Reproduction, Chick Care, and Health Management

This unit covers breeding and incubation methods, early chick care and brooder management, basic flock health and medication administration, sanitation and housing amenities, and egg handling/quality assessment. Students will apply biosecurity, pest and predator control, and humane practices to manage a small-scale meat or egg flock and prepare birds for processing when appropriate.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze breed characteristics and mating methods to determine suitability for meat versus egg production and justify selection of natural mating or artificial incubation for a given production goal
• Apply sanitation, housing, feeding, pest/predator control, and stress-reduction practices to develop a written 8–12 week brooding and grow-out plan specifying wiring, fixtures, feeder/waterer placement, feeding schedule, and biosecurity steps
• Demonstrate safe handling, routine chick care (brooder temperature and management, feeding, watering), and proper administration of common medications and vaccinations following safety and animal welfare guidelines
• Evaluate egg quality and incubation outcomes using candling, cleaning, and storage protocols; interpret hatch or quality problems and recommend corrective actions to improve reproductive success and product quality