WELCOME FARMER IN TODAY’S LESSON
Important things to consider when raising chicks are listed and explained in detail below.
A GOOD HATCH
Chicks do not need a lot of space during the first four weeks. The approximate space required is 1 square meter for 16 chicks. For example, a 10 square meter house is enough to house 160 chicks until they are four weeks old. The dimensions of a house with this area can be 5 by 4. You will build a hutch depending on the area you have.
EQUIPMENT IN A CHICKENS HOUSE
(1) BROODER/BROODER:
The brooder for raising chicks should be circular and not bent anywhere, it is better to use a ceiling board or wood. Why should it be circular; we do this to prevent them from piling up in the corners, that is why the circumference of the brooder should be circular. In rural areas, the brooder can be made using sackcloth. Inside the brooder, there is a source of heat, you can use a charcoal stove, a light bulb, or a chemli.
In the brooder, it is important to have a temperature that is not too high, especially in the early days and at night. Light and air circulation inside the brooder are important as they attract and encourage the chicks to start eating.
Install large windows that allow fresh air in and out. A brooder that does not have enough ventilation encourages the spread of respiratory diseases. Provide enough space to avoid chicks huddling together.
HOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE HEAT IS TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW.
(1) If the temperature is adequate, you will see the following.
_The chicks will chirp happily
_They will run around
_They will drink water
_ They will pick and choose and show a lot of activity.
All are good signs that the temperature is adequate
(2) If the temperature is inadequate, you will see the following;
_When the chicks feel cold, they gather very close to the heat source.
_Or they gather themselves together and cry loudly.
These signs indicate that the temperature is insufficient, so it is necessary to increase the temperature.
(3) If the temperature is too high, you will see the following
_ The chicks stay away from the heat source.
_They doze and snort
_ If they are in a room, the chicks run to the door to get some air.
In this case, these are signs that the temperature is too high, so you should raise the lights, reduce the heat sources and give the chicks plenty of water.
WATERING CONTAINERS
Chicks need water and when giving them water, make sure that the water is clean. You can boil it and then filter it if you are worried about it.
Let us remember that there are diseases that are transmitted through the water that your chicks drink, so by ensuring the safety of the water, you will have saved your chicks from these diseases.
You can buy water containers (drinkers), but for chicks, it is better to put small clean pebbles in the water contained in the drinkers, in the drinking part, so that the chicks do not get wet when they are drinking water. If you cannot afford to buy a drinker, then you can use any method to make a water container, but make sure that it does not leak.
Make sure that the coop is clean and dry at all times to prevent diseases, as the source of infection is also moisture.
FOOD CONTAINERS
Many farmers use feeders to feed their chicks. And others make containers like feeders to feed their chicks. All the same, but the important thing is to consider the cleanliness of these containers.
There are some who decide to pour food on the ground for the chicks where they sleep. This is a great risk for the chicks to easily transmit diseases. Because the feces of a sick chick if mixed with that food and then a full-grown chick comes and eats that food, there is a possibility of contracting the disease very easily. That’s when you will find someone whose chicks are sick with bloody diarrhea (coccidiosis), they have given them medicine but they are not cured. They will wonder why there is no reason why, that is because your shed, your care is bad. Your shed has become a shed for infection and not healing anymore.
Characteristics of a good shed
_A shed that allows fresh and sufficient air
_A shed that allows sufficient light
_A shed that prevents strong winds
_A shed that does not allow water to stand and enter and that it is strong.
_The coop should be easy to clean
_The coop should have enough space according to the number of chickens.
_The coop should be a safe place, from thieves and insects.
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