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Shipton’s Big R is locally owned and managed, influencing our efforts to stay rooted in the community that has supported us since 1949. Our commitment to our community forms the solid foundation from which we do business to this day.Throughout the year, we proudly host in-store events, sponsor local groups, contribute to local causes and of course, generously providing knowledge, expertise and exceptional customer service.
Shipton's Big R Blog
Caring for Your Backyard Flock For The First 18 Months
April 8, 2021
Newly hatched chicks
are very tiny. They are delicate and fuzzy – and so cute! Unfortunately, they
are also extremely vulnerable to the harsh world around them. The chick needs
all the advantages it can get. Once you have made the commitment to step in as
mother hen, the care is in your hands.
You have (hopefully)
previously thought ahead and set up a good coop that will be a
good home for the baby, and of course its mates. Chicks are social animals that
need companionship, which is why they thrive in a flock.
You will also need the
brooder to be large enough for the number of chicks you plan to raise and make
sure it’s equipped with a feeder and waterer. Make sure it has an
inch of wood shavings for bedding and a heat lamp or electric
chick warmer. Make sure the heat lamp has a RED bulb, and it can be raised and
lowered to regulate heat on the birds. Once you have these basics in place, you
are ready to welcome home your new chicks!
We recommend using these six chicken growth milestones as a
roadmap to creating a complete feeding program.
1. Weeks 1-4: Baby chicks
Bedding:
That inch of wood flake shavings you laid down, will provide the chicks
the dry, warm environment they need. Be aware that shredded paper has micro
filaments that can cause respiratory problems in the birds, so using the larger
wood shavings is a good choice. Raising chicks on newspaper, plastic or an
otherwise slick surface may cause their legs to splay, making walking difficult
or impossible. Spraddle leg can be a permanent condition if left uncorrected,
resulting in distress in the chick that can lead to death. Make sure you clean the bedding every day and
change it fully every 2-3 days.
Heat:
Without a mother hen to keep the chicks warm, the next best substitute
is a warming pad or heat lamp. The most common
option is a heat lamp. A radiant heat lamp will heat the chicks’ bodies and
provide them the comfort to shelter and sleep.
Make sure that your heat lamp is secured, and the height is adjustable.
To adjust the heat from a heat lamp, hang it starting at 18” to 24” from the
chicks. The proper temperature for the chicks should range between 85- and
90-degrees Fahrenheit. Use an outdoor thermometer designed to measure air
temperature to ensure a suitable climate for the chicks.
The best way to
monitor the heat is to pay attention to your baby chicks! They will tell you if
the temperature is comfortable. If the chicks tend to huddle under the light,
peeping loudly, it is too cold. If they are always to the edge or away from the
heat, it is too hot. If they are spaced out, pecking around, going about their
business in a way that that looks casual, they’re comfortable. The Red Bulbs you chose for the heat lamp is a
good choice. It does not resemble daylight, like a white bulb, and helps chicks
sleep at night. Also, the red light is not harmful to the chicks’ eyes and
tends to keep chicks from pecking at one another.
Water, then Food: Once you introduce baby chicks
to a brooder, provide them with fresh room temperature water, for the first
couple of hours. This gives the chicks the opportunity to rehydrate before they
feed. If the chicks seem unsure around water, feel free to dip their beaks into
the water. They will catch on and take it from there. Electrolytes and probiotics can
also be provided to your chicks through the water. These come in bulk packaging
or in pre-measured quantities that can be diluted with water. The electrolytes
provide energy and help to keep your wee ones hydrated while the probiotics
help aid in digestive health. The two can be used alone or combined for
ultimate health. (Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions and
recommendations.)
Food: Start your chicks strong
by giving a complete starter-grower feed with at least 18 percent
protein to support growth. Look for feed that includes amino acids are
important for chick development, prebiotics and probiotics vital for immune
health, as well as vitamins and minerals to support bone health. Also,
when you purchase your chicks at Shipton’s Big R, they will be unvaccinated.
For non-vaccinated chicks, we recommend the medicated feed mentioned, to
prevent coccidiosis, a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract. Chicks are vulnerable to illness and a medicated chick starter
feed will provide the extra boost they need.
2. Weeks 5-15: The teenage chicken stage
During weeks 5 and 6, chicks will go through visible growth
changes; new primary feathers will come in and a pecking order will begin
developing. Growing birds are now referred to differently. Pullet is the term
for a teenage female, while a young male is called a cockerel. Between weeks 7
and 15, the physical differences between genders will become even more obvious.
Continue to feed a complete starter-grower feed during the teenage
stage. In addition to 18 percent protein, be sure the feed contains no more
than 1.25 percent calcium. An excess of calcium can have a detrimental effect
on growth, but a complete starter feed has just the right balance.
