ALABAMA SILKIES 256-624-8198 (alabamasilkies.com) A State of Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries Independent Hatchery PERMIT #DH000AQ0 NPIP CERTIFIED #64-1726 BEFORE YOU MAKE THE TRIP Turn on the heat lamp before you leave the house to pick up the chicks so the brooder is up to temperature when you return. Fill the feeder with chick feed and fill the waterer with water so it can warm up room temperature by the time you get back. Have a thermometer attached to one wall of the brooder so you can regulate the temperature by adjusting the height of the light, but the best way is to watch your chicks to be sure they are comfortable. Cold chicks chirp loudly and pile up under the light. Chicks that are too warm will hold their wings out, pant and stay in the far corners of the box. Comfortable chicks will move happily around the box, chirping contentedly. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR SILKIE CHICKENS: LINK: http://www.alabamasilkies.com/temperaturechart.jpeg PLEASE NOTE: COLD WEATHER DOESN'T KILL ADULT BIRDS, COLD WIND DOES. KEEP YOUR BIRDS DRY IN THE COLD SEASONS FIRST THINGS FIRST Once you get them home with your box of chicks, check each chick one by one for 'pasty butt' and clean off any poop on their vent with a q-tip moistened with warm water or vegetable oil. Pasty butt literally stops up the chick so they can't excrete their poop and can be potentially fatal. It can be caused by stress or extreme temperature changes often endured during the travel from Alabama Silkies (Continue to check butts for the first few days.) Dip each chick's beak into the sugar water (1/2 tablespoons of table sugar to each quart of water) as you take them out of the shipping box and make sure each takes a drink before setting them in the brooder to explore and rest from their trip. NOTE: ALWAYS PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER FOR YOUR CHICKENS ELECTROLYTES: MIXTURE: (ADD TO 1 (ONE) GALLON OF WATER) 1/4 TEASPOON MORTON SALT SUBSTITUTE (POTASSIUM) 1/2 TEASPOON IODIZED SALT (SODIUM - IODINE) 1/4 CUP SUGAR (GLUCOSE) 1 TEASPOON ARM & HAMMER BAKING SODA (SODIUM-BICARBONATE) *Not for chicks DIET: DAILY DURING SUMMER MONTHS AS NEEDED DURING WINTER MONTHS ---- IF YOU SEE BLOOD IN STOOL Coccidiosis is the number one cause of death in chicks, so as an added precaution you can feed the medicated feed to new chicks. TREATMENT CORID (AMPROLIUM 9.6%): MIXTURE: 9.5 mL PER GALLON OF WATER DIET: 5 (FIVE) DAYS A MONTH NOTE: YOU CAN STILL EAT THE EGGS ---- ASTRINGENT SOLUTION This solution can be used to treat young birds that show non-typical disease symptoms of poor growth. The solution can also be given to birds suffering from respiratory diseases that produce a large amount of mucus exudate. This solution will help "cut through" the mucus and allow it to be expelled easier. Two quarts of apple cider vinegar diluted into 100 gallons of water (4 teaspoons/gallon) The tannin in the apple cider vinegar aide in removing any mucus or coating from the mouth, throat, or intestinal tract. Nutrients and drugs are more readily absorbed. Offer this solution as the only drinking water source for two to three day intervals. NOTE: DO NOT USE IN METAL DRINKERS ---- SANITIZING SOLUTIONS Weekly Sanitizing Rinse Solution 1 oz Chlorine Bleach in 6-8 gallons water Rinse, soak, or expose equipment to this solution. Let stand at least one hour, then rinse with fresh water. This solution contains equivalent to 45 ppm chlorine. The procedure is most effective if conducted on a weekly basis. Remember, chlorine disinfectants are inactivated by organic matter. Clean all equipment well before using chlorine rinse solutions. ---- ASPIRIN SOLUTION Used as a general treatment for reducing distress conditions of birds (fever or listlessness) that accompanies many diseases. Dissolve five (5 grain) aspirin tablets in one gallon of water. Offer this solution free-choice to the birds for the duration of an illness. The solution aspirin equivalent to 25 grains/gallon or 324 mg/gallon of drinking water. The dosage rate is about 25 mg/lb body weight per day. VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS Vitamin A Supplement Vitamin D Supplement Vitamin E Supplement Vitamin B12 Supplement Vitamin D3 Supplement Calcium (via oyster shells) Selenium (small amounts) ADULT FEED RECIPE BASE: 5 lbs 18-23% protein Chicken laying crumbles Catfish food 39% protein (8 cups ground ground fine) ADD: Oregano (3 table spoons) Parsley (3 table spoons) Thyme (1 packet or 14 grams) Ground Cloves (1 table spoon) Ground Sage rubbed (1/2 bottle or 7 grams) Cayenne pepper (4 table spoon) BRAGG APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: (WITH THE MOTHER) MIXTURE: 1 (ONE) CAP FULL PER GALLON OF WATER DIET: ONCE A MONTH FOR 2 (TWO) DAYS NOTE: DO NOT USE METAL DRINKERS WORMER 1 CARROT- 2 GARLIC CLOVES - 25 CHEERIOS - 20 PUMPKIN SEEDS GRIND w/ 2oz WATER AND SERVE