Sunnyside Jumbo Broilers are an extremely fast growing meat type chicken and must be fed a quality high energy broiler ration of 23% protein for 4 weeks and a 20% grower ration to finish. Leghorns and dual purpose birds need a 20% starter to 8 weeks and a 17% grower to finish. Starting the third day, lightly sprinkle baby chick (#1) grit on the feed daily. Use an open feeder tray the first few days to give chicks easy access to feed. Feed should include coccidiosis prevention. Vitamins and Electrolytes are recommended at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon to start chicks.
To help avoid leg problems and heart attacks consider mildly restricting feed to your Jumbo Broilers. Starting at 2 weeks let Broiler run out of feed or remove feeders by 8 p.m. It really works!
Always know the brooding temperature. A thermometer is your cheapest investment. A temperature of 90° is recommended to start chicks. Reduce temperature 5° a week until 70° room temperature is reached. Chicks should be evenly spread around heat source. Allow at least 1/2 square foot per bird to start. For growing birds, allow at least 1 1/2 square feet per bird. You can tell when chicks are comfortable by the way they move around eating and drinking. A 250 watt bulb 18-24 inches above floor to start for each 80 chicks or 40 turkeys is recommended.
Litter must remain clean and dry. Shavings, peat moss and rice hulls work best. Avoid newspaper or straw–they cause leg problems.
Keep air fresh with no drafts. A chick guard 18 inches high for first 10 days helps.
Allow one gallon of fresh water for each 50 chicks.
The feeders and waterers should be raised as chicks grow keeping them level to chickens back.
Feed and water at once on arrival. Start turkeys on a 28% medicated starter to 8 weeks. 9 through 16 weeks feed a 21% turkey grower and 17 weeks to slaughter feed a 16% turkey finisher. Add Vitamins and Electrolytes and/or an antibiotic in drinking water to start.
Raise turkeys apart from chickens for disease prevention. Turkeys starting are more sensitive to temperature and drafts, however, most growing recommendations for chicks also apply to turkeys.
Start ducklings and goslings on a commercial duck and goose starter for 3-4 weeks. If not available, a good non-medicated chick starter will do. Additional grain can gradually be added to the starter so that after 8 weeks a 14-15% protein grow ration is fed.
Give plenty of clean drinking water in fountains deep enough to enable them to wash their bills. Do not let them get into the water and become chilled. Remove all wet spots and replace with dry litter as needed. When using a heat lamp provide one 250 watt heat bulb for each 30 ducklings or 20 goslings.