Preparing for the season

Preparing for the Preparing for the SeasonSeason

Trudy BaumeisterTrudy BaumeisterBrooder ManagerBrooder Manager

MacFarlane Pheasants, IncMacFarlane Pheasants, IncMarch 2008March 2008

StaffingStaffing Staffing the right number of peopleStaffing the right number of people Training Training Confidence in staffConfidence in staff

Staff also needs to be confidentStaff also needs to be confident

SuppliesSupplies InventoryInventory What was used last What was used last

season?season? Organized Organized

inventoryinventory Expiration datesExpiration dates Order to start the Order to start the

seasonseason

Sample Supply Check Sample Supply Check ListList MedicationsMedications

DisinfectantsDisinfectants Feed FlatsFeed Flats DrinkersDrinkers Alarm partsAlarm parts Brooders and partsBrooders and parts Light bulbsLight bulbs UniformsUniforms Boots/BootiesBoots/Booties Oasis Hatching Oasis Hatching

SupplementSupplement FeedFeed Spare feeder partsSpare feeder parts Spare drinker partsSpare drinker parts List goes on…List goes on…

DisinfectionDisinfection Barns cleaned/pressure washed at the Barns cleaned/pressure washed at the

end of last seasonend of last season Automatic feed systems cleaned outAutomatic feed systems cleaned out

All feed from previous season removedAll feed from previous season removed Disinfect and feed lines if possibleDisinfect and feed lines if possible

Water lines cleaned out and sanitizedWater lines cleaned out and sanitized Barns cleaned/pressure washed a Barns cleaned/pressure washed a

second time and disinfectedsecond time and disinfected Bio-security measures taken from here on Bio-security measures taken from here on

outout

Setting up the facilitySetting up the facility Turn brooders on a week before bedding Turn brooders on a week before bedding

roomroom Turn water system on and check for Turn water system on and check for

leaksleaks Run all fans and intake shuttersRun all fans and intake shutters Run feed system before getting feedRun feed system before getting feed Fix anything that is not working properlyFix anything that is not working properly Test alarms and program the systemTest alarms and program the system

Setting up the facilitySetting up the facility After the moisture is After the moisture is

out of the floor and out of the floor and the floor is warmed the floor is warmed up – add the beddingup – add the bedding

Set the entire facility Set the entire facility up how it should beup how it should be

Turn water off until Turn water off until just before getting just before getting birdsbirds

Check daily for Check daily for problems after set upproblems after set up

Setting up the facilitySetting up the facility Once you get one of the facilities set up Once you get one of the facilities set up

move on to the next one.move on to the next one. If you do not have brooders in the room If you do not have brooders in the room

for heat, you need to turn on your heat for heat, you need to turn on your heat source at least a week in advance to get source at least a week in advance to get all the moisture out of the ground.all the moisture out of the ground.

The more areas you get set up The more areas you get set up beforehand will result in less stress beforehand will result in less stress once the chicks start arriving.once the chicks start arriving.

Placing ChicksPlacing Chicks At least the day before placing the chicksAt least the day before placing the chicks

Turn water on and double check for leaksTurn water on and double check for leaks Wash any minis or drinkers other than nipple linesWash any minis or drinkers other than nipple lines Flush entire water system with fresh waterFlush entire water system with fresh water

Put feed flats out and fill with feedPut feed flats out and fill with feed Run feed system and fill pans with feedRun feed system and fill pans with feed Make sure the heat is at the correct Make sure the heat is at the correct

temperaturetemperature Second check on the alarm systemSecond check on the alarm system

Make sure settings and phone numbers are correctMake sure settings and phone numbers are correct

Placing ChicksPlacing Chicks Day of Chick placementDay of Chick placement

Top feed flats with Oasis hatching Top feed flats with Oasis hatching supplementsupplement

Check for water leaks and that all water Check for water leaks and that all water systems are working correctly (clean and systems are working correctly (clean and fix if any)fix if any)

Check temperature in roomCheck temperature in room Check all broodersCheck all brooders Place chicks and make changes as neededPlace chicks and make changes as needed

Barn 4 Room Fully Set Barn 4 Room Fully Set UpUp

Starting WellStarting Well If the season starts off well it will be If the season starts off well it will be

easier to end the season well also. easier to end the season well also. The more you get done before the The more you get done before the

start of the season the less you have start of the season the less you have to do once the birds start coming to to do once the birds start coming to your facility.your facility.

It is not a guarantee, but it does not It is not a guarantee, but it does not hurt to be ahead of the schedule.hurt to be ahead of the schedule.

Setting up Outside Setting up Outside FacilitiesFacilities

Set up catch pens and flight pens well in Set up catch pens and flight pens well in advanceadvance

Plant cover if neededPlant cover if needed Spread salt/sulfur onto the ground in the Spread salt/sulfur onto the ground in the

catch penscatch pens Till ground & add salt and sulfur at least 15 days Till ground & add salt and sulfur at least 15 days

before birds are let into the pensbefore birds are let into the pens 3 pounds of sulfur and 7 pounds of salt per 100 3 pounds of sulfur and 7 pounds of salt per 100

square feet (Milt Briney)square feet (Milt Briney) Have huts, feeders, and drinkers cleaned and Have huts, feeders, and drinkers cleaned and

in pens before the birds go outsidein pens before the birds go outside Add feed and straw a few days before the Add feed and straw a few days before the

birds are moved into the pensbirds are moved into the pens

Catch PensCatch Pens

Questions?Questions?