Poultry Production and Management

POULTY PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

Introduction

Commercial poultry production is being practiced by a few farmers who have ready market for their products.  These are farmers generally near big towns and market centres where egg and chicken consumption is relatively higher than rural areas.

As in the case of pig feeds chicken feed availability has been one of the main production problems coupled with very low quality and uncontrolled high feeds prices.

For commercial production, farmers buy day-old chicks from hatcheries which are found mainly around Nairobi.  Not very much work has been done on local birds although they are important for egg and meat production in the rural areas.

Poultry Production and Management Practises

Breeds (Layers and Broilers)

The materials available from hatcheries are mainly hybrids such as brown eggers, Isa Brown shavers etc.

Source

Day old chicks should be ordered from reputed hatcheries for good quality and free of diseases.  Orders for day-old chick are done through K.F.A or through Ministry of Livestock staff at the district.  It is important to have them vaccinated for mareks disease at the hatchery.

Feeding Broilers

Feed Types

Use broilers start mash from 0-4 weeks of age.  Use broilers follow up mash from 4-7 (10) weeks of age.

Frequency

Feed the birds and lib

Quantity

Normally birds will consume 4-5kg/bird to reach slaughter weight of 2 kg. LW. In 7 weeks.  Check feed wastage on the litter to control by using proper feeders and proper filling.

NB: Do not keep broilers if you do not have ready market. After they reach their market weight they should go or the farmer will not make any profit.

What to provide in poultry house

1. on the floor provide litter rice straw, husks wood shaving etc.
2. provide adequate water troughs
3. provide adequate nests fro layers
4. at the to the unit provides foot bath to disinfect workers and visitors to the unit
5. provide a store for both eggs and feeds

 Guide for Extension Agents to Check at far level

 Poultry 

1. Management of Chicks

• Check source of day old chicks
• Check the brooding method being used
• Are the chicks getting excess, inadequate or adequate heat?
• It the brooder set as recommended?
• Have the chicks been vaccinated against Mareks, New Castle Disease and Fowl Typhoid?
• Check feeds, feeders, water and waterers.
• What kind of litter is the farmer using? (e.g. saw dust, straw, wood shaving husks, etc) saw dust should not be used for chicks
• Check for feed wastage form the litter
• Any danger of fire in the brooder (e.g. when using charcoal for heating)
• Is the litter wet/damp?
• Chicks will require fowl typhoid vaccination 8-9^th week of age.

Production Factors Calculations

There are many production factors which each poultry farmer has to know and review them from time to time t assess production efficiencies, e.g.

Average No. of Eggs per hen

Total No. of Eggs

Av. No. of hens

% Production

Total No. of Eggs x 100

Total No. of days x No. of birds houses

% Mortality

Total loss to date x 100

Total No. of hens at the time of housing

Kg Feed/Doz eggs

Total kg feed used

Total Dozen eggs produced

Average Feed Cost/hen

Total Feed Cost

Average No. of hens

Return above feed cost/ dozen eggs

Price/dozen eggs MINUS

Feed cost per dozen eggs

% Breakage

Total No. of Eggs Broken x 100

Total No. of Eggs produced