Chicken broiler and egg production are the most progressive animal enterprises in the Philippines today. The poultry industry in fact began as a backyard enterprise but has shifted to the formation of very large integrated contract farming operations. The growth of tile poultry industry in the Philippines has indeed been impressive but its problems including inefficient management and the prevalence of many destructive poultry diseases and parasites cannot be ignored. This manual provides technology and management know-how for poultry raising which we hope present poultry raisers and prospective poultry producers may find useful in effectively managing their poultry farms and also help them realize substantial financial returns from their enterprises in this period of high production cost inputs.
Chicken Breeds/Stock to Raise
The following Call be used as a guide in selecting the foundation stock to
- Stock should only be purchased from a reliable hatchery or franchised dealer where the parent stocks are well-housed and well-managed.
- The kind of stock to buy depends upon the purpose for which it is going to be raised.
- Chicks should be tree from diseases and deformities.
- Chicks should have uniform size and color and in the case of broiler chicks should not be less than 33 grams at day-old.
- For a start, a popular strain raised in the community can be selected as it is an indication of the bird’s good performance under existing farm conditions.
- For broilers, choose those that have high livability and are fast growers.
- For layers, choose those that have good egg size, high egg production and long productive
More Tips in Caring for Chicks, Chickens and Layers
Care of birds and fowl in hot weather – Birds and fowls are more suited to cold than to hot weather. They lay more eggs in cold weather because they are not stressed. Fowls do not perspire but they pant for breath and need much drinking water in hot weather..
Care of chicks – The first week in newly hatched chicks is important. It is here that the health of the fowl depends, to give it good price. These first seven days is 15% of the growth and life of a growing chick. In the natural way, the mother hen teaches the chicks, as they go about together…
Chicken – Instead of providing more ventilation or cooling devices in chicken coops during hot weather, give more fat in their meals instead of pure corn so as to cool their bodies. Chicken given fat gain weight more quickly than those given pure carbohydrates (corn) only…
Ammonia – toxic for chicks – Like children, growing chicks easily get infected with disease. In coops where they are reared, respiratory sicknesses are common when they are crowded and ventilation is poor. This is because of ammonia, a gas that is emitted by the decaying feces of the chicks…
Good layers – Layers will lay eggs regularly if they are kept away from noise and disturbances. The effect of noise and disturbances on 4,000 layers was studied by four scientists from the University of Zagreb, Yugoslavia. When a strong electric bell was sounded, the number of eggs laid was decreased…
Poor layers – Poor layers cost food and space, and so should be removed. The marks of a poor layer are: The comb is pale, dry and withdrawn at the top and below the throat. the eyes are dim. The hen is thin and inactive…
Gathering of eggs – Gather the eggs 3 times a day or more in hot weather. Eggs easily spoil in a warm surrounding. Put the eggs in a basket or container. Sort the eggs according to size…
Salt: increases egg laying – The sodium content of salt is necessary for egg laying. But this element is not provided in commercial feeds because it will increase the cost. To enable the hen to produce well, mix 200 gms of salt for every 2 sacks of feed…
Light for good egg laying – Light is important in the setting up of a coop for layers. It has much to do in the maturation of the growing layers and their capability to lay plenty…
Strong egg shells – According to studies in the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, a laying hen given Vitamin D when feed bears stronger egg shells than those not given Vitamin D. Several groups of layers were given different doses of Vitamin D3 (calciferol, derived from the fish liver oil)…
Uses of egg shells – According to researchers from Brent School, Baguio City, egg shells have certain uses that are not benefited from, such as: Fertilizer – egg shells contain calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur…
Feed for chicken – Watermelon rind. Researchers at UP Los Baños fed watermelon rind to chickens for 6 months. These were compared to chicken given ordinary commercial feed. They observed that commercial feeds can be replaced with watermelon rind up to 20%…
Soap powder for chicken – According to farmers with long experience in chicken raising, mixing powder soap with the feed increases the weight of the chicken more than does the adding of feed. This is because detergent aids in the process of digestion in the chicken, reduces fat, and suppresses some parasites in the intestinal tract…
Monday, September 13, 2010
