𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐉𝐖𝐀 𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐎 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐅𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐉𝐈 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈 𝐖𝐀 𝐊𝐔𝐊𝐔 𝐍𝐀 𝐊𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐊𝐄𝐀 𝐊𝐔𝐊𝐔 𝐊𝐔𝐅𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐊𝐖𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀

 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐉𝐖𝐀 𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐘𝐎 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐅𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐉𝐈 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐈 𝐖𝐀 𝐊𝐔𝐊𝐔 𝐍𝐀 𝐊𝐔𝐏𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐊𝐄𝐀 𝐊𝐔𝐊𝐔 𝐊𝐔𝐅𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐊𝐖𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐔𝐑𝐈

 Kama vile maini kuvimba ndani, kuku kutaga mayai tepetepe, kuku kushindwa kusimama

Moja ya changamoto  zinazowakatisha tamaa wafugaji wengi ni magonjwa /kuku kufa Mara kwa Mara na wengi  kutokana na milipuko ya magonjwa hii ni kwasababu hakuna elimu ya kutosha juu  ya ufugaji kuku moja ya magonjwa  yanayosumbua na kuua kuku ni

1.ugonjwa wa KIDERI au MDONDO.  

Dalili za ugonjwa huu

ni  kupindia shingo juu au chini mwendo wa kuzungukazunguka, mwendo wa kurudi nyuma huku shingo ikiwa imejipindia kwa juu au chini

Gusa hapa kusoma Ratiba ya utoaji chanjo ya ugonjwa huu

2.GUMBORO

➖Dalili

Mharo wa kinyesi cheupe hukauka na kua kama chokaa,kushusha mabawa kama vile amevaa koti huu ni ugonjwa wa kuku wadogo chini ya majuma sita na pia ukimpasua kwenye mapaja  utakuta anavidonda vyenye damu 

Gusa hapa kusoma Ratiba ya utoaji chanjo ya ugonjwa huu

3.MAHEPE.

➖Dalili

Kukakamaa kwa miguu na mapaja maranyingi mguu moja huwa mbele na mwingine nyuma, kuvimba kwa kuhifadhia chakula na kwakuku wadogo huu ugonjwa huwaathiri sana wanapokua wakubwa ufikapo muda wa kuaanza kutaga

4.NDUI YA KUKU

➖Dalili

Vipele  sehemu zilizowazi ambazo hazina manyoya, kama vile vilemba vya kichwani piani na miguuni

5. MAFUA MAKALI

➖Dalili

Chafya,kusinzia,kuvimba uso, kichwa,macho,ute mweupe jichoni,jicho kuziba,urenda mweupe puani na mdomoni

6.TYPHOID YA KUKU.

➖Dalili

Mharo rangi ya njano, upanga kugeuka na kuwa rangi ya blue hushambulia hasa kuku wakubwa wanaotaga na jogoo, ukimpasua kuku mkubwa utakuta maini na mapafu makubwa kuliko, manyoya kuwa rafu pamoja na kusinzia.

7. MHARO WA DAMU.

➖Dalili

Kinyesi/mharo rangi ya ugoro kinavyoendelea kinakua rangi ya damu

8.KIPINDUPINDU CHA KUKU.

➖Dalili

Kinyesi au mharo rangi ya kijani

9.MAGONJWA AU MATATIZO YANAYOTOKANA NA LISHE DUNI.

➖Dalili

Kuvimba macho,miguu kukosa nguvu na kushindwa kusimama au kutembea, kutaga mayai tepetepe,kula mayai na kudonoadonoa

Ugonjwa wa kuhara damu (Coccidiosis) kwa kuku, utambue na namna ya kutibu & kukinga

Ugonjwa huu hushambulia kuku wa Umri wote, lakini Vifaranga na walioko chini ya miezi mitano wapo kwenye hatari zaidi. Husababisha vifo mpaka 50% ya kuku wote waliougua.

Coccidia ndio wadudu wanaosababisha ugonjwa wa kuhara damu, wapo kwenye kundi la Protozoa, jamii ya Eimeria spp, wadudu hawa huathiri wanyama karibia wote.

Wadudu hawa wamegawanyika kulingana na Sehemu wanayoshambulia kwenye utumbo.

1. Ceacal coccidia(appendix/ceca/kidole tumbo) kuku ana vidole tumbo viwili, basi wadudu hawa wa coccidia (Eimeria tenelle) hushambulia na ndio chanzo cha kuhara damu.

2. Intestinal coccidia (Utumbo mwembamba) Eimeria necatrix ndio pamoja na wengine ndio hushambulia utumbo mwembana, damu huchanganyikana na chakula ndio maana choo huonekana cha Kahawia/ugoro.

