Day Old Chicks daily practices

25 February 2025

3 minutes

Pre-placement planning

Check placement
Make sure the proper temperature stays between 32°C – 35°C to optimize chick comfort and health.
Cleaning and disinfection
After cleaning, wait 14 days before disinfecting and placing new chicks. This helps to prevent cross-contamination and ensures a clean environment.
Feeding
Give a high-quality starter diet containing 23-24% protein to ensure optimal growth and development of the chicks.
Water
Provide enough clean, fresh water with added electrolytes or vitamins to keep the chicks hydrated and healthy.
Health and weight checks
Monitor chicks regularly for signs of stress or illness, and ensure proper hydration by checking water intake and chick appearance.
Vaccinations
Follow the vaccination schedule carfully to protect against common poultry diseases.

Temperature adjustments
Slowly reduce the breeding temperature by 2-3°C each week to adjust chicks to environmental changes and promote healthy development.
Feeding
Continue feeding the starter feed with enough protein intake to ensure strong and healthy growth.
Water
Provide access to clean, fresh water at all times to prevent dehydration.
Weight Check
Check the chicks' weight regularly and compare it to industry standards to make sure they are growing properly.
Litter management
Regularly turn and manage the litter to prevent ammonia buildup, which can affect the chicks' respiratory health.
Health monitoring
Keep a close eye out for respiratory issues or any signs of illness that could affect the chicks’ growth and development.

Weight check
Continue to monitor the weight of the birds and ensure they are growing at the expected rate.
Feeding transition
Transition from starter feed to grower feed, ensuring a balanced diet that meets the birds' evolving nutritional needs.
Space management
Ensure each bird has enough space to avoid overcrowding and help them grow well.
Health Checks
Continue to monitor the health of the birds closely, observing for any signs of illness or discomfort.
Litter Management
Maintain litter quality by managing it regularly to prevent issues such as ammonia buildup or wet conditions.
Vaccinations
Administer Newcastle disease vaccination at day 12 to protect against common poultry diseases.

Feeding
Continue feeding with the appropriate grower or finisher feed to support final weight gain and health.
Weight check
Regularly monitor weight to ensure that the birds are on track for market weight by the end of this phase.
Health checks
Maintain vigilant health checks to identify and address any signs of disease or discomfort.
Final space adjustment
Adjust space as needed to avoid overcrowding and ensure the birds have adequate room to move and grow.
Feed management
Optimize feed consumption by ensuring proper feeding techniques and adjusting the feed program to meet the birds' nutritional needs.
Processing preparation
Begin planning for the harvest and processing of the birds. Organize logistics, including timing for processing to ensure the birds are harvested at the ideal weight.