There is no point in setting up a farming venture when it cannot be
sustained. The first key for a successful farming business is to count the cost
before starting the farm. Having knowledge on the type of farm you want to
engage in, knowing how the structure of the farm should be like, feed, water,
market and importantly, vaccination protocol are all key issues one should have
before starting a poultry farm. For instance in layer farming, more capital is
required due to the feeding, vaccinations, etc. The farmer will only start
making profit when the birds start laying eggs which is after 14 to 18 weeks
and beyond. These titbits along with various techniques and procedures help the
farmer ensure healthy quality birds. These techniques and procedures form the
management practices. Once these procedures are followed, you get maximum and
efficient production with minimal investment.
1. Acquisition of
day old chicks
To achieve good results, with healthy and robust birds, secure day
old chicks from trusted hatcheries. Get to know the breed of birds you are
going in for. The breed gives a lot of information on the quantity and quality
of produce in terms of eggs and meat. Ask for the vaccinations that were done
in the breeding stock and the chicks before purchasing.
2. Brooder management
Brooder house should be draft free, rain proof and protected against
predators.
Brooder
house should have windows with wire mesh for adequate ventilation. Too
much dust in the house irritates the respiratory tract and also serves as a
medium for transfer of diseases. Heating is very essential to provide right
temperature in the brooder house. Too high or too low a temperature slows down
growth and causes mortality. Chicks should be given water immediately and some
may need to be shown how to drink. Don’t encourage the use of black bags as
house covers during brooding. Electricity or kerosene lamp can provide heat.
Weak and sick chicks should be kept in different brooding house and dead ones
be disposed off properly. It may be only necessary to provide extra heat only
during the night or when necessary within the day.
3. Feed and
water management
Feed is about 60 to 70% of the costs of producing commercial
poultry. It is the major constraint (difficulty) to poultry production in
developing countries: Commercially prepared feed (expensive) or self-prepared (availability
of raw materials). Chickens need energy source, protein, minerals and vitamins
in adequate proportion at various phases of their life. Therefore feeding them
with the right nutrients at the various phases is key to getting quality products.
Seek technical advice when formulating feed. For self-prepared feed, ensure
that raw materials are well dried before using for feed preparation (Antitoxin
may be added to feed). Raw materials must be stored in a dry and airy place on
pallets to prevent the prepared feed or materials from going mouldy. Feed and
raw materials should not be stored for too long. Keep rodents and stray birds
from your store house. Prepare feed with the right formulation and mix thoroughly
(Seek help if you are not familiar with this). Do not feed the birds more than
their daily requirement. Discard damp and old feed and raw materials. Provide
enough water. Water temperature should not be above the bird’s temperature.
Pipes may be buried and tanks covered from direct sun. Clean tanks as often as
possible. Use clean water for watering.
4. Health
and disease prevention
Chickens are fragile and can get sick very easily especially when
they are young. Diseases can be classified as infectious or non-infectious,
based on the cause of the disease.
·
Infectious
diseases – caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoan, etc.
·
Non-infectious
diseases – caused as a result of
nutritional deficiencies and poor feed formulation (i.e., when the farmer
doesn’t mix the feed properly which results in a high starchy less vitamins and
minerals feed formula). The All in, all out system is the best practice since
it reduces the transmission of diseases from an older flock to a younger flock.
Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure. Unnecessary use of
Antibiotics is one of the causes of high production cost. This can be avoided
when one practices good hygiene. Employ the use of biosecurity
measures: keep your environment clean, wash the feeders and drinkers,
don't allow strangers into the farm, use footbaths, etc.
Follow the vaccination
protocol for your birds, routine deworming and use of coccidiostats and
coccidiocidal drugs.
Have a sick bay to keep sick birds. Quickly remove dead birds as
soon as possible to help prevent spread of diseases.
5. Litter management
Suitable litter material like saw dust and paddy husk should be
spread to a length of about 5cm depending on their availability and cost.
Litter serves as reservoir for most infectious organisms. High ammonia content
irritates the respiratory tracts of birds. It also stresses the birds and
predispose them to other disease conditions. Proper litter management is
therefore necessary. Regularly stir litter to aerate it and enhance drying.
Remove wet portions of litter. Add more litter if not adequate. Remove litter
if ammonia concentration is too high. Litter can be sold to other farmers as
manure, if not possible, dispose off litter very well, away from farm but in a
responsible way to avoid contaminating the environment.
6. Tools and equipment
Drinkers, feeders, shovel, wheel barrow, buckets, etc. Keep tools
and equipment as clean as possible. All movable equipment like feeders,
waterers and hovers should be removed from the house, cleaned and disinfected.
All litters are to be scraped and removed from the equipment. Allow
disinfectant contact with the tools and equipment for about 5 to 10 minutes
before rinsing with water. Avoid sharing of equipment with other farms and the
public.
7. House management
The interior as well as exterior of the house should be cleaned
under pressure. The house should be disinfected with any commercial
disinfectant solution at the recommended concentration. Insecticide should be
sprayed to avoid insect threat. Malathion spray/blow lamping or both can be
used to control ticks and mites. New litter should be spread after each
cleaning. Remove cobwebs as often as possible. Provide footbath at each
entrance. Provide birds with laying coops.
8. Records keeping
It is essential that you
keep
good records of feed consumed, eggs produced, bird deaths and removal
of sick hens and non-layers give the overall performance of the farm.
Keeping poultry is not easy. It is a learning process. You should
start slowly and expand as you gain experience. You may have set backs but you
must persevere and seek advice when you have problems and need help. If you are
kind to your birds and treat them well they will respond.
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