Poultry farming - everything you need to know

1. Poultry farming - everything you need to know

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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. • Growouthouses 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.

7. 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.

8. 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. 

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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