Broiler chicken Production

A broiler is a type of chicken raised specifically for meat production. Broiler chicken production is one of the most progressive livestock enterprises in Africa today.

Chicken broiler production is advantageous as it requires minimal land for housing only, as commercial feeds can be used for the enterprise. Because of their efficient meat conversion, broiler chickens are also popular in small family farms in rural communities, where families raise small flocks of broilers for home consumption and local sale.

 Therefore the poultry industry began as a backyard enterprise which has grown to contract farming business. Alternative broiler markets which include hotels, institutional buyers, Supermarkets, Butcheries should be surveyed before starting a broiler business to ensure ready market at the time of harvest.

The most profitable options between selling the birds dressed or live and selling in the market or at the farm gate should be chosen.

When Making starter  broiler chicken business plan, determine the total amount of initial investment capital you need for:-

- Housing construction for a beginner.
-Purchase of equipments.
-Purchase of day old chicks.
-Chick booster feed 10g /chick /day for the first 7 days.
-Broiler starter feed 60g/chick per day for 3 weeks.
-Broiler finisher feed 90g/chick per day for 2-4weeks.
-Operating expenses (labor, electricity etc).
-Medication and veterinary services.

Housing - The length of the broiler house should run from east to west to prevent direct sunlight. One sq foot floor space per bird is required.

The house should be cat proof, bird proof, rat proof and well ventilated. chicken house and all the equipments should be cleaned and disinfected in preparation for arrival of day old chicks.

Rearing Day old chicks - The day old chicks should be purchased from reputable hatcheries with a good track record. Broiler chicks selected should be approximately 33g in weight and healthy.

(1)Provide sufficient artificial heat to keep day old chicks warm. Avoid abrupt changes in brooder temperatures during the first two weeks.

(2)Provide adequate space for chicks to avoid overcrowding which can lead to poor growth. Good ventilation and good lighting are important to prevent respiratory diseases and encourage the chicks to start feeding respectively.

(3)Feed chicks intermittently with good quality feeds other than continuously for better utilization of feeds. However do not leave feed troughs empty for more than 1-2 hours.

 The chicks should be fed regularly following a definite schedule especially during the first  3 weeks. Ensure that fresh drinking water is always available. Vitamins, minerals and antibiotics may be added to drinking water during the 1st few days.

(4)Keep the brooder clean and dry to prevent disease and parasite contamination. Prevent sudden changes in the environment (e.g. removal of brooder canopy and slamming doors) to prevent stress.

(5)Check the chicks every night before sleeping. Immediate burning or burying of dead birds is important for good hygiene.

Diseases - The most common diseases of poultry affect respiratory and digestive systems. Keep in touch with your Veterinary practitioner for advice and services on disease control and treatment.

Vaccinations are necessary for diseases such as Newcastle disease, coccidiosis, infectious bronchitis. Performance indicators some important performance indicators for chicken broiler enterprises include feed conversion ratio (FCR), Mortality rate, average body weight and Harvest recovery rate.

Feed conversion ratio = Total kg of feeds ÷ total body weight of the whole flock at harvest. The lower the FCR the better as it refers to Kilograms of feed consumed to gain 1 kilogram of meat.

Mortality rate = Birds that died during growth cycle and should not exceed  5 %.

Average body weight =Total Kg marketed ÷ total number of birds. A good average is 1.6 kg -2.0 kg achieved within 45-60 days.

Harvest recovery rate = % of total birds that were marketed which should not be lower than 90%.

Environmental Impacts of broiler chicken enterprise - Livestock production enterprises impacts on the environment through possible contamination of surface and ground water, gas emission from animal waste and unpleasant odors.

Gases emitted from livestock enterprises include ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides. The latter three gases cause atmospheric changes that lead to global warming.

The challenge is to constantly develop more effective and efficient technologies for managing animal waste. The chicken dung is currently i used as fertilizer in the farm, feeds for fish and dairy cows in addition to making biogas.

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