Poultry farming is highly beneficial however diseases is major challenge but if these are well controlled and birds fed properly they give good results in a shorter time.
Benefits of poultry farming include, increased revenue, employment opportunities and source of nitrogenous fertilizers. To attain good results, birds should be given quality feeds at the right time for example pre starter and starter feeds for a duration of 4-5 weeks with finish up meal for another 3 weeks since the higher the stocking rate the higher the profits but ensure installation of a standby generator for constant feeding of birds to maximize profits in a shorter time.
Management and tools
Always use treated drinking water with no odour at correct bph between 6 and 7.5 this should be mixed with vaccine early in the morning to avoid hot temperatures during day and ensure using the vaccination plan to protect stock from pathogens.
Secondly deny water from birds for 1 hour in order for the vaccine to be fully utilised. To add on that never mix birds from different sources due to their varying immune abilities and these should be given water at ideal temperatures between 10-14 C with stocking rate of 25kg /metre at slaughter time.
Biosecurity measures
Start by fencing the farm to stop unwanted visitors, then clean and dis- infect poultry houses especially between depletion and introduction of new flock, also dis infect yourself before entering in poultry houses to prevent introduction of diseases to the flock and treat farm invading insects since these are carriers of diseases.
Risks and challenges
Diseases, this is a major risk as it results into massive mortality however this can be mainly controlled through proper bio security measures. Lack of enough capital posses a big challenge to poultry farming since the business is capital intensive as farmers spend almost 70% of their production cost in purchasing feeds.
