Poultry Farming
Chicken make most of domesticated poultry. The business of poultry farming has numerous benefits hence many farmers prefer to invest in it as a business. Many farmers generally engage in poultry farming for the purposes of producing eggs, meat as well as a way of generating revenue. There are many advantages associated with poultry farming.
To begin with Commercial poultry farming business ensures high return of investment within a very short period of time. For instance broilers take a shorter duration of time to mature making them a faster means of generating revenue.
Secondly poultry provides fresh and nutritious food and has a huge global demand. Globally consumers of poultry products prefer them due to their nutrients and freshness. Poultry products are not very expensive hence most of the people can afford them.
Thirdly, marketing poultry products is very easy. There is an already established market for poultry in almost all places. Therefore, one does not have to think about marketing their poultry products since they can easily sell the products in their nearest local market.
Finally poultry farming has over time created income and employment opportunities for most people. Unemployed youth can easily create a source of income and employment through poultry farming. Women and students can also engage in poultry farming along with their daily activities.
Layers are commonly raised for egg production. Chicken kept purposely for commercial egg laying, generally starts laying eggs at the age of 18-20 weeks. Regular egg laying begins at their 25th week of age. Farmers generally keep the hens for a period of 12 months from their first laying period thereafter, they dispose them. The environmental conditions for layers production are usually controlled by the farmers. Keeping the temperature of the coop moderate comes in handy for better egg production, since they tend to lay more eggs in warmer conditions.
There are different layer farming systems all of which make the productivity of the egg laying bird high. In free range system, the birds are generally left to roam freely throughout the day. One only needs to select a suitable land which has the facilities of adequate drainage system, good ventilation and protection from predators and free from excessive cold, heat and dampness. Excessive dampness, cold and heat usually reduces the poultry productivity.
In battery cage system, small sized metal cages are used. The walls of the cages are generally made of wire mesh or solid metal and the floor is made of sloped wire mesh which allows the faeces to drop on the floor. When the hens lay eggs, all the eggs gather at a collecting conveyor belt of the cage. Food is provided in front of the cages opposite the egg collection point by a long bisected metal or plastic pipe and water is served to them using overhead nipple systems. The cages are arranged in long rows in one above the other. The advantage that this system has is that eggs are easily collected; the hens are easily taken care of and a huge number of hens can be house in a specific space of the coop.
