Page 149 - Hand rearing birds second

134 Hand-Rearing Birds

Appropriate litter material can include wood shavings or rice hulls. Avoid sand or sawdust
because chicks may ingest these materials, causing crop impaction. Also, newspaper or other slick
surfaces should never be used because young chicks’ legs easily slide out underneath them.
Because they are weak and their bones and joints are still very malleable, chicks may become per-
manently deformed if their legs are splayed out for extended periods of time. Deformed chicks may
never walk or may walk abnormally, causing unnecessary joint problems throughout life.
A heat source may be set up as described above in the “Initial Care and Stabilization” section.
Caution must be used because there is a fire hazard with this setup due to the intense heat produc-
tion from the 24‐hour light. Make sure the lamp is sturdily affixed and that the lamp edges are at
least 4 in. away from any flammable materials. Other suitable brooder options can be found in
chapters about the wild counterparts of these species (see Chapters 5, 6, and 8). As mentioned previ-
ously, very young chicks should be observed for behavior and comfort under heat lamps before
leaving them unsupervised. Regardless of species, decreasing temperature by 5 °F (2.8 °C) each
week results in comfortable chicks as the temperature drops to match the rate of feather growth.

Biosecurity

Losses from disease can be reduced substantially by adhering to biosecurity practices. The biggest
single source of disease is other birds, both from the same species and from different species. The
second biggest offender is human traffic. No person or animal should be allowed to visit the flock
if they have been around other birds. A general guideline for commercial poultry employees is a
down‐time of 48–72 hours after contacting other poultry. Practicing common sense, such as having
farm‐specific clothing (coveralls, boots) and not entering your flock after visiting a fair or other
flocks, goes a long way. Frequent transgressors are domestic animals (dogs and cats) and rodents.
These animals can mechanically transmit disease or be biological vectors. Attractants for animals
need to be removed; feed must be kept in rodent‐proof containers and spilled feed rapidly cleaned
up. Carcasses should be removed immediately and disposed of appropriately; observe local envi-
ronmental regulations. If burial is chosen, carcasses can be covered with lime in order to reduce
the likelihood of being dug up by animals. Good rodenticide and insecticide programs are essen-
tial. Waterers and feeders must be cleaned and disinfected at least every 2–3 days and houses
cleaned when litter becomes moist. Store feed in containers that are not sun exposed, which can
cause condensation when the containers cool at night and subsequent mold growth. Use feed rap-
idly and store no more than a 1‐week supply. Foot pans filled with sanitation products such as a
dilute iodine solution can reduce the risk of carrying in organisms on boots; when the iodinated
water becomes clear, it needs to be replaced. Alternatively, have farm‐specific boots for taking care
of your birds or use disposable booties for guests, especially in cold weather when the water pans
are frozen. All equipment must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before use. Organic matter
left on equipment can render even the best disinfectant useless. Again, different bird species should
not be mixed and in best conditions, ages should not be mixed as well. In facilities with multiple
ages in one site, the general rule is prioritizing young birds that are more susceptible to health chal-
lenges vs old birds (i.e. visit from young to old).
All birds leaving the premises and encountering other birds (i.e. shows) should be quarantined
for 4–6 weeks in a separate area. Be sure to not give medicated feed during quarantine. Any equip-
ment used at shows – such as cages, feeders, waterers, and egg flats – needs to be disinfected before
storage or reuse. If housing birds being quarantined for any reason or that are ill, be sure to work
with these birds last to avoid exposing healthy birds to potential disease organisms.