SHUR•GAIN recognizes the importance of small flock poultryproduction. SHUR•GAIN Small Flock Poultry Rations are care-fully formulated and tested to ensure top performance andvalue. Over sixty years of research and experience have result-ed in the practical Homestead Small Flock Poultry Program.Homestead - from day-old to market...the program that works!

BASIC CARE FOR YOUR CHICKS, TURKEY POULTS,PULLETS, DUCKLINGS AND GOSLINGSThe following are simple, step by step, instructions thatSHUR•GAIN recommends for starting and growing meat typepoultry and pullets successfully.

Starting Materials:• 1 water fountain of 5 litre capacity for every 25 chicks, poults,ducklings or goslings.• Feeders -1 metre of feeder space per 75 chicks or poults, 1metre per 50 ducklings or goslings.• Heat lamps -1 per 50 chicks or 1 per 40 poults and 1 per 30ducklings or goslings.• Litter (bedding) - wood shavings, chopped straw or sawdustare best.

Brooding:1. At least 2 days before the newly hatched birds arrive, cleanand disinfect the floor and walls of the pen (Contact you localSHUR•GAIN Dealer for available cleaning and disinfectant products).

2. Spread the litter 7 cm (about 3”) thick throughout the pen. Itis a good practice to fill the waterers before the poultry arriveso the water will be at room temperature. Stress-Lyte™ shouldbe added to the drinking water for the first 5 days to aid theyoung birds through the stress of brooding.

3. Confine the young birds to a circular brooding area using abrooder guard. This will prevent the birds from huddling andsmothering each other. It will also confine the birds to the heatsource, water and feed. The guard ring should be large enoughto allow three feet of space between the ring and the outeredge of the brooder.

4. Start the poultry in a warm pen. The temperature should be32°C at bird level for the first week. Use a heat lamp 50 cm (20”)above the birds. Decrease the temperature 3°C per week untilthe birds are feathered. After that, ensure that the temperaturedoes not drop below 20°C. Adjust the temperature by raisingthe heat lamps.

5. Use a SHUR•GAIN Homestead starter feed that is recom-mended in this guide for the type of poultry being grown. It is

a good practice to provideadditional feed in egg trays tomake it easy for the youngbirds to locate feed and begineating. A typical layout forbrooding poultry is shown.

6. Provide 2.5m2 of area per100 chicks, 75 poults or 50ducklings/goslings. Begin toincrease the pen area by mov-ing the chick guard after one week. If the birds crowd to oneside of the pen, there is a draft. If the birds are huddled all alongthe chick guard, the pen is too hot, so raise the heat lamps. Ifthe birds are huddled below the heat lamps, the brooding areais too cold, so lower the heat lamps slightly or add more lamps.Ideally, the birds should be spread evenly throughout the pen.

7. Coccidiosis is a common parasitic disease that can have dev-astating effects on a poultry flock. The mortality resulting froma coccidiosis outbreak can reach 90% in a young flock, so it isstrongly recommended to feed young birds a feed containing ananticoccidial medication. SHUR•GAIN chicken starting feeds aremedicated to prevent coccidiosis. Birds will develop a naturalimmunity to coccidiosis and thus medicated feeds are no longerrequired after 10 weeks of age. If you experience sudden mor-tality that cannot be explained after examining your manage-ment practices, we suggest that you contact your veterinarian,the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food or the AnimalHealth Laboratory in Guelph.

FEEDING PROGRAMSChicken Broilers and Roasters:1. Feed SHUR•GAIN Homestead Poultry Starter (Medicated) forthe first 4 weeks. For the first few days, feed can be provided onfeed trays or egg flats. After this initial period, feed should beavailable at all times. It is essential that feed be kept fresh andthat birds have continuous access to clean water.

2. From 4 to 6 weeks, feed a mixture of 1 part SHUR•GAINHomestead Poultry Starter to 1 part SHUR•GAIN HomesteadPoultry Grower-Finisher. Increase the pen area to 4.5m2 per 100birds. By 6 weeks of age, the chickens will be consuming approx-imately 19 kg of feed per 100 birds per day.

3. At 6 weeks of age, change to SHUR•GAIN Homestead PoultryGrower-Finisher until the desired market weight is achieved.

4. Chicken can be grown to various weights. As a rule of thumb,the meat of younger, lighter birds are more tender, but some pro-ducers claim heavier birds have more flavour. The market weight

of a broiler is usually around 2.0 kg and that of roasters can be3.5 kg at market age. Pullets tend to be lighter than cockerels atthe same age.

