Hi great hivians... I hope we are doing great..
Today, i visitation the poultry farm at the Animal science department in the university of uyo, with a colleague friend..
As a fresh graduate of animal science, I bring to us some management tips for poultry farmers on hive, and in this community as well as an Animal Scientist.
At the farm with my friend.
Poultry management tips..
-Before the arrival of the day old chicks. Be sure that proper biosecurity has been done on the farm.. Wash, fumigate, Disinfect and clean the poultry pen and it's surrounding 3 to 4 days before the introduction of the day old chicks to avoid the sudden death of the birds due to high concentration of the cleaning chemicals..
-Few hours before the introduction of the doc(day-old-chick), make sure that the room is warm with some heating materials for cool areas up to 38 degrees Celsius.. heating materials such as high voltage bulbs, stoves, hooves etc.. should be use so the birds come into a warm habitate depicting the incubator...
-On the day of arrival of the birds, vaccination is very important with a vaccine called Lasota..
Given mostly through any opening basically the eye(intraorcular administration)... This should be done by a veterinarian or an experienced animal scientist..
N/B: vaccine is environment, country or locality based, dosage and type of vaccine is administered or even purchased based on the prevelent disease in that area..
-After that, feed and water should already be in the pen before the introduction of the birds.. be sure to introduce a vitamin in the water to boost their energy due to travel stress.. water and feed should be always clean to avoid contaminated and feed-poisoning..
-Heat source should continue for a period of 3 to 4 weeks depending on the cool nature of the area.. a white tapolene is used to conserve the heat produced by the heat source..
-Vaccinatin should continue on a 7 days intervals for broilers
Vaccination should be administered in this manner.
Day 1__lasota.
Day 7__gomboro
Day 14_lasota.
Day 21_gomboro..
Some people continue with vaccination after 4 weeks of vaccination which is not very advisable for broilers because of the residual effect on human health..
-Make sure that the liter(woodshaving or sawdust) is always clean and dried to avoid the birds contracting disease from Micro organism residual in the moulded liter and it's makes your birds clean and attractive to customers..
-Check out for disease and report at a vet shop for corresponding drugs to be administered.. mostly given orally through water.. that is were Animal welfare is important as a good stockman..
-chikun feed is the current trending food here in the southern part of Nigeria.. though I personally produced my feed during my rearing period for maximum yield..
-Avoid entertaining visitors who have not used the foot deep to avoid transferring disease from outside the farm into the farm..
-proper ventilation is adviced..
- avoid overcrowding of bird..
-isolate birds with any symptoms of disease..
-make sure at all cost your farm is free of coccidiosis, Newcastle disease, typhoid etc.
-As at 7 to 8weeks, your broiler birds is ready for consumption.. plz avoid consuming birds of 6week to avoid intake of vaccine residue..
Me with the bird
Trying to get woodshaving from the feed
N/B: at the day old chicks stage, sawdust is not advisable has birds can mistake them for feed, or easily get them into their nostrils.
Phases in broilers production
Phase 1 starters phase 1-4weeks
Phase2 finishers phase 4-8weeks
Feed given is based on phases of birds..
I hope this was of help to you..
Please questions are welcomed in the comment section..
Thank you..
hiveblocks