Management: Poultry

By Edward T. Mallinson and Jim A. Stunkard.

Numerous excellent texts are available to the backyard poultry keeper. They provide useful, easily understood pointers on all sorts of domesticated fowl. Cooperative Extension agents and university poultry or veterinary specialists often can provide instructional literature on the care of game birds, waterfowl, chickens, and turkeys.

If for example you are keeping laying chickens, you may want to learn more about proper light management because the number of total hours of natural and artificial light your pullets and layers receive every day affects the number of eggs they will lay.

Daily day length affects the glandular secretion of hormones needed to make birds start and keep laying eggs.

In general, the hours of daily light for growing pullets should be less than for layers. The total hours of daily light for layers should be over 12 and near 14 hours for maximum egg production. The hours of daily light supplied by either sunlight or artificial lighting for layers may be increased up to 16 hours, but should never be reduced. The light hours must always be as great as the length of the longest day of the year during which you expect to harvest eggs.

Many backyard poultry producers have found it advantageous to consult with persons keeping or supplying large commercial flocks for timely tips on poultry management.

Nutrition

Whenever possible, provide complete commercial all mash, crumbled, or pelleted rations specifically formulated for the type raised. Do not feed the above with grains unless your ration has been designed with the intended need for grain supplementation. Avoid heavy reliance on grains despite their attractiveness.

The dietary data provided is only a guide. Follow the company feeding program of your feed supplier. Never feed a layer egg production ration to any type of young growing poultry. The high calcium levels normally present in layer rations may cause permanent serious injury to the kidney.

Maintain clean water at a temperature between 50 to 70 F. Drinking is reduced if water temperature goes above 70 or below 50 . Day-old chicks can be affected adversely by cold water.

Chickens

Meat-type (broilers): 1 day to 5 weeks starter feed; 5 weeks to 7 weeks finisher. Finisher and corn is fed longer for roasters and capons. Withdrawal feed often is fed briefly during the last several days before processing or marketing. The length of time depends on type(s) of medication that may have been used in the finisher.

Egg-type (layers): 1 day to 6 weeks starter feed; 6 weeks to 13 weeks grower or pullet developer; 13 to 20 weeks developer; 20 weeks layer feed plus oyster shell or limestone grit free-choice.

Note: Anti-coccidial preventive medications (coccidiostats) in most instances should be added to the feed of growing meat- or egg-type chickens.

Turkeys

Turkeys require a significantly higher percentage of protein in their feed than chickens. A coccidiostat in the feed usually suffices until 8 weeks of age, at which time it may be more advantageous to switch to a dietary blackhead preventive medication.

Basically, a turkey starter feed is provided for the first 8 weeks followed by a grower feed until processing or marketing time. Read feed labels for any withdrawal feed recommendations.

Game Birds

(Grouse, Guineas, Partridges, Pheasants, Quail). When available, provide a game bird ration formulated for the specific type raised. A 25 to 30 percent protein turkey ration usually provides for well-balanced game bird nutrition. Studies are in process to obtain official clearances for the use of coccidiostats in pheasant rations.

Growing Stock.

From 1 day to 5 or 6 weeks during the period of most rapid growth, provide a high protein starter feed being careful not to supply any supplemental corn or other grains.

Generally after about 6 weeks, game birds raised for meat production should be fed game bird grower and supplemental grain to maturity. Supplemental whole grain is provided only in the evenings from 6 to 9 weeks, and in both mornings and evenings from 10 weeks to maturity.

Don't over feed grain or your game birds may not get a proper balance of essential nutrients contained in the starter/grower. Some feed companies may provide various grower-type feeds that require no added grain.

When whole grain feeding is begun, be sure to provide grit. Separate grit hoppers usually are preferred.

Breeding Stock. Game birds selected for retention as breeders should be kept from gaining excess weight by feeding a maintenance diet from maturity to 1 month before the egg production season.

A breeder ration should be fed, without added grain, throughout the breeding season. This often can be either a chicken, turkey or game breeder feed. Breeders should be returned to a maintenance feed after the hens are through laying.

The transitions between maintenance and breeder rations can be eased to reduce stress on birds by partial mixing of these feeds for 5 to 7 days.

Hunting Release Stock.

The nutrition and housing arrangements for release stock often require modifications to allow for conditioning to the wild. Consult with local authorities and check game bird literature for important details.

Geese, such as these African geese, prefer to range where there is an abundant supply of tender, succulent weeds and grasses.

Ducks and Geese

Ducks can be raised in confinement whereas geese prefer to range when there is an abundant supply of tender, succulent weeds and grasses. In either case, both must have ample supplies of water, day and night, whenever lights would be on or feed available. Waterfowl can choke on dry feed. Pelleted feeds are preferred for waterfowl, but are not essential. Provide grower-size insoluble grit throughout the growing period.

Growing Ducks. 1 day to 2 weeks starter feed (22 percent protein); 2 weeks to market or processing grower feed.

Growing Geese. 1 day to 6 weeks feed goslings 22 percent protein goose starter or high protein chick starter. Avoid feeding any grain during the first 3 to 4 weeks.

After 6 weeks of age, geese can go on pasture with supplemental 15 percent grower pellets. Depending on the quantity and quality of the pasture, or amount of growth desired, adjust the amount of grower up or down. High growth or sparse pasture necessitates increased portions of commercial feeds.

Breeding Ducks or Geese.

Males and females selected as potential breeders should be kept from becoming too fat by maintaining them on a breeder-developer diet. Switch the breeders to a duck or goose breeder ration at least 1 month before anticipated egg production. Be sure to supply oyster shell free-choice.

Floor Space Needs. Recommendations that follow are minimal standards. As a general rule the more space the better.