The first step is to start with healthy chicks. Make sure that their house is clean and all the equipment (feeders, waterers) are clean. Scrub the house with a disinfectant. You should be able to get this at your local feed store. You may also use a hot water and lye solution. Use one pound of lye to 10 gallons of hot water. Let the house dry for a couple of days before using it.
Keeps feed free of mice and rats. Use a metal trash can with a tight fitting lid or some thing like this. Check the chicken house thoroughly for holes in the screens or chicken wire to prevent animals from getting in.
Cannibalism and feather picking is some times caused by overcrowding, nutrietn deficiencies, too much light etc. Watch out for these things. Some times the sight of blood will also cause picking. If a chicken is injured, move them to a separate pen until they are healed.
You may notice lice in the feathers or mites on the scales of the legs. I give the hens a dusting with 5% Sevin dust that I purchase at the local nursery. Put the dust in a coffee can and punch small holes in the lid. Shake the dust on the birds feathers and rub on the legs. So far we have not seen any bugs. There are other products for bad parasite problems. Check the feed store or poultry supplier.
If you are buying chicks from a hatchery, have the hatchery vaccinate the chicks against Marek's disease. The protection given by the vaccine is well worth the added cost, which is usually only 10 cents per chick. Marek's disease is caused by a virus. It may result in a loss of weight, paralysis of legs or wings, and sudden death.
Although it is difficult to secure small lots of vaccine, it may be necessary to vaccinate your flock against fowl pox, Newcastle disease, and bronchitis if these diseases have been a problem in previous flocks. See Table 3 for a suggested vaccination schedule.
Fowl pox is caused by a virus, and shows up as blisters and scabs on the combs and wattles. Newcastle disease and bronchitis are viral respiratory diseases.
Table 3. Vaccination Schedule indicating
type of vaccine, age to vaccinate, and method of vaccination
Vaccine Age of Bird Method
NewcastleBronchitis 1O days water
NewcastleBronchitis 6 weeks water
Fowl Pox 12 weeks wing stab
NewcastleBronchitis 4 months water
If you do not vaccinate, do not allow visitors around your flock. Birds which are entered in poultry exhibits may be exposed to disease. Sell the birds or keep them separate from the rest of the flock for at least two weeks after their return home. If they have picked up a disease, it will appear before the birds are returned to the flock.
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