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Getting started with chickens : Small Farms :University of Minnesota Extension Page 2 0�3 ' <br /> Provide a clean space, draft free, protected from predators. That means some sort of fenced-in area, <br /> inside the coop. <br /> Use bedding—wood shavings or sawdust are best, but if there is a plentiful supply of clean straw, you <br /> can't beat free. Straw doesn't absorb well, so it will need to be supplemented frequently with clean, dry <br /> straw. <br /> Provide a heat source such as heat lamps—chicks need 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit in the first week of <br /> life. Gradually reduce temperature over 3-4 weeks to around 70 degrees. Birds are fully feathered at 4 <br /> weeks of age, and will need little or no extra heat unless they are being raised in cold weather, such as <br /> below 50 degrees. It might be worthwhile to build a small hover to help hold the heat close to the floor, if <br /> the room is larger and cold away from the heat bulbs. <br /> An infrared bulb only heats the body of the chick, but not the air around the bird. In really cold weather, � <br /> it's probably better to use a regular incandescent heat bulb, though it does stimulate the birds, making <br /> them more active and aggressive. <br /> Appropriately-sized feeders and waterers are necessary so that chicks can drink upon arrival. You'll <br /> need to dunk each chick's beak in the water trough, so that they'll know where the water is and how to <br /> access it. <br /> Provide a chick starter feed to give them a balanced ration, that is 20-22% protein or close to it. After <br /> about a week or so, switch to a grower ration, but no less than 18-19% protein for the duration. <br /> Management steps to help them thrive: <br /> Give them clean water finrice daily. <br /> Full feed for the first week, then remove the feed at night for the next 3 weeks. This will help prevent <br /> Flip Disease, which is a heart attack from overeating. IYs not unusual to lose 1-2% of the flock to this <br /> disease, and almost always the biggest, fastest growing birds are the ones that succumb. Be sure to <br /> have plenty of feeder space during this period of feed withdrawal, because in the morning the chicks <br /> will be hungry and will run over each other to eat. <br /> Clean bedding around the waterers frequently. Otherwise there will be ammonia buildup in the room. <br /> Add bedding as needed to keep the chicks clean and dry. <br /> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/small-farms/2012/03/getting-started-with-chickens.php 1/17/2013 <br />