Laying Chicks

Water birds have not been shown to be directly affected by acidification. However, the prey of waterbirds may be of concern as these lower food-chain organisms may have elevated levels of toxic metals related to acidification of their habitat. Moreover, most water birds rely on some component of the aquatic food-chain for their high protein diet. Invertebrates that normally supply caJcium to egg-laying birds or their growing chicks are among the first to disappear as lakes acidify. As these food sources are reduced or eliminated due to acidification, bird habitat is reduced and reproductive rate of the birds is affected. The Common Loon is able to raise fewer chicks, or none at all, on acidic lakes where fish populations are reduced 37 and 5S). However, in some isolated cases, food supplies can be increased when competitive species are eliminated (e.g.. Common Goldeneye ducks can better exploit insects as food when competition from fish is eliminated). The collective influences of acidification are difficult to quantify on a specific area basis but for species that rely on a healthy aquatic ecosystem to breed, acidification remains a continuing threat in thousands of lakes across eastern North America 14). 

Huber-Eicher B. and Sebo F. (2001). Reducing feather pecking when raising laying hen chicks in aviary systems , Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 73, 59-68. 

Boron stimulated growth in Vitamin Dj-deflcient chicks. Supplemental dietary boron alleviated or corrected cholecalciferol dehciency-induced elevations in plasma glucose concentrations in chicks (Hunt 1994). There is no need to supplement the diets of laying hens with boron, provided that basal diets contained about 11 mg B/kg ration (Qin and Klandorf 1991). 

CVB (1996) Amino acid requirement of laying hens and broiler chicks. In Schutte, J.B. (ed.) Dutch Bureau of Livestock Feeding. Report No. 18, Lelystad, The Netherlands. 

Cherian, G. and Sim, J.S. (1991) Effect of feeding full fat flax and canola seeds to laying hens on the fatty acid composition of eggs, embryos and newly hatched chicks. Poultry Science 70, 917-922. 

New Hampshire x Barred Rock. This cross is from two of the oldest heritage breeds and produces a very hardy chick. The birds are reported to be very quiet, with an attractive plumage. The hens have a red comb and a jet-black body laced with brown on the neck and breast. They lay brown-shelled eggs and reach about 2.75 kg at the end of lay. Males have dark-coloured bars. 

Once it has secured a mate, the peacock builds a nest, usually in a thicket. The female lays a clutch of about ten eggs, which she alone broods. The peahen also takes care of the chicks. 

Antibiotics are used by meat producers to improve animal production and treat disease. These are administered to beef and dairy cattle, swine, broiler chicks and laying hens. 16 Prophylactic antibiotics are also widely administered in finfish aquaculture to prevent bacterial infections that result from poor sanitation in fish farming. 17 ... 

Fig. 1. Graphical representation of study by Anderson and co-workers. After laying hens were fed an n-3-deficient diet for 2 mo, their chicks were fed one of three diets for three wk control and n-3-deficient supplemented with equivalent amounts of LNA (+LNA) or DHA (+DHA). Brain DHA levels (plotted on the ordinate) for the +LNA are 25% of those for the +DH A group. (Based on data from Anderson, Connor, Corliss, 1990).

Published data indicate that dietary magnesium levels of up to 6000 ppm can be tolerated by growing chicks. Growing turkeys are less tolerant and suffer at 2000-4000 ppm per day. However, laying hens are able to tolerate quite high levels of Mg up to 12,000 ppm. 

Chickens are available either as hybrids, which have generally been bred to lay larger numbers of eggs, or as pure breeds—the traditional breeds— which are hardier and more disease-resistant, tend to lay eggs from March to September, and can be used for meat. If you buy chicks, you won t be able to tell their sex, which means that you may end up with more than one... 

---