Information about raising game bird chicks

Smith Poultry & Game Bird Supply

14000 W. 215th St., Bucyrus, KS 66013-9519

Ph. 913-879-2587 - 7:30 A. M. - 3 P. M CST Monday-Friday

24-hour Fax. 913-533-2497

Minimum order $10.00.

Prices do not include shipping.

Housing Requirements: Good ventilation and adequate space per bird are the most important factors to remember when building a brooder house regardless of the area where you live. A good rule of thumb for ventilation is to provide one cubic foot of air per minute for each pound of body weight. We suggest you talk with successful game bird producers in your state about housing specifications, building flight pens, or other facilities. The following table gives estimates of bird density requirements.

Litter: To help chicks stay healthy and grow fast, keep the brooder house floor clean & dry. Wood shavings and rice hulls have been used very successfully as litter.

Cannibalism usually occurs when birds are stressed by poor management practice. When a stressed bird picks the feathers, comb, toes, or vent of another bird, an open wound or blood is visible on the bird & the vicious habit of cannibalism can spread rapidly through the entire flock. Take immediate steps to make changes to keep cannibalism in check. Cannibalism is usually caused by one or more of these conditions:

Overcrowding: Follow the above space requirements. With pheasants, allow 25 to 30 sq. ft./bird after 12 weeks of age or use anti-pick prevention devices.
Excessive heat: When birds are uncomfortably hot, they can become extremely cannibalistic. Be sure to adjust the brooding temperature as the young birds get older. Decrease the temperature by 5° F per week, until you reach 70° F or the outside temperature. The temperature should be measured at the height of the birds’ backs directly under the heat source. It isn’t necessary to heat the entire brooding facility to the recommended temperature.
Excessive light: Extremely bright light or excessively long periods of light will cause birds to become hostile toward one another. Never use white light bulbs larger than 40 watts to brood fowl. If larger bulbs are required for heat, use red or infrared bulbs. In birds 12 weeks of age or older, use 15 or 25 watt bulbs above feeding and watering areas. Don’t light birds more than 16 hours per day. Constant light can be stressful to the birds.
Absence of feed or water or shortage of feeder space or water space If the birds have to fight for food or water, or if the birds are always hungry, they will increase pecking. Be sure birds have free access to water and feed at all times.
Unbalanced diets: Extremely high energy and low fiber diets cause the birds to be extra active and aggressive. Feed lacking protein and other nutrients, particularly Methionine, will also cause birds to pick feathers. Make sure you feed a diet balanced appropriately for the age and types of birds you are raising.
Mixing different types, ages, or colors of birds: Mixing different ages of birds with different traits promotes pecking by disrupting the flock’s normal pecking order.
Abrupt changes in environment or management practices: If you plan to move young birds to a new location, it is best to move some of their feeders & waterers with them in order to help them adapt. When you change over to larger feeders & waterers, it is helpful to leave the smaller equipment in the pen for a few days to help during the change.

Chicks & Eggs & Beginning of Brooder info. Additional Preventive Measures

Water Space Requirements for Day-Old Chicks
Game Bird	Three 1-gallon water founts will take care of:	Drinking space needed with Trough-type waterers
Quail	300 birds	1 ft. per 100 birds
Chukars	200 birds	1 ft. per 50 birds
Ringneck Pheasants	100 birds	1 ft. per 25 birds

Number of Chicks per Square Foot of Floor Space
Game Bird	1-10 days	10 days - 6 weeks	6 weeks - 14 weeks
Quail	9	6	3
Chukars	6	3	1
Ringneck Pheasants	4	1	¼