FEEDING SCHEDULE: (Broilers & Roasters)Feed AgeHomestead Poultry Starter..........................................0-4 weeks50:50 mixture Homestead Poultry Starter

& Homestead Poultry Grower/Finisher ................4-6 weeksHomestead Poultry Grower/Finisher ..........................6-8 weeksHomestead Poultry Grower/Finisher ............8 weeks to market

Pullets (Egg Type):1. Feed the pullets according to the chicken broiler program.Provide free access to feed and fresh water at all times.

2. At 6 weeks of age, begin to monitor the pullet weight. It isrecommended that a random sample of the birds be weighedevery 2 weeks. Compare the weight to the breed standardweight. If the pullets are heavier than recommended, reduce theamount of feed. If the birds are light, increase the amount offeed and continue to feed SHUR•GAIN Homestead PoultryGrower-Finisher. The breed standard information is availablefrom the hatchery.

3. It is important to follow the lighting program recommendedby the hatchery.

4. When the birds begin their lay cycle, change the feed toSHUR•GAIN Homestead Layer Ration.

Layers:1. Pullets must be stimulated with light to begin their lay cycle.It is important that you continue to follow the lighting programrecommended by the hatchery. Never reduce the hours of lightper day once the flock is in production.

2. Provide SHUR•GAIN Homestead Layer Ration to pullets begin-ning at 18 weeks of age or the appearance of the first egg. Thebirds should fed free choice until they reach a minimum intakeof 105 grams per bird per day. Intakes greater than 120 gramsper bird per day should be avoided as this can lead to fatty liversyndrome and reduced egg production.

3. Provide free access to feed and fresh water at all times.

4. During late lay, you may observe a reduction in the eggshellquality and an increased percentage of cracked eggs. It is advan-tageous to top dress oyster shell as a large particle calciumsource at this time. Top dress at the rate of 1.8 grams per birdper day or feed separately in floor operations.

FEEDING SCHEDULE: (Pullets & Layers)Feed AgeHomestead Poultry Starter........................................0-4 weeks50:50 mixture Homestead Poultry Starter

& Homestead Poultry Grower/Finisher................4-6 weeksHomestead Poultry Grower/Finisher ......................6-18 weeksHomestead Layer Ration ......................18 weeks to end of lay

Turkeys:1. Feed SHUR•GAIN Homestead Turkey Starter (Medicated) toturkey poults for the first 6 weeks of life. Turkey poults some-times need a little help getting started so extra care must betaken to ensure that they know how to get both feed and water.If the feed is in egg trays or shallow paper plates, the poultsshould start to eat. Poults that are not eating often learn howif their beaks are dipped first in water, then in the feed. After afew poults have been taught how to eat, others should learn byexample.

2. In some situations young turkeys may begin feather pullingor even become cannibalistic. These habits are usually broughton by stresses such as crowding, over-heating, lack of feederspace, mixing of different age groups or other management fac-tors. These habits can be controlled by having the birds beaktrimmed at the hatchery.

3. At 6 weeks of age, turkeys should be fed SHUR•GAINHomestead Turkey-Grower (Medicated). Increase the pen areato 5.0m2 per 75 birds. Double the water capacity and the feed-er space.

4. When the turkeys are 12 weeks of age, change the feed toSHUR•GAIN Homestead Turkey Finisher. Keep the turkeys onthis feed until market weight is achieved.

5. Turkeys can be grown to various market weights. Turkeybroilers usually weigh over 5 kg in 11 weeks. Heavy tomturkeys can reach a market weight of about 14 kg in about 16weeks. Hen turkeys are marketed at a weight of approximately7 kg in under 14 weeks. The Homestead turkey feeding pro-gram can be used to grow all the market weights of turkeys.

FEEDING SCHEDULE: (Turkeys)Feed AgeHomestead Turkey Starter ........................................0-6 weeksHomestead Turkey Grower ......................................6-12 weeksHomestead Turkey Finisher........................12 weeks to market

36"

BROODER GUARD

THERMOMETER

WATERERS

HOVER or INFRARED BROODER X

FEED HOPPERS

Ducks and Geese:1. Feed SHUR•GAIN Homestead 22% Duck Starter to ducklingsfor the first 3 weeks and to goslings for the first 4 weeks.Provide free access to feed and fresh water at all times.