3. Weeks 16-17: When to switch from chick starter to layer feed
Around this point in the growth people begin to check their
nesting boxes for the coveted first egg. It is time to consider layer
feed options so you can make a smooth transition. As compared to
starter-grower, a layer chicken feed has less protein and more calcium. This
added calcium is important for egg production.
Look for a chicken layer feed that matches your flock’s goals. Be
sure the layer feed is made with simple, wholesome ingredients and includes 16
percent protein, at least 3.25 percent calcium as well as key vitamins and
minerals.
4. Week 18: At what age do chickens start laying eggs?
When birds reach 18 weeks old or when the first egg arrives,
slowly transition to a layer feed. It is best to transition over time rather
than all at once to prevent digestive upset. Mix the starter feed with the layer
feed evenly for four or five days. If birds are used to crumbles, start with a crumble
layer feed. The same goes with pellets. The more similar
the two feeds are, the smoother the transition will go.
5. Month 18: Molting chickens
During about 18 months feathers will likely begin to cover the
coop floor. Welcome to the season of molting chickens! The first molt usually
occurs in the fall as days become shorter. Your flock will take a break from
egg laying and shed feathers for a few weeks. Molting is completely natural and
will happen every year.
It is important to keep
your flock strong during molting. Protein is the key nutrient in a flock’s diet
because feathers are made of 80-85 percent protein, whereas eggshells are
primarily calcium. When molt begins, switch to a complete feed
with 20 percent protein. A high-protein complete feed is important for feather
regrowth. Once birds begin producing eggs again, switch back to a layer feed.
6. 5+ Years: Laying hen retirement
One day, the time may come for the veterans of a flock to take a
vacation and retire from egg-laying. At this point transition retiring hens to
a higher-protein feed. Although a laying hen will stop laying as she ages, she
still has an important place in the flock as a steady companion who brings joy
to the entire family.
One Final Thought:
We all love to spoil our chickens
with treats every now and then. Giving treats
to your chickens helps to give their diet some variation. It also helps to keep
them happy and laying eggs. Also check out our Chick Days Page for more information on how Shipton's Big R can help you raise your flock.
Tips For A Smooth Calving Season
February 18, 2021

The most important day of a calf’s life is the first one. There are some key
factors that play a role in whether or not a baby calf gets off to a good start
and research has demonstrated that the first 24 hours of life are critical in
order for a calf to survive to weaning and beyond.
Interventions –
follow-up care is important
Dystocia, or calving complications, pose a
health risk for both the newborn calf and the mother cow. Dystocia can be
partially managed with careful breeding and culling practices, proper
nutrition, and by managing for a body condition score of 3 (on a scale of 1-5)
before calving, but difficult deliveries can still occur.
Every scenario is different, however, once a
water bag appears the calf should hit the ground within one hour for cows, or
up to one and a half hours for a first-calf heifer. Intervention may be needed,
especially if no progress has occurred for thirty minutes, the cow stops
pushing, or there are other signs of trouble. If there is a problem, a water
bag may not always appear, be observant of other behaviors that signal labor,
such as tail switching, restlessness, the appearance of membranes or discharge,
or a kink in the cow’s tail.
Calves born with assistance are less likely to
drink colostrum – that first, rich milk newborns require – on their own.
Assisted calves are more likely to have reduced vigor or be mismothered and
need proper care and attention to increase their ability to survive.
- If a calf is born with assistance, DO NOT hang the calf upside down. Rather, place the calf in the recovery position to keep the airway open and better enable it to start breathing.
- Both the mothering cows and calves may benefit from pain medication following a difficult delivery. Administering an NSAID, like meloxicam, can help to promote recovery, improve appetite, and lead to better milk production. If a calf’s pain is managed, they will be more comfortable, are more likely to get up and stay active, start nursing, and stay warm.
- Assess a calf’s vigor by testing for a suckle reflex. Place a finger or two in the calf’s mouth and gently tickle the roof of its mouth. If a calf has a strong suckle reflex within 10 minutes of birth, they will have a better chance of nursing the cow on their own without assistance. A calf with a weak suckle reflex will need monitoring and likely colostrum supplementation.
- A dazed or weak calf can be resuscitated. To stimulate a calf, rub the chest vigorously, poke a clean straw into its nostril, or even dribble a small amount of cold water in a calf’s ear.
Colostrum – the sooner
the better
Colostrx Colstrum is full of fats, vitamins, and protein
antibodies called immunoglobulin G (IgG). These antibodies are essential to
help a calf develop immunity to diseases specific to the farm it is born on.
