Brooder Space/Heat:
Day old poultry should be started in a proper space such a barn, out-building, basement, poultry coop or garage. It is important to make sure your brooder space is clean and disinfected prior to using it, especially if poultry have been kept there before. Whether you have them on bedding or on a wire floor, there should be some type of solid wall or partition around them to prevent drafts. Make sure dogs, cats and rodents are kept out. Initially each poult needs about 1/3 square foot of pen space. What works best for larger areas is a brooder ring of cardboard 18 inches high with a heat lamp hung over the center of the area.

Bedding:
Use 2 to 4 inches of dry litter, such as pine wood shavings, chopped straw or other appropriate bedding. Do not use newspaper or other slick material, this can cause legs to slip out from underneath them and cause serious leg problems. We also don't advise using cedar chips, treated shavings, large thick wood chips or dusty sawdust as bedding.

Water:
Make sure you provide plenty of containers of water based on amount of poultry. Use one one-gallon chick water for 25 chicks. Provide room temperature water. Wash & clean the containers every few days. We recommend adding our Streseez Plus (1 teaspoon per three gallons of water) to their drinking water.

Feed:
Use a Chick starter. Protein should be at least 24 percent for starter and fed for the first five weeks. After five weeks, you can switch to a grower feed with to 20 percent protein. (Brands of feed may vary, you can ask your local feed dealer for recommendations).