3. Chicks
Health Issues:
Chicks are really tough BUT they must have a few things!
Food
Clean Water
Ability to Keep Warm
And Access to these things
Predators:
Rats are the most common but all animals enjoy birds at the nugget stage
Make sure they can’t burrow under your brooder
Etc.
If having Cocci problems try deep bedding packs
Watch how the chicks position themselves in the brooder, this will tell you a lot
4. Teenage Chickens
Health Issues
splayed leg syndrome
Predators
These birds have not fully expressed their complete chickeness and are
not yet fully feathered or afraid of predators.
These birds are most likely outside the brooder and exploring which
puts them at risk of predation
Etc.
Still very vulnerable to weather fluctuations because
they are not fully feathered yet
5. Broilers
Health Issues
Predators
We will get into this later but this is where you will learn about the
mistakes you made when designing your housing.
These are slow, plump birds and easy targets for every predator.
Cornish cross can die from heart attacks as they grow to fast and
too fat too quick…limiting feed may be necessary towards the end of grow
out
Crosses are very susceptible to heat problems so make sure they
have shade and unlimited access to cool water as the summer hits
6. Layers
Health Issues
Calcium deficiency
Egg binding
Cannibalism
Mites
Predators
These are the most savvy of the farm chickens. Best case
is to have roosters integrated into the flock. Aerial predators
are the biggest risk…there is something to be said for breeding the survivors
Etc.
2 yearsish is their highly productive age limit
7. Anatomy of a chicken biological systems
Anatomy and Physiology of
Poultry
Parts and Purpose
What is different about the bird
compared to mammals?
Feathers
Lack teeth
Lay eggs
Float and fly
Waste excreted from only
one orifice
10. The scoop on poop...what is “normal”
Normal can have a huge range from
pretty solid to quite soft.
Blood is NEVER normal
Chickens do not urinate
Urates on feces
look white
12. Healthy Birds are Not…
Covered in Parasites
Thin (tough to tell through feathers)
Discharging from their nose or eyes
Breathing abnormally
Showing dirty vents or build of feathers around the vent
(pasty butt)
13. The Molt
Birds will usually molt at 12-18 months during the fall
Molting replaces all of their feathers
Birds will stop laying during the molt
Starts at neck and works down and around
You can stop the molt using lights
24. COMMON HEALTH ISSUES
Health/disease
•Buy chicks vaccinated for Marek’s and Newcastle
•Quarantine all new birds for at least 2 weeks
Parasites – internal and external
•Coccidia
•Lice
•Mites
•Prevention is the best method
Keep things clean and dry
25. The Role of Nutrition in Preventing Disease
Supplement not Substitute
26. Homeopathy and Treating Chickens
This is all things to do before they get sick
Probiotics
Apple cider vinegar
Diatomaceous earth
Garlic
27. The quarantine Pen and adding new animals
This is all things to do before they get sick
Probiotics
Apple cider vinegar
Diatomaceous earth
garlic
29. BIOSECURITY
6 biosecurity tips from APHIS – USDA
•Keep your distance
•Keep it clean
•Don’t haul disease home
•Don’t borrow disease from your neighbor
•Know the warning signs of infectious bird
diseases
•Report sick birds
• A minimum of 30 days, with 2 clear fecal
samples and no signs of illness is suggested.
ANY signs of illness and the time should be
reset to day one.
30. Length of time diseases remain active
Some mites can survive for 6 months without a host but more
common time frame is 4-6 weeks
31. HOW TO DEAL WITH COLD WEATHER
•Keep water from freezing
•Add a couple handfuls of scratch to diet for extra energy
•Insulate with extra bedding
•Eliminate drafts
•Watch for frostbite
Utilize wind breaks
Take water out at night to avoid damp litter
Let’s talk about lights in the Coop
32. HOW TO DEAL WITH EXTREMELY HOT
WEATHER
•Provide cool, clean water at all times
•Provide shade
•Feed during the coolest times of the day
•Make sure the coop is well-ventilated with
adequate air flow
•Don’t overcrowd
33. Predators
All manner of critter from land to sea to sky will take an
interest in making meal of your chickens. It is important
to have a plan before you are aware of the predation.
Prevention is the best medicine. Be proactive with setting
traps and checking your housing
Lethal tactics may be necessary to protect your flock
Watch out for neighborhood dogs
34. Daytime: dogs, foxes, hawks
Night: raccoons, possums, owls, coyotes, fishers
Limit tree/bush cover around house
Predators don’t like to travel across open ground
Secure coop, especially at night
Use hexagonal chicken wire with 1” openings - layer if necessary
Cover vents and windows with ¼” hardware cloth
Screened outdoor runs
Cover bottom of coop with chicken wire
For info on specific wildlife, contact DEC
•http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/607.html
Predator Descriptions