POULTRY REARING
Poultry contributes to improved human nutrition and food security by being a
leading source of high quality protein in form of eggs and meat. It acts as a key
supplement to revenue from crops and other livestock enterprises, thus avoiding
over dependency on traditional commodities with inconsistent prices. It has a high
potential to generate foreign exchange earnings through export of poultry products
to neighboring countries. Poultry is highly prized in many social-cultural functions
such as dowry and festivities. The poultry industry in Uganda is relatively new. Its
major problem is therefore associated with its further expansion, though care
must be taken to avoid overproduction. The industry is characterized by widely
diverse methods of production which include the following: village flocks, smallscale
commercial flocks and large-scale commercial farms. Constraints in poultry
production include: production related constraints (inadequate access to improved
breed, access and affordability of feed, disease control); lack of knowledge and skills,
inadequate capital at all levels and marketing.
Systems of Management
• Free range
• Semi-intensive
• Intensive
Housing: essential features
• Building a large poultry house ideal for chicken
• Be rainproof
• Be secure from windy rains
• Have smooth surface walls to stop mites and other pests from hiding
• Periodically spraying the poultry unit with insecticide and disinfectants
• Periodically removing the dropping/cleaning the poultry house regularly
• Have good ventilation and in hotter areas at least 2 sides should be partly
chicken wire mesh
• Preferably have cemented floor for ease of cleaning and disinfecting
• Be rat-proof
• Using plenty of litter after cleaning the poultry house
• Keeping the right number of birds in poultry houses
• Separating chicks from old birds
Poultry Rearing NAADS - July 2011
3
A sample of large poultry house ideal for chicken
Management of chicks
• Before chicks arrive at home; make sure that;
o A brooder is in place
o Paraffin lamps/electric bulbs/charcoal stove is available
o Litter for the floor is available
o 1m2
will accommodate 20 chicks upto 4 weeks old.
• Temperature control: 350
C for day-old chicks, 24-270
C for 1 week. Reduce
heat as they grow especially at night.
Feeding Exotic chicken
o Broilers – 1 to 3 weeks feed with chick mash, 3 to 6 weeks feed
with broiler starter, thereafter with broiler finisher.
o Layers – 1 to 8 weeks feed on chick mash, after 8 weeks introduce
growers mash gradually, then with layers mash after drop of first
egg.
NAADS - July 2011 Poultry Rearing
4
A man feeding layers
Management of Layers
• Allow for good air circulation in laying house
• Layer needs on average 120 gm of food per day
• Distribute food troughs and water troughs evenly (one basin/50 birds)
• Provide grit at 20 weeks
• Laying nests must be kept in dark places, collect eggs 3 times a day, allow
a nest/5 hens
• Provide soft clean litter
• Store eggs with small end down
• Clean dirty eggs with steel wool/coarse leaves (never wash them)
• Add greens to the diet and whenever possible vitamins to water
• Debeaking at onset of lay
• Culling when egg production drops below 40%
Poultry Rearing NAADS - July 2011
5
Laying nests.
Characteristics of a good layer
• Bright red comb and wattles
• Alert eyes
• Width between pelvic bones should measure at least 2 fingers
• The beak and claws should look bleached
• The cloaca should be moist
NAADS - July 2011 Poultry Rearing
6
REARING LOCAL CHICKEN
Advantages and limitations of rearing local chicken
Advantages of local chicken Limitations of local chicken
a) They are self-sustaining i.e. can raise
their own replacement stock
b) They are hardy birds that can survive
hard conditions
c) Management requirements are not
critical as those of commercial exotic
breeds
d) They are immune to some diseases
and parasites
e) Their products fetch more money
than those from exotic birds
a) They have low growth rate
b) They produce fewer small sized eggs
and comparatively little meat
c) People keep them without
commercial intentions
d) They have been neglected by
breeders/scientists despite their
potential
Raised poultry house
ideal for local chicken
Improving production of local chicken
1. Control of parasites and diseases
• External parasites that affect local chicken include: poultry body louse,
stick tight flea, poultry lice, ticks, feather mites and leg mites.
• Control can be done using commercial/synthetic or herbal insecticide.
• Herbal preparations are cheaper for local chicken but a lot of research
is still needed in this area to establish proper dosage.
Poultry Rearing NAADS - July 2011
7
• Internal parasites include worms and coccidia.
• Worms can be eliminated using a potent dewormer preferably given
as a tablet because these chickens have low water consumption.
• Deworming should be done at least every month.
• Commercial coccidiostats can be used alternately with herbal
preparation. These must be given to birds on 8th, 9th, and 10th days of
age. Repeat as directed by veterinarian.
• In early days, vitamins-mineral mixtures should be given to chicks to
minimize losses.
• Vaccination of birds especially against New Castle Disease. Target
first vaccination at the beginning of the dry seasons, repeat after one
month and every four months thereafter.
2. Feeding Local Chicken
a) Farmers can mix their own feeds using the abundant carbohydrate and
protein feed available in their area.
b) Feeding should be accompanied by green feeds and fruits such as pawpaws.
c) Only palatable green feeds should be given to birds. Avoid poisonous feeds.
