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Poultry Production: Broiler Bird:

Broilers are poultry birds reared for meat purpose mainly. They can attain table size within 6-10weeks.

Gains from Broiler bird production

v Meat

v Manure

v Feathers

How to Sell off mature Broilers

v Live

v Finished and frozen

Technicalities

Location:

For small scale farms, the poultry house can be sited and constructed in a part of a spacious compound or an attached structure within a living area. When the poultry is located within a living area, proper and regular cleaning should be practiced so as not to constitute environmental nuisance.

Housing:

The poultry house could be cage or Deep liter system.

Wood shavings should be used for the day old chicks, and not saw dust, so as not to allow the fine dust to enter the nasal passage of the chicks.

The poultry farm should have the following;

v Poultry shed/house/cages

v Store room for feed and drug

v Drinkers and Feeders

v Source of heating for the young chicks, especially during brooding.

v A consulting veterinary Doctor.

v Source of good quality water

Marketing

Depending on the scale and the season, broilers and byproducts, such as manure, feathers, can be sold to;

v Neighbours

v Fast food outlets

v Restaurants and Hotels

v Small gardeners and horticulturists

Preparing the Brooder house

Two weeks before the arrival of the chicks, the brooder house should be washed and properly disinfected with dettol, so as to kill germs and other micro organisms that might have inhabited the brooder house.

Sweeping and disinfecting can be repeated two days before arrival of the chicks.

It is necessary for the brooder house to be in good hygienic conditions, so as to prevent sickness and diseases attacking the chicks.

Purchase of Day old Chicks

Day old chicks (DOC) can be purchased from hatcheries. (Ask for the closest one to your farm).

The DOC should be booked for in advance; this should be confirmed the day before the collection. On the date of collection, arrangements should be made to pick up the chicks very early in the morning, so as to reduce the travel stress on the chicks.

Before the arrival of the chicks, feed should be placed on the feeding troughs as well as clean water and anti stress/ vitamins; this will help the chicks stabilize from the stress of the journey.

Brooding

The following materials are needed;

·        Chick guard/ surround board

·        Coal pots or electric bulbs and source of power

Brooding should be done for about two weeks; here, the temperature and other environmental conditions are regulated.,

Feeding- Ad libitum

·        Chick marsh should be given to the chicks from day-old up to two/three weeks old, before the feed is gradually changed to growers’ marsh. This feed can be given until the birds are sold or slaughtered.

·        Finishing feed can also be given before the broilers are sold off.

Vaccination

Vaccines prevent diseases from attacking the birds. It is advisable you get a veterinary Doctor to assist in doing this.

This is a guide to the vaccine that can be administered;

·        Marek’s Vaccine

·        Vaccine against Infectious bursal Disease

·        New castle disease vaccine/ Lasota/Gomboro etc

Poultry hygiene

·        Avoid numerous attendants entering the cage/house of the birds.

·        Get a foot bath with disinfectant, wash hands before and after handling the birds.

Change the wood shavings or saw dust regularly.