Layers Keeping Guidelines

Poultry keeping is a delicate enterprise and before engaging in production, it is important to have knowledge regarding husbandry aspects such as hygiene practices, disease control, vaccination program, feeding systems, housing detail and other related factors which work together to realize a profitable venture.

Information in the following areas is handy to guide on what is expected hence prepare for the challenges that may lie ahead.

Operational costs.

A farmer needs to know the costs to be incurred before venturing in this business.

The major costs include: -

• Housing
• Essential farm facilities,
• Cost of the foundation stock,
• Feeding costs,
• Vaccination costs

Animal production in either small or large scale if not properly handled can lead to large losses due to the delicate nature of the enterprise. The owner should personally get involved in management and supervision or if the objectives are to be realized, the one who takes care should have shared interest.

Life stages

Every animal has developmental stages with specific requirements which a farmer should know and attend to accordingly and separately.

Feeding Plans & Costs 

Feeding costs are single major contributor the costs of faming. Feeds should be purchased from a reputable company. The feed should be of good quality with right proportions of the required nutrients depending on the stage of your animal. And costs such as transport may be put into consideration.

If a farmer cannot afford or if has the raw materials, with good training, he can assemble ingredients in right proportions and process them accordingly. Farmers can get trained on feed formulation in livestock production centers in their respective districts. The aim is to reduce the feed costs as much as it is practically possible and hence increase the profits.

Housing

The housing should be done right depending on the ecological conditions of where one is living to reflect the climate of the place. If not correctly done poor housing may lead to failure and frustrations due to high losses, frequent disease outbreak, below bar production level, overcrowding and poor ventilation.

The house should have a right height depending on the system adopted, right roofing, this means not construction of an expensive house but whichever structure built should have enough space, be well ventilated, capable on shielding birds from harsh weather conditions

Enterprise profitability