Raising Chicks: Week 16
Your Chick Days chick should be 16 weeks old now!
Feed: We're still on the Start & Grow Medicated or Non-Medicated. Keep track of how much your chickens are eating. You'll need to switch food in about 2 weeks. Keep an eye out for some eggs! If your hens have a 1 foot cube/nest, add some shavings or straw and they will be happy to lay their eggs in there. You can also dust your hens again. It'll be good for them.
On week 10 we suggested using this Multi-Wormer. This is a product which can be used every 3 months or so. If you haven't used it yet, we highly recommend coming in and getting some for your hens. Between the rains we have had and the heat, worms are abundant in our area. Most worms take the nutrition from the chicken's diet for themselves. Chickens lose a lot of body weight, feathers may fall out (in a severe case), they may not produce many eggs and they can become very lethargic. Chickens will act famished, when you feed them they may act like they haven't had any food in days and will drink a lot of water.
We have several different methods for worming (which, strangely enough, means the same as deworming). Do it 4 times a year: March, June, September and December. Safe, consistent, good.
Do it 3 times a year: April/May (when things are warming up), August/September (when it's wet out there and worms are more abundant) and December/January (just as a precaution)
Do it 2 times a year: April/May (when things are warming up), August/September (when it's wet out there and worms are more abundant)
We have some customers who don't worm at all. If you don't want to spend the money or just don't like giving your hens something you don't think they need, we understand. To each their own! Here is a ridiculous blog about poop. It even has photos of what is normal and what is not. Concerned about worms? Check out your hen's poop. That's an alternative to worming.
As far as dosage goes: If you make sure they get it for 4 days, you are good. If you only have 4 chickens, you don't need the whole bottle for your 50 pound sack of feed. You can just use half with 25 pounds, or follow the dosing instructions ont he back. If you have more chickens, mixing with the 50 pound sack is very efficient.
Questions? Email newsletter@horsenhoundfeed.com