Circus chicks
The rearing house we use throughout the entire rearing period is our Lenham 705.
http://www.forshamcottagearks.com/poultry-housing/Meat-Bird-Kit.htm
Initially we stand the L705 in a barn, and remove one of the roof panels. Line the floor with plastic, which is not just a ‘nice to do it’, poo really sticks to timber.
If young birds are confined in a square ‘ring’ they are known to gather in the corners especially if they get a bit hot and are trying to get out of the heat. The unfortunate result is that some chicks can get hurt or even be smothered and die. To combat that we put in a high sided plastic ‘circus ring’ so the birds have no corners to cram into.
Scatter the circus ring with about an inch of shavings. This will help to absorb the inevitable poo, and water spillage, and is easily swept off the plastic floor liner.
The lamp we use is simple, old, and effective, (sound like me) It’s made by CURFEW and it is most basic form it is an aluminium cloche with a couple of 200 watt light bulbs under it. The heat is adjusted by ether rising or lowering the lamp. This I do with the aid a highly technical knotted rope and a cup hook. In the first week(s) the lamp stands on the floor. Watch your birds if they all gather in a tight ’scrum’ under the lamp they are cold. If they are scattered under the lamp that’s good. If outside the lamp as far away from the heat as they can get, then they are too hot.
At the start, we feed chick crumbs on a chick tray chick crumbs are what its says on the label ‘crumbs that chicks eat’, it’s the right balanced diet these bird need. Some folks may advocated feeding other stuff and who am I to say they’re wrong (I may not say it, but I can still think it !) The crumbs are scattered on a chick tray which is any low sided tray which the birds can climb over to get at the feed. These birds have no notion of table manners. They stand in their feed, they poo in their feed, they waste their feed. Don’t try and tame them by restricting rations or using a hopper, pile it up and keep it piled up.
It goes without say (or at least it should do) that the birds need access to amble fresh, clean drinking water. However there is a potential problem here. By allowing the birds access to open water, like a bowl, there’s a chance the chicks will fall in, get water logged and drown. We use a glass chick drinker which holds a jam jar volume of water that percolates out into a circular trough, topping up as the birds drink. The trough is too narrow for the chicks to fall into.
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