Calves should suckle a recommended minimum of 1 liter of colostrum in the first
4-6 hours of life.
Producers should pay attention to whether or not
they see a baby calf nurse its mother. Look to see if the cow’s teats have been
sucked, feel the calf’s belly to see if it is full, or look at its hooves to
see if the soft, rubbery capsule has been worn off, an indication that it has
been standing up. If it does not look like the calf has what it needs or it
appears weak or dull, the following are some supplementations to consider:
- The best source of supplemental colostrum is from within your own herd. The freshly calved cow can be milked, or colostrum can be collected from another cow on your farm and frozen for up to one year.
- Never microwave colostrum, it which can “cook” the antibodies and render them useless. Instead, place the bag of frozen colostrum in a bowl of warm water so it can gradually increase in temperature.
- Powdered colostrum is an option if fresh/frozen colostrum is unavailable. Read the package to determine if the product is a “replacement” or a “supplement.” Supplements contain fewer grams of IgG per liter so two packages may be required to meet the needs of the calf.
- Veterinarians recommend feeding calves anywhere from a minimum of 100 grams IgG up to 200 grams IgG.
- Avoid colostrum sourced from other farms, to prevent bringing unwanted diseases to your herd.
- When administering colostrum, bottle-feeding is better than tube-feeding. A bottle will support the calf’s suckle reflex which in turn will ensure the optimal amount of antibodies are absorbed in the calf’s gut.
- Tube feeding is better than nothing, however it places the milk directly into the rumen, which does not allow for maximum absorption.
- Use separately marked tubes or bottles for feeding colostrum and treating sick calves. This will prevent newborn calves from being exposed to disease.
- Clean and disinfect bottles and tubes after each use.
Disease prevention –
keep calving area clean

The most effective way to manage disease in young calves is to manage the “disease balance” If calves aren’t exposed to bacteria and viruses that cause common calfhood diseases such as scours, septicemia, pneumonia, or navel ill, their risk of infection is going to be minimal.
- Disease outbreaks are less common when cattle are spread out so if possible, reduce confinement.
- For producers calving on pasture, provide ample space for expectant cows, then move pairs to fresh ground. This is referred to as a Sandhills calving system.
- When calving in a corral, the principle of providing a clean environment remains the same. Provide lots of fresh, clean bedding. This also helps ensure that cows’ udders are kept clean and dry.
- Clean pens regularly.
- Disease-causing bacteria can lurk in common areas such as creep feeders, wind shelters, or warmers. Ensure permanent structures are kept clean and well bedded. Move portable feeders and shelters often.
- Isolate and treat sick calves to prevent them from infecting healthy calves.
- Talk to your veterinarian and make sure yohttps://shiptonsbigr.com/products:farm-ranch:animal-health-wellness@f=eyJmaV85MyI6WyIxNDE1Il19?utm_source=website&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=caving&utm_content=antibiotics" target="_blank">Antibiotics may also be necessary.
Planning for a successful calving season starts
months before the first calf of the year is born, however the tips outlined
above can help producers navigate the calving season now.
Providing effective support for difficult
deliveries, ensuring calves receive adequate colostrum, and keeping calving
areas clean will allow producers to optimize the health, wellbeing, and profitability
of this year’s calf crop. Shipton’s Big R has the resources you need including nutrients and supplements, as well as
warmers, bottles, and tags. We are open
7 days a week, and you can always shop online at Shiptonsbigr.com
Where to Recharge Fire Extinguishers
February 12, 2021
Where can I recharge my rechargeable fire extinguisher?
Although some extinguishers can be recharged, this is dangerous without the right training. Hire a trained professional to make sure your extinguisher is safe and gets recharged with the correct chemical extinguishing agent.
To do this, check your favorite search engine for certified fire equipment dealers in your area. A single recharge typically costs between $15 and $25. Depending on the size and original cost of your extinguisher, a recharge may be more budget-friendly than buying a new extinguisher.
Another option: contact your local fire department and ask them to recharge your unit. Some departments can recharge extinguishers at no cost or refer you to a nearby professional for servicing.
To do this, check your favorite search engine for certified fire equipment dealers in your area. A single recharge typically costs between $15 and $25. Depending on the size and original cost of your extinguisher, a recharge may be more budget-friendly than buying a new extinguisher.
Another option: contact your local fire department and ask them to recharge your unit. Some departments can recharge extinguishers at no cost or refer you to a nearby professional for servicing.
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More Resources
USDA Plants Poisonous to Livestock in the Western States
Please click on this link to learn about all of the poisonous plants that can harm your livestock.
Merck Animal Health
Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals through science.
Nutrena Knowledge Center
Neutron Knowledge Center provides you with the most comprehensive information available about animal nutrition.