Grade 7 Poultry Farming

Poultry Farming

Poultry farming is the practice of raising poultry such as chickens, ducks etc. Eggs and meat from poultry are a good source of protein needed for human being. It can be started with low investment and gives return in short period. 
There are mainly two types of poultry farming:

1.      Broilers Farming: Chicken farmed for meat are called broilers farming.

2.      Layers Farming:  Chicken farmed for egg are called layers farming.

Feed Management

Feed management refers to balanced feed that are essential to proper growth of chickens. It contain a proper mix of of carbohydrate, proteins, vitamin, fat, minerals, water, etc.

Feed management can be different based on varies life cycle stages of chicken such as

1.      Starter feed –  It is also called 1 number feed which is provided to chicken between 1 day to 8 weeks. It contains about 22% protein.

2.      Grower feed - It is also called 2 number feed which is provided to chicken between 8 to 20 weeks. It contains about 18% protein.

3.      Layer fees  - This is the period of laying eggs. It is also called 3 number feed which is provided to chicken between 20 to 80 weeks. It contains about 17% protein.

4.      Broiler feed – This is the stage of rearing in the open. It is also called 4 number feed which is provided to chicken more than 80 weeks. It contains about 20% protein.

Summery of types of feed

Types of feed	Period
Starter feed	1 day-8 weeks
Grower feed	8- 20 weeks
Layer feed	20- 80 weeks
Broiler feed	15 weeks

Feed Materials for hen/duck

1. Corn

2. Rice

3. Maize

4. Barley 

5. Green plants

6. Oat

7.Millet

8. Water; Poultry need clean and fresh 1 ltr water per day. Duck need more water than chicken.

Deficiencies caused due to poor feed

1. Poor health

2. Problems in leg, feather

3. Dropping of egg production

4. Egg with thin shell

Preparation of balanced feed from locally available food items

Raw Materials	Proportion(100%)
Maize pieces	50
Rice husk, Groundnut	25
barley pieces	10
Fish meal, Khudo, Bone meal, lime	15

 Add 0.5 of salt also.

Pasture management

Pasture refers to the land for grazing. It consists mainly of grass, grains, small insects, and water.

hence, pasture management refers to the activities of creating the land for grazing.

Breeding management

Breeding refers to the activity of keeping and caring in order to produce more. 

Diseases in poultry farming

General symptoms:

1. Drooping of chicken

2. Stop feeding

3. Gasping, coughing

4. Yellow ear lob

5. Swelling 

General prevention method

1. Keeping shed clean and dry.

2. Differentiating shed as per age.

3. Minimization of poultry density.

4. Balance feed

5. Proper vaccination

Major diseases, their symptoms and treatment measures

Newcastle

It is commonly

known as Ranikhet in Nepali. Since it was first found in city of Newcastle, UK, it get's the name Newcastle. It can be transmissible to human also.

Symptoms:

1.Gasping, coughing

2. Twisting of head and neck

3. Complete paralysis

4. Swelling

5. Diarrhoea

6. Green Stool

7. Fever

Treatment:

F1 vaccination

Gumboro

It is a viral disease that normally affects the immune system of young chickens.Symptoms:    1. Diarrhea

    2. Weight reduction

    3. Deficiency in egg production

    4. Ruffled feathers in he region of head and neck.

Treatment measures

   1. Electrolyted water feeding

   2. Limassol 75 antibiotic

Coccidiosis:

it is caused by ingesting parasite coccidia.

Symptoms:

   1. Chicken droop शिथिलता

   2. Stop feeding

   3. Appearance of blood in drooling saliva :र्याल

   4. Reduction in egg production

Treatment measures:

   1. Separation of chicken and use of corid 9.6% liquid solution

   2. Dose of Sulment.

Chicken pox

It is one of the common viral diseases in chicken. It can occur at any stage and age.

Symptoms:

  1. Nodules on the skin

  2. Tear from eyes

  3. Swelling of eyelid

  4. Retardation in growth

  5. Drop in egg production

Treatment measure:
There is no special treatment measure for chicken pox. However it can be controlled by preventive vaccination method.

Infectious bronchitis:

It is an extremely communicable disease that infects poultry. it is caused by a virus that affects chicken only.

Symptoms

1. Coughing

2. Sneezing

3. Difficulty in breathing

4. Gasping

5. Slight watery nasal discharge

Treatment measure:
There is no special treatment measure for infectious bronchitis. However it can be controlled by preventive vaccination method.

Chronic respiratory disease.

It is also called Mycoplasma Gallisepticom. It is one of the major respiratory diseases that affects poultry.

Symptoms:

1. Sneezing

2. Swollen sinuses

3. Emission of discharge through nasal cavity

4. Foamy based discharge in the eyes.

Treatment measure

use of antibiotics like Lincomycin and Erthromycin

Salmonella pullorum

It is caused by Salmonella bacteria. It is also called Pullorum disease or "Bacillary white diarrhoea"

Symptoms

1. Hen/duck stops feeding

2. Depression

3. Ruffled feathers

4. Loud chirping

5. Gasping

6. White stool

7. Diarrhoea

Treatment Measure

1. Amoxycillin

2. Potentiated Sulphonamide

Parasite

Parasites are organism that can survive on poultry and act as disease carrier.

1. Coccidiosis

2. Intestinal worms

3. Lice

Product management

Meat and egg are the major product associated with poultry farming. They must be collected on daily basis, stored properly and distributed to market as per the demand. keeping clean and fresh product will be challenging for poultry farm. Without proper management it will bring great disaster.