Page 148 - Hand rearing birds second

Domestic Poultry 133

Expected Weight Gain

Because poultry come in many sizes, there is great variation in normal expected weight gain. A
good indicator of appropriate growth and development for any poultry species is to simply feel the
keel bone (sternum) and the musculature on either side. Ideally, the tip of the keel should be sur-
rounded by full, round pectoralis muscles. A sharp keel with sunken pectoralis muscles indicates
that a bird is very thin; nutritional and gastrointestinal parasitic causes should be investigated.

Housing

Preferably, brood chicks indoors until they are 4–5 weeks old or until the weather outside is rela-
tively warm, at least 70 °F (21 °C). Brooding inside allows close observation and protection from
predators and the elements should the heat lamp fail.
When brooding chicks, the most convenient housing is a plastic Tupperware box or sturdy card-
board box with high sides of at least 24 in. (60 cm) (Figure 7.3). For chickens, turkeys, ducks, and
geese, this height should prevent chicks from jumping out. For game birds, placing a piece of cut
wire mesh over the box should prevent chicks from jumping out (the wire can easily be cut to
accommodate the heating lamp).
Space requirements vary depending on species and age of the chicks. These requirements are
particularly important to consider when raising game birds, because they are easily stressed and
are prone to cannibalism when too closely confined.

Figure 7.3 Simple brooder setup, with heat lamp at one end, ample feed for all chicks, and a waterer with
an additional water reservoir above the brooder. Some species of chicks can jump quite high, so ceilings on
brooders should secure birds from escape (not shown). Source: photo courtesy of Dan Famini.