at (3ft), 90cm intervals. Ten, 5 liter drinkers (1 gallon) (1 Imperial gallon or 1.25 US gallons), 5 liter sizes are sufficient for every 1,000 chicks from day-old-2 weeks.

4.      At a day-old, 5 liters of water is needed for every 100 chicks and 90 cm (3 ft) drinking space is just right in any room situation.

5.      The drinking water can be set out at least a day (24 hours) before the chicks enter the house.

CHAPTER 3
BROODING
DAY 1-WEEK 5

THE FIRST WEEK OF LIFE FOR THE CHICK

DAY  1.   THE DAY-OLD CHICK’

1.      When they arrive put newspapers on top of the wood shavings, sand, or wood chipping s on the floor of the chicken house

2.      Throw the day-old chicks on the paper. Don’t be gentle with them, as this procedure helps to cull the weak ones later.

3.      Supply enough water in proper sealed troughs to prevent them from drowning. 

4.      Give 23 hours of light to chicks at this stage: 12 hours day length plus 11 hours artificial light.

5.      Today (one gallon), 5 liters of water is needed for every 100 chicks.

6.      Water must be available within (3 ft), 90cm of the birds at all times.

7.      For the lighting, use 25 watt bulbs fixed into the ceiling at 300cm (10 ft) intervals throughout the entire house.

8.      Fix half of the light with red bulbs (Davies red lamp). Any bulb of low intensity will be adequate. Red light is 15cm from floor. 

9.      Do not serve fresh water. It will give them pneumonia: Use water that has been allowed to sit out for 24 hours.

NOTE: Red bulbs control cannibalism and feather pecking. Give water first to the chicks and after 2 hours give them food (Starter mash for Broiler, Chicks mash for Cockerel and Pullet.

DAY 2.  MILK AND GLUCOSE TREATMENT:

1.      Check for any sign of bacillary white diarrhea (BWD) and diabetes. They are caused by vitamin deficiencies in the parent stock.  The sign of BWD is white sticky dropping covering the vent.
a) These disease are hereditary
b) They affect the newly hatched chicks during incubation

2.      All windows should remain shut

3.      The temperature should be 95⁰F

4.      There should be 23 hours of light.

5.      If the old water gets finished, provide fresh water but do not wash the water troughs.

6.      Sprinkle feed on the newspapers.

TREATMENT: To be used where the chicks have travelled for long distances (over 100kms) to the farm and, or where or when, the above mentioned diseases are to be stopped.

1.      Give glucose (sugar), 2kgs in, 55 liters of water to cure the diseases, or, in, 110litres of water to prevent the diseases.

2.      Supply 130 liters of drinking water to 1,000 chicks daily.

3.      In addition to the glucose, add 400 grams of full cream powdered milk, if available, 130 liters of drinking water.

4.      DAY 3.  INTRODUCE THE FOOD TROUGHS.

Today the chicks have to be provided with feeding troughs, and the newspapers removed from the floor

1.      Provide fresh water; wash the water troughs for the first time, but if the milk is not finished, use the rest of the sugary water and the milk together

2.      Fill the food troughs full to avoid waste.

3.      Do not give fresh water and food at the same time. They should be provided on the same day, but not at the same time.

4.      Remove all newspapers from on top of the wood shavings or sand.

5.      There is still 23 hours of light needed.

6.      The temperature is still at 95⁰F

DAY4. CULLING DAY:

1.      The water is changed three times and the chicks fed three times starting from today.

2.      Three feeding methods are practiced:

a) Three times a day on every other day

 b) Twice daily,

c) Three times daily.

3.      Experiments show that feeding three times daily is costly and unprofitable. To feed the birds three times a day for every other day may be economical but is dangerous. You should use the twice daily method; it is economical and the birds eat everyday

4.      The best time to serve the food is between 8a.m – 9a.m and 4p.m -5p.m.

5.      The houses should be checked first thing in the morning to remove dead chicks.

6.      From today, all chicks which show defects should be removed as the other birds easily catch the diseases. This is called “culling the birds.”

7.      Culling must be thorough on the fourth day because it is a special day on the farm.

8.      Culling means removing the defective chicks which show the following signs:

a) Small eyes,

b) Twisted necks,

c) Chicks that keep falling over,

d) All weak looking chicks,

e) Chicks that is inactive,

 f) Chicks with heavy or diseased abdomen,

 g) Sleepy chicks,

h) Those with twisted toes and/ or feet,

 i) Chicks with blind or swollen eyes,

j) Those with twisted beaks.

9.      Kill all defective chicks to avoid the spread of diseases.

10.  Never mix, replace, or add new or strange chicks into a group. To avoid diseases all birds must be of equal age.

11.  Most of the windows should be opened today to let in some fresh air.

12.  Reduce the number of chicks in the house by at least a third.  Divide up the group from the same room into two separate units groups and put them into different compartments. 

13.  Chicken pneumonia is brought on by overcrowding and cold weather.  Do not let the room temperature go below 16 degrees C (60⁰F). 

14.   Remember to add multivitamin in water today. 

DAY 5: FARM UNIFORMS:

Your chicks have survived the most crucial period i.e. the first four days. Well done! But still be vigilant. Because of the large numbers, some defective chicks might have escaped your scrutiny. Continue with the culling, but avoid making the chicks panic; they easily do so.

