5 Basic Mistakes To Avoid In Poultry Farming Business
Every poultry farmer has made mistakes at one point or another, some of them affect your poultry birds a little, but others can lead to your birds getting seriously injured, or even killed. However, every poultry farming mistake or mismanagement should be avoided completely to ensure maximum profit from your birds.
Mistake 1: Buying Birds From An Unknown Source/Dishonest Breeder Or Dealer
Buying birds from unknown sources are very risky for many reasons. For one thing, you don’t know what you are getting. The birds may have health issues or carry diseases that may not be apparent at first.
Another reason not to buy birds from unknown sources is to avoid dishonest breeders. For instance, you might order for broiler chicks and the chick seller or breeder might supply this white cockerel to you. If you’re a new farmer you might not know what was sold to you, and the birds won’t grow fast.
While there are a lot of very good breeders with very high-quality birds, there are some that either are not knowledgeable about the birds they raise, or just plain scammers.
Learn MoreBefore you stock your farms with poultry birds make proper research on where to get quality birds. Remember good, healthy and quality birds are is will help you make more profit from your poultry farming business.
Mistake 2: Not Using Quality Poultry Feeds
When your poultry birds are fed properly with quality(balanced), unadulterated feeds the outcome is a boost in production. This is seen in the fast growth of birds, increase in egg production and general well-being of the bird. That is if the bird is the right breed and is healthy.
Making the mistake of not feeding your birds properly(that is not feeding in time with quality feeds) could lead to a reduction in the growth of birds, egg production which will finally affect profits and income from your birds.
Due to a high cost of producing poultry feeds, some producers have begun adulterating feeds in order to make more profits. When you feed your birds with adulterated feeds, your poultry birds will be affected badly.
If you purchase feeds take the time to source from a trustworthy feed producer or company. Most times the best thing to do is to formulate your own feeds with the ingredients, in order to be sure of what you’re feeding your birds.
Read also: 12 poultry farm biosecurity principles you should know
Mistake 3: Poor Hygiene In The Poultry House And Poorly Ventilated Coop
This is a common mistake. Keeping birds housed in dirty, poorly ventilated, and dark coops can lead to many health issues such as respiratory problems, mite/lice infestations, decreased egg production, and a host of other health issues and diseases.
Make sure to keep poultry house beddings clean, and change it often. Make sure your coop is well ventilated with plenty of air flow. Light is also important. Don’t keep your birds cooped up in a dark coop without natural light. To do this use dwarf wall system for your poultry house and build the poultry house facing the East-West direction.
Mistake 4: Not Choosing The Right Breed
Believe me not selecting the right breed can affect your poultry farming business seriously.
Poultry birds like chickens are bred for many different purposes, such as meat, eggs e.t.c. Before buying your flock, decide why you want to rear chickens. Do you want them fo the production of meat or eggs?
Decide carefully on what breed(s) you want. For example, if you want to produce eggs, don’t buy a breed that doesn’t lay enough eggs. You’ve to specifically tell the breeder or chick distributor the breed of birds you want. Keep climate in mind too, and pick a breed that does well where you live.
Mistake 5: Not Noticing A Sick Bird In Time
It is very important to observe your birds everyday so that in case you have a sick or injured bird you will notice it in time to remove it for treatment.
Becoming accustomed to your bird’s normal behaviour, and observing them daily is a good idea. Your birds all should be active and have nice bright eyes, healthy red or pink combs, and their feathers should be clean, glossy and well preened. (Keep in mind that there are exceptions to these last two while your birds are going through their annual molt).
Symptoms of sick birds include:
1. Moving slowly, and not interested in eating food
2. Not eating or drinking
3. Huddling on the roost or floor during the day with closed eyes
4. Head pulled tightly in
5. Droopy wings and tail
6. Heavy or strained breathing
7. Decreased egg production
8. Straining
9. Acting lethargic
10. Ruffled feathers (Keep in mind that hens will sometimes ruffle their feathers when cold)
11.Pale or purple comb, and wattles
12. Cloudy, leaky, swollen, or watery eyes
13. Sneezing, wheezing, or coughing
14. Swollen legs or feet
When you have a sick or injured bird, it is best to separate it as soon as possible. Inspect the sick bird’s weight, vent, face, mouth, and nostrils and look for blood, scabs, and other signs of injury. Also, check for mites and lice, and expect the bird’s legs for scaly leg mites.
Treat the bird, watch for some time before sending it back to the flock.
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