2. After 3 weeks, ducklings can be fed SHUR•GAIN Homestead18% Duck Grower. Goslings can be switched to SHUR•GAINHomestead 18% Duck Grower at 4 weeks of age.

3. Double the floor space every 2 weeks until a maximum of 4square feet per duck and 6 square feet per goose are available,or until the birds are placed outside. At this age waterfowl canbe introduced to ponds or artificial water sources.

4. When the ducks are 5 weeks of age change the feed toSHUR•GAIN Homestead 16% Duck Finisher. Geese may be fedSHUR•GAIN Homestead 16% Duck Finisher as the sole ration at8 weeks of age. Optimum growth rate is achieved when geeseare fed grower and finisher rations as the sole diet. Keep theducks/geese on this feed until market weight has beenachieved. Market weights vary between waterfowl breeds andcan be obtained from the hatchery.

5. Ducks and Geese that are being kept as pets can be main-tained on an 18% Duck Grower as a supplemental feed sourceto their grazing intake.

FEEDING SCHEDULE: (Ducks and Geese)Feed Ducks Geese

Homestead 22% Duck Starter 0-3 weeks 1-4 weeksHomestead 18% Duck Grower 3-5 weeks 4-8 weeksHomestead 16% Duck Finisher 5 weeks to market 8 weeks to market

GUARANTEED ANALYSISHOMESTEAD POULTRY STARTER (MEDICATED)Protein (min.) ..................20.0% Sodium..............................0.15%Fat (min.) ..........................4.0% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................5.5% Vitamin A ................9,120 IU/kgCalcium ............................0.9% Vitamin D ................2,535 IU/kgPhosphorus ......................0.7% Vitamin E ......................25 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD POULTRY GROWER-FINISHERProtein (min.) ..................15.0% Sodium..............................0.15%Fat (min.) ..........................4.0% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................5.5% Vitamin A ................9,120 IU/kgCalcium ..........................0.95% Vitamin D ................2,535 IU/kgPhosphorus ......................0.6% Vitamin E ......................25 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD LAYER RATIONProtein (min.) ..................17.0% Sodium..............................0.16%Fat (min.) ..........................3.5% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................5.0% Vitamin A ................6,170 IU/kgCalcium ..........................3.55% Vitamin D ................2,360 IU/kgPhosphorus ....................0.65% Vitamin E ..................13.8 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD TURKEY STARTER (MEDICATED)Protein (min.) ..................28.0% Sodium..............................0.17%Fat (min.) ..........................4.0% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................5.0% Vitamin A ..............10,000 IU/kgCalcium ............................1.4% Vitamin D ................5,000 IU/kgPhosphorus ......................0.9% Vitamin E ......................35 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD TURKEY GROWER (MEDICATED)Protein (min.) ..................23.0% Sodium..............................0.17%Fat (min.) ..........................5.0% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................5.0% Vitamin A ................8,600 IU/kgCalcium ............................1.1% Vitamin D ................4,000 IU/kgPhosphorus ......................0.9% Vitamin E ......................25 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD TURKEY FINISHERProtein (min.) ..................18.4% Sodium..............................0.17%Fat (min.) ..........................7.0% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................5.0% Vitamin A ................8,600 IU/kgCalcium ..........................0.95% Vitamin D ................4,000 IU/kgPhosphorus ....................0.75% Vitamin E ......................25 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD 22% DUCK STARTERProtein (min.) ..................22.0% Sodium..............................0.15%Fat (min.) ..........................3.0% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................5.0% Vitamin A ..............10,400 IU/kgCalcium ............................0.8% Vitamin D ................2,600 IU/kgPhosphorus ....................0.65% Vitamin E ......................15 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD 18% DUCK GROWERProtein (min.) ..................18.0% Sodium..............................0.15%Fat (min.) ..........................3.5% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................4.0% Vitamin A ..............10,400 IU/kgCalcium ..........................0.75% Vitamin D ................2,600 IU/kgPhosphorus ....................0.65% Vitamin E ......................15 IU/kg

HOMESTEAD 16% DUCK FINISHERProtein (min.) ..................16.0% Sodium..............................0.15%Fat (min.) ..........................3.5% Selenium ....................0.3 mg/kgFibre (max.) ......................4.5% Vitamin A ..............10,400 IU/kgCalcium ............................0.8% Vitamin D ................2,600 IU/kgPhosphorus ......................0.6% Vitamin E ......................15 IU/kg

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