1.      Each farm worker must be provided with overalls, soft boots, and a cap or hat. The birds will soon get to know the uniform and recognize the workers. The chicks will feel secure. They associate those uniforms with food, and run towards farm workers wearing them.

2.      Any other uniform/dress, is dangerous for the chicks. Any time someone enters who is not wearing the farm uniform, steps into the chicken house, the birds will take that person to be a stranger and simultaneously run for cover.

3.      Several things happen when the chicks see an intruder:
a) They run and hide, and then study the intruder.
b) As soon as they recognize the familiar uniform of the farm worker the chicks will come out of hiding.
c) If the chick knows the intruder by recognizing how he is dressed, they come very close to welcome him/her.
d) They can only identify a person by his or her dress.
e) If they cannot recognize the appearance of the person, they intuitively sense danger, begin to quiver and shiver, and behave nervously.
f) Nervousness leads to many troubles on the farm, so avoid it.
g) Give Powdered milk + Lasotal Vaccine in the drinking water today.

 Note:

1.      Lasota vaccine most be transported early in the morning and please dispose lasota bottle properly after use.

2.      Lasotal vaccine cannot spend more than 2 hours with the chicks and remember to wash the drinker thoroughly after use. Also remember to give vitamins to the chicks after the vaccine.

DAY 6. PREVENTION OF DISEASES

It is imperative that you provide anti-bacterial solutions for disinfecting boots and shoes at the entrance of the chicken house.

1.      Use either Izal or Dettol in water or any available anti-bacterial solution

Put the solution in a shallow trough immediately outside the door of the chicken house.

2.      A shallow trough can be dug in the ground, cemented, left to dry, and the liquid then poured into it.

3.      All farm workers should step in the disinfectant before they enter the chicken house.

4.      It is economical to soak a jute or burlap sack in the liquid and leave it at the entrance. This stops people from getting their socks, shoes and trousers wet.

5.      The farm workers and visitors should step on the soaked sack before they go into the chicken house.

6.      There is no need to change the solution, but extra liquid can be added to the sack.

7.      Never place the disinfectant inside the house. The scent of it may be inhaled by the chicks.

8.      Many chicks get nasal discharge, caused by these disinfectants.

9.      Stress it that everybody steps in the liquid only when they enter the house, not when they leave.

10.  Print a NO ENTRY sign on the unused doors of the house, so that no one goes in that way.

11.  Give clean, fresh water each day. Wash the water containers once a day; first thing in the morning.

12.  As soon as you finish feeding the chicks in the morning, clean and wash the feed containers used the previous day.

NOTE: NEVER use soap to wash feed or water containers.  Wash them with water only.

DAY 7. THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK’S PROGRAMME

Your chicks have survived the crucial seven days—their first week.
Congratulations! You are on the way to success. Now let us look back and check if we missed anything.

1.      At the beginning of the 5^th day, did you give Lasotal and milk powder?

2.      If yes, then repeat the same on the 10^th day.

3.      Did you open the windows once each day?

4.      If yes, check the temperature in the room; it should be between 16 – 27 degrees C (60⁰F – 80⁰F). The optimum temperature is 23-24C (75⁰F).

5.      Are you satisfied with the culling? If not, then continue the culling today for it is dangerous to allow weak chicks among the flock. If yes, then still look around and take out any dull chick.

6.      Is there any disease among the chicks? If yes, look into their droppings, what are the signs? 

a)  The most common disease is diarrhea . You can detect this by the white patches around the waste matter that the chicks discharge.  To cure diarrhea, use any anti- biotic + Virocider or anti biotic with any anti vira drug + Vitamain  in water, 2 teaspoonful in 5 litres of water (one gallon).
b)  Another common disease is brooder pneumonia.  The outward signs are swollen eyelids; at a severe stage, the whole eye closes up. Use natural lime juice (from the line tree) on the affected parts for three days.

DO NOT USE IODINE, as some inexperienced people may advise.
Most people mistake brooder pneumonia for fowl pox.
Use iodine for fowl pox, but lime for brooder pneumonia.

7.      How many hours of light should the birds get now? They should receive only the 12 hours of daylight; there is no more artificial light needed until they reach 18 weeks old.

8.      Is the feed program working? If the feed is enough, you will notice growth among the chicks. They must be healthy. They should run about in the room and run towards the farm worker for their food- all these things are signs of growth. They should have developed feathers in their wings and tails. The males begin to show aggressive characteristics, and are developing different feathers.

9.      The feed trough must be changed from a large square one  to a narrow and restricted trough. The measurement of the new trough should be (2ft. long by 3” wide and 6” deep), 60cm x 8cm x 15cm. one trough of this size should be used for 40 chicks.

10.  Are you moving half of the birds to a different house? If yes, then do not change the wood shavings or clean or disinfect the room. If no, then move of half of the chicks from the house.  When the number is reduced, stir up the wood shavings to provide fresh rough surface litter.

11.  Open all windows; remove all feed troughs and drinking basins from the room whilst you stir up the wood shavings.

NOTE

1.      Take all these precautions, and let the birds start their second week with vigor.

2.      Sawdust here refers to timber or wood a shaving which has broken down into fine granular material forming deep litter, in the poultry house.