Poultry Farming is one of the most popular subsectors of agriculture in Kenya, playing a critical role in the country’s food security and the economy. Poultry farming has also become an attractive source of investment, with a growing demand for poultry products nationwide. However, like any other agricultural enterprise, success in poultry farming depends on various factors that farmers must take into consideration
Poultry Farming is little capital intensive but if you are starting on a micro scale (Home back yard) where you have a small space at your back yard, it is not.Starting small is the best way to enter and learn the business. Before you venture into chicken farming in Kenya, you need to seat back and do proper planning; make sure you have an idea of all the costs involved. Currently there seem to be no high ventures in poultry farming in Kenya like the ones in Europe, USA and other counties. Any investor who has the needed capital to venture into it will have reasons to smile within a short period of time.
You should scout for a good stockman or spend time and money to train a workforce on good poultry husbandry practices and equip them with necessary skills in stockmanship, healthcare, and general flock management.
A good poultry attendant doesn’t necessarily need to have a high level of education but must be attentive to details and be able to spot simple signs of production losses or illnesses. Please note that poultry farming needs your presence. If you travel a lot, you may need to wait much longer until you have time for closer engagement.
In most cases, poultry diseases are an important problem for poultry farmers. Although farmers are familiar with the signs and symptoms of disease, the underlying causes are less well known. Almost every farmer and most extension workers hold Newcastle Disease (NCD) responsible for most deaths, and the disease has a local name in all languages.
However, not all infectious diseases are due to the NCD virus. Digestive problems resulting in slow growth and diarrhoea may be the result of rancid feed or too much salt, and may also be symptoms of diseases such as coccidiosis, salmonellosis, or Gumboro (Infectious Bursal Disease IBD). NCD often has the symptom of greenish faeces, which indicates a loss of appetite.
For the simple reason that I think everyone should try their hand at raising chickens at least once, I'm willing to offer any guidance I can. The process of raising hens is both aesthetically pleasing and financially rewarding. Difficulties could arise with time sheets because of the high cost of illness and treatment.
To keep your chicken healthy and content, you should follow the directions to change the water after four days and add fresh aloe vera and paprika. In terms of frequency, coccidiosis is the most common condition for which aloe and pepper are recommended preventative measures. Plus, it will help them build up a strong immune system and lay more nutritious eggs. Do it; you'll be glad you did. Please come back for more; I appreciate your time.
Aloe vera is one plant every poultry farmer must have in the garden. This herb is rich in vitamins, minerals and enzymes that promotes overall good health in chickens.
In this article, I will show you the health benefits of this herb to your chickens:
Protects against coccidiosis. Simply crush the leaves and mix with drinking water or mix aloe vera powder with chicken feed.Boosts bird’s immune system against major diseases such as Infectious Bursal Disease (Gumburo).
Aloe vera juice acts as an appetiser and also in treating wounds. Squeeze a few drops of aloe vera juice into the wound. It’s a natural antibiotic. It assists in curing victims of cannibalism. Apply it in the wounds of cannibalised birds and the bitter taste will deter the culprits.
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