Poultry Farming

Poultry farming is the practice of raising poultry, such as

chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese , etc. for the purpose of farming
meat and eggs for food.
 Breeds of chicken
There are quite a few improved breeds which are commercially important in
Nepal. The most common important breeds of chicken are :-

American breeds:

Fig. Single comb White Plymouth Rocks

Fig. Rhode Island Red
white leghorn (Broilers)
Asiatic breeds :

Fig. Aseel
Fig. Brahma Fig. Langhan

Fig. Cochin
Indian Breeds :

Fig. Ghagus

Fig. Chittagong
Fig. Aseel
 System of farming :
A. Incubation:
It is the process of development of embryo inside the egg. The eggs for
incubation must be fertilized, cleaned, not cracked or other deformities.
The eggs for incubation should be stored at an optimum temperature 15 C - 19 C.
An artificial incubating system has been popular now-a-days in which fertilized eggs
are incubated in egg incubator.

Fig. A hen incubating eggs Fig. Artificial egg Incubator

 B. Brooding:
It is the process of taking care of hatched brooders. Natural brooding is a sort of
maternal care by foster hen. She provides feed and necessary warm to the growing
pullets.
The artificial brooding is done about for a month in a brooder if large number of
pullet is needed for commercial purposes.

Fig. Artificial Brooder

The temperature is adjusted about 35 C . Every week temperature should be lowered by 3 C

till it comes down to 21 C
C. Rearing :
The growing pullets must always be healthy looking for rearing. Before keeping
the laying pullets into their pen, they should be vaccinated against fowl pox.
The rearing rooms should be provided with fed hoppers, water
containers, laying boxes, etc.

Fig. Broilers in production house

 D. Management :
It is an important aspect of poultry farming. A poultry pen should always be ventilated,
comfortable and dry sunny place. Chicken of different ages are kept in different houses.
The pen should be rat proof and should be provided with proper water channels and
should have appropriate drainage system. Tape worm, round worm , coccidian, etc. are
the serious parasites of chicks. Therefore, lime spray must be done into the pen to
disinfect them.

E. Feed:
Food costs are important to poultry farmers. Feed is about 60% of the cost of
raising poultry. Its feed is made by mixing different constituents at different ratio
depending on the type of variety of chicken. The food increase the development of
body muscles.

Fig. Chickens having food

 Advantages of poultry farming:
Self employment and income generation among poor people.
Poultry birds are easy to maintain since they can be acclimatized to a
variety of climatic condition
The space required is less when compared to livestock.
The farmers are able to earn more in less time.
 Disease and control :
Newcastle disease:
Commonly known as Ranikhet, reports the ministry of Agriculture and Co-
operatives in Nepal has clarified that the mass death of chickens in two poultry
farms in Morang district was due to Newcastle disease.

Avian disease:
It is one of the major problems in poultry. Millions of birds have died from
Avian influenza (H51N1). If the chicken are found infected, they are usually
burned or buried alive, for quick disposal and to avoid contamination.

Fig. Burning chickens infected by Avian Influenza