Poultry farming - everything you need to know

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Poultry farming - everything you need to know
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• Poultry farming is the husbandry of domesticated
  birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and
  geese, primarily for the purpose of producing
  meat or eggs.
• Most people are coming to this business because
  of the high returns that can be obtained in a
  short period of time.
• Layers are chickens raised for eggs, whereas
  broilers are chickens raised for meat.

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Methods of poultry farming

• Farmers use a number of different methods to
  achieve the best results, including intensive and
  free-range farming.

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Intensive farming

• Intensive farming is a method of increasing
  production while controlling costs.
• To accomplish this, animals are kept at high
  stocking densities in confined spaces on a large
  scale.
• Modern poultry equipment and technology are used
  to control environmental conditions such as the
  climate in which these birds are kept.
• Layers do not thrive in winter, resulting in a
  reduction in egg production, but in controlled
  environments, the climate can be kept at the
  right conditions throughout the year, allowing
  layers to produce all year.

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Free-range farming

• Free-range farming is an approach that allows
  animals to roam freely for some of the day rather
  than being confined for the entire 24 hours.
• The area that is roamed is usually fenced, but
  this still allows chickens to move around freely
  and behave naturally.  
• With free range farming, you have limited control
  over what the chickens consume.

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Period of expansion

• Hens (layers) begin laying eggs between the ages
  of 16 and 21 weeks, and some breeds can lay up to
  300 eggs per year.
• After 25 weeks of age, production may begin to
  decline.
• Broilers are frequently raised in an intensive
  environment, reaching slaughter weight between
  the ages of 5 and 9 weeks.
• In the first week, broilers can gain 300 percent
  of their body weight.
• These birds are raised in large open structures
  known as growout houses, rather than cages.
• Growout houses have ventilation and heating
  systems, and a single growout house measuring
  400/500 ft long and 40/50 ft wide can house up to
  20 000 broilers.

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Feeding

• Chickens are omnivores and will eat almost
  anything, but a proper feed diet should include
  corn, soybean (high protein), omena, and
  additional vitamins and minerals to ensure the
  chickens' nutritional needs are met.
• Poor feed quality causes slow growth, low egg
  production, and makes chickens susceptible to
  disease.

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Antibiotics

• Antibiotic-treated chickens grow 50 percent
  faster, lay more eggs, have lower mortality, and
  are less ill.
• Chickens typically reach market weight more
  quickly and at a lower cost. 

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Advantages of Poultry Farming

• Poultry farming does not require a lot of capital
  to get started as a business.
• It is entirely possible to start on a small
  scale.
• High and rapid returns on investment in a very
  short period of time, with returns accessible
  within 10 weeks of starting the business.
• Ease of expansion and rapid increase in
  production.
• High demand, chicken is consumed globally and is
  in high demand.

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• Because a chicken is considered a domesticated
  animal, no special licences or permits are
  required.
• Takes up little space and can be started in your
  own backyard.
• Needs little water for drinking and cleaning one
  litre is enough for 5 chickens per day.
• Marketing costs are lower because chickens are
  not usually sold directly from the farmer to the
  consumer, but rather through markets and other
  establishments.
• Ease of access to capital from banks and the
  government.

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Poultry Equipment

• To get started, you don't need much machinery or
  equipment, but if you want to produce
  commercially, you'll need Poultry equipment to
  meet the demands of running a commercial poultry
  farm.
• Feeding system.
• Drinking / watering system.
• Climate control system.
• Housing.
• Adequate flooring.
• Bird transport.
• Medicator / vaccinator