Poultry Farming: Meaning, Poultry Housing and Brooding

This article provides an essay on Poultry Farming. After reading this article you will learn about: 1. Meaning of Poultry Farming 2. Poultry Housing 3. Broiler Management 4. Pullet Management 5. Layer Management 6. Brooding 7. Cages 8. Incubation and Hatching Procedures.

Contents:

1. Meaning of Poultry Farming
2. Poultry Housing
3. Broiler Management of Poultry
4. Pullet Management of Poultry
5. Layer Management of Poultry
6. Brooding of Poultry
7. Cages for Poultry
8. Incubation and Hatching Procedures for Poultry

1. Meaning of Poultry Farming:

Poultry farming is defined as a term for rearing and keeping of birds such as fowl, duck and hen for egg and meat. Poultry farming has become popular because it is comparatively easy to start and maintain. It gives quick return within one to six month of investments, is easily manageable and requires less space and labour. Poultry birds and their eggs are a rich source of nutrients.

Common Breeds of Poultry Birds:

Indian poultry breeds provide good quality meat but produces small sized eggs. They have natural immunity against common diseases as compared to exotic varieties bred abroad which require greater protection and immunization.

The chicken is commonly classified on the basis of its origin:

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2. Poultry Housing:

Poultry production systems should provide fresh air, clean feed and water, protection against predators, shelter from cold, rain, wind, sun and excessive heat; as well as a source of heat when birds are young. Basically, the birds need to be able to grow, sleep and lay eggs in comfort. The birds should also be free from stress and disease. The basic requirements for poultry housing are:

(i) Protection from weather

(ii) Protection from predators

(iii) Enough space

(iv) Adequate ventilation

(v) A clean environment

(vi) Access to dust bathing facilities

Space Requirements, Or Density of Birds per Unit Area:

This is the most important basic principle in housing, as the space available determines the number and type of poultry that can be kept.

Minimum Space Requirements for Different Poultry

System of Poultry Housing:

i. Deep litter system:

Birds are fully confined within a house (3 to 4 birds/ m2) but can move around freely. The floor is covered with a deep litter (5 to 10 cm deep layer) of grain husks (maize or rice), straw, wood shavings or a similarly absorbent, non-toxic material.

The fully enclosed system protects the birds from thieves and predators and is suitable for specially selected commercial breeds of egg or meat producing poultry (layers, breeder flocks and broilers).

ii. Slatted floor systems:

Wire or wooden slatted floors are used instead of deep litter, which allow stocking rates to be increased to five birds/m^ of floor space. Birds have reduced contact with faeces and are allowed some freedom of movement. Faeces can be collected from below the slatted floor and used as fertilizer.

iii. Battery cage systems:

This is usually used for laying birds, which are kept throughout their productive life in small cages. There is a high initial capita investment, and the system is mostly confined to large-scale commercial egg layer operations.

3. Broiler Management of Poultry:

i. Since broilers are being reared for meat it is important that they always have an adequate supply of high quality broiler feed.

ii. As the birds get heavier, they will need more floor space and ventilation.

iii. It may be well to use night lights equivalent to 15 watts per 200 square feet. This allows birds to eat at night and helps prevent pile-ups.

iv. Keep litter dry to help prevent breast blisters. Provide ample cool, clean water.

4. Pullet Management of Poultry:

i. Feed starter and grower feeds as outlined under Feed and Water section.

ii. Keep young and old birds separated. If it is necessary for one person to care for young and old birds, care for the young birds first each day.

iii. Remove any unthrifty pullets.

iv. Keep birds free of parasites.

v. Keep complete and accurate records.

5. Layer Management of Poultry:

i. Clean and disinfect laying house before placing pullets in it.

ii. If floor management is used, put in 4 to 6 inches of clean litter.

iii. House only well developed well fleshed pullets.

iv. Use artificial light to provide 14 hours of total light per day – one 40 watt bulb per 200 square feet, hung 8 feet above the floor.

v. Use a feeding program as outlined above.

vi. Keep birds free of parasites.

vii. Keep complete and accurate records.

viii. Remove obvious culls.

6. Brooding of Poultry:

The care and management of young chicks during early part of their life is called brooding i.e. up to the age of 3-5 weeks.

Brooders:

i.  Hover-type – Follow manufacturer’s direction. Starting temperature at the edge of the hover should be 95 degrees F. for the first week and reduced 5°F each week.

ii.  Heat lamp – Use either white or infra-red heat lamps.

iii.  Home made brooder – An inexpensive method of supplying heat to a few chicks is to place a 100-watt light bulb inside a gallon tin can and place the can on the floor of the brooder house.

7. Cages for Poultry:

Normally cages are 18 inches deep and 16 inches high in the following widths:

i. 8 inches wide – one bird per cage

ii. 10 inches wide – can accommodate two layers per cage.

iii. 12 inches wide – can accommodate two or three layers per cage.

iv. Although more than one bird per cage can be housed, one bird per cage is recommended for small flocks for the following reasons; cleaner eggs, fewer cracked eggs, usually higher production, better bird plumage and less cannibalism. Manure management is much easier since the manure is not so concentrated, thus aiding in drying and reducing odors and fly problems.

8. Incubation and Hatching Procedures of Poultry:

i. Hatching Egg Production and Care

(a) Keep 1 male for each 10-12 females.

(b) Males should be kept with females at least 1 week prior to saving hatching eggs to insure high egg fertility.

(c) Feed a complete diet.

(d) Collect eggs at least 3 limes per day.

(e) The hatching of fertilized eggs requires about 21 days and hatching takes place at 38°C temperature.

ii. Incubation Essentials:

(a) Obtaining a small incubator:

Still air incubator can be purchased or constructed. Small forced-air self-turning incubators are commercially available. For details regarding incubators, incubator parts and/or construction plans, contact an extension poultry specialist or see “Incubation, Embryo Development and Display, and Baby Chick Care”.

(b) Proper operating temperature:

A still air incubator requires an operating temperature of 102 to 103°F. At a position level with the top of the eggs. A forced draft (which contains a fan for circulating the air) incubator should be operated at 99 to 100°F. Do not place the incubator in drafts or direct sunlight which may cause extreme fluctuations in temperature.

(c) Sufficient humidity:

Wet bulb reading of 86°F. For a small incubator, moisture can be added to the air by placing a small pan of water under the egg tray. It may be necessary to sprinkle the eggs lightly with warm water at the time of hatching to prevent the chicks from sticking to the shell.

(d) Turning of eggs:

Eggs should be turned an odd number of times and a minimum of three times each day. Mark each egg as an aid in determining that all eggs are turned from one side to the other at each turning. For self- turning incubation, follow manufacturer’s instructions.

(1) An Egg contains 67% water, 13% protein, 9% fat and 11% minerals.

(2) Moulting:

It is a natural physiological process for the birds to renew old feathers at the end of the first year of lying.

(3) Dubbing:

Removal of comb may be restricted to in day old chicks belonging to breeds, which have larger/ lopped comb.

(4) Debeaking:

Debeaking is cutting off part of the upper beak. It helps in preventing peaking injuries and cannibalism among chicks.

(5) Poultry Disease:

Rearing of poultry birds requires properly ventilated place and vaccination of new born chicks. Poultry diseases can be classified as infectious or non-infectious. Non-infectious diseases are caused by faulty management, faulty feed preparation and inadequate diet or nutritionally efficient disease.