1.4 Background information
You will need to look at all aspects of commercial poultry production before you decide to become a poultry farmer
This means that you will have to seek out information in a survey
On the basis of this information you will make a business plan. This will tell you how much money you can expect to make (or lose) each year
A good business plan will allow you to go to the bank to borrow money to get your commercial poultry farm started
You will not start with a feasibility study now but towards the end of the course when you will know more about poultry and what farming poultry entails. But you should look at this from time to time throughout the course at the questions that need to be answered so that you can gather the necessary information.
End of Unit I
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UNIT II
2. POULTRY BREEDS
There are many different breeds of chickens. We will only mention here those that have commercial potential (meat and/or eggs).
Dual Purpose. These are used to produce both meat and eggs such as Rhode Island Reds or Plymouth Rock.
Today, for large – scale commercial production they do not produce enough eggs
nor do they grow fast enough for meat production
they eat too much feed
they are not very efficient in converting feed to eggs and meat
Dual purpose breeds may have a role to play where it is not possible to get better breeds or conditions are not ideal or feed is not of the best quality
Special Breeds. These have been selected for egg production
the White Leghorn was very popular for many years
it has a small body (1.5 kg) and lays many white eggs
the Black Australorp is another popular breed
it is very docile (quiet) and lays a tinted (light brown) egg
it is medium-heavy body weight (2.2 kg) and therefore eats quite a lot of feed
it is good for free-range (out doors) conditions as it is not flighty
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Hybrids. In the commercial world today only hybrids (cross-breeds) selected for either meat or egg production (not both) are used. Because of hybrid vigour
they lay more eggs than special and dual purpose breeds
they lay large, brown or white eggs
they eat less feed per kg of weight gain for meat or per kg of eggs
the male chicks from hybrid layers grow very slowly and normally have to be killed. They are usually too expensive to rear but it depends on feed costs and circumstances
the hybrid broilers grow faster than pure breeds
they produce more meat especially breast meat than the pure breeds
Hybrid chicks are only available to the small farmer through a breeding company. The farmer will not have the parent breeding stock and therefore can not breed these chicks himself. Replacement pullets must be bought in but are not always available in remote areas.
EXERCISE
In a few words list all the characteristics (e.g. many brown/white eggs) that you would like to see in 1. a laying hen, and 2. a broiler chicken.
3. POULTRY HOUSING
There are many reasons why poultry should have a well-constructed house
to protect them from floods, rain and the sun
to protect them from predators - dogs, cats, snakes, birds of prey, rats and thieves
to prevent mice, rats and other birds from eating their feed and transmitting disease
to give hens a safe place to lay their eggs
You must protect your chickens from predators
What are the basic requirements for a poultry house?
It must be
rain proof
protect the birds from direct sunlight and keep them cool
must have good drainage around the house
easy to clean
have a strong door with a secure lock
Chickens must be protected from the weather
Housing will likely be your biggest investment and to cut
Costs, local material can be used. Positioning of the
house is important to conform to some of the basic requirements (mentioned above). High ground will stop flooding in rain storms
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