MAMBO HATARISHI

1. Msongamano wa kuku wengi ndani ya banda.

2. Uchafu(unyevu nyevu wa matandiko, vyombo vya chakula na maji)

3. Kuingia na kutoka bandani pasipo Utaratibu (Biosecurity).

4. Lishe duni

MAAMBUKIZI/KUENEA

Kuku hupata maambukizi kwa kula vimelea vya wadudu hawa iwe kwenye maji, chakula, kinyesi, chini kwenye matandiko.

Ugonjwa unaweza kutokea pasipo dalili kuonekana na hii Husababisha hatari ya magonjwa nyemelezi.

DALILI ZA UGONJWA.

1. Kuzubaa/kusinzia

2. Kujikunyata na kushusha mabawa

3. Kukosa hamu ya kula

4. Kupungua uzito/utagaji/kudumaa

5. Manyoya kusimama/rafu

6. Kuharisha choo cha kahawia/ugoro

7. Kuharisha choo chenye rangi nyekundu(damu)/nyeusi

8. Kuku kufa(Vifo).

UTAMBUZI

1. Kwa kutazama dalili na Mazingira pia (Choo chenye damu au rangi ya ugoro)

2. Utambuzi wa Maabara (sampuli ya choo)

KINGA/KUZUIA

1. Usafi wa vyombo vya maji na chakula

2. Kuhakikisha Matandiko/banda ni kavu muda wote na safi.

3. Kuweka dawa mlangoni, kukanyaga dawa kabla ya kuingia bandani.

4. Kuepusha Msongamano.

5. Kutunza kuku kulingana na rika.

6. Chanjo

Chanjo Hutolewa kiwandani (Hatchary) au Shambani kwa vifaranga wa siku moja(DOC-1~3), Chanjo hii hutolewa kwa kunywa au kupulizia (spray).

Chanjo hii hutolewa mara moja tu kwa maisha yote ya kuku/bata mzinga.

Hutakiwi kutumia dawa yeyote (Antiboitics eg, Amprolium, Tetracycline or Sulpha’s) kwa muda wa siku 30 baada ya chanjo.

MATIBABU

Ugonjwa huu unatibika kwa kutumia dawa mfano.

 Toltrazuril 25mg, Amprolium (200mg, 250mg), Potentieted sulphonamide (Sulfaclozine SMH 30%,

 Sulphadimidine-sulphaquinoxaline, Trimethoprim & Sulphadiazine; etc.

Kwa muda wa siku 3-5/7 au kulingana na Maelekezo ya Daktari.

MUHIMU: Dawa hizi lazima zitolewe kwa kufuata ushauri wa Daktari maana kuna baadhi ya dawa zimekuwa na athari hasa kwa kuku wanaotaga (hupunguza utagaji).

Before starting a poultry farm, it's important to ask yourself the following questions:

1. What is my experience and knowledge in poultry farming?

2. Do I have enough capital to start a poultry farm and sustain it for a period of time?

3. What type of poultry farming do I want to do? (Layers, Broilers, Breeders etc.)

4. What is the market demand for poultry products in my area?

5. What are the legal requirements for starting a poultry farm in my country or state?

6. What kind of infrastructure and equipment do I need to start up my poultry farm?

7. What kind of feed and nutrition plan do I need to provide for my poultry?

8. What is my marketing plan and sales strategy for my poultry products?

9. What are the risks involved in poultry farming, and how can I mitigate them?

10. Do I have the time and resources needed to manage a poultry farm?

WHY BABY CHICKS GET PASTED VENT 

   I hope sharing this will help some of us here to reduce on mortability in the brooders encountered problems. We visited one of the farms where the 7days old chicks were getting blocked from behinds.

 Droppings were getting stuck on birds and couldn't pass out their excreta. .

     But what could have caused this problem of pasted vent are the following 

 

   1. Water availability in the brooder. 

       Birds that are unable to have easy access to water when they have eaten will get a pasted vent.  Meaning that feed will not be easily digested so in the same way the birds will find a challenge in passing out the dry droppings. 

   2. Drinkers placement. 

        As a fact Chicks don't drink tea so when you put water near the heater they will neglect the water which will lead to constipation.

    3.  Feed texture. 

         If you are giving Chicks self mixed feeds, it should be of very fine texture for easy digestion.

   

4. Temperature regulation. 

         Farmers should always follow the temperature regulation guide when brooding for example putting too much heat in the brooder cause dehydration, pasting vent etc 

   5. Escherichia coli infections.

       One of the most disturbing diseases in the first week of a chick's life is e.coli. it can be caused by mortability in the first few days, birds unable to stand or walk, birds resting on their chest and helpless, mucus from eyes and diarrhea and pasting vent.

    

  6. Gut blocked by foreign materials.

       Before the first 3days of the chick's life, it can't differentiate between feed and litter so we advise our customers to use brooder papers to help them to get access to feeds. Once they eat litter and their crops fill up, it will cause pasting vent

Broilers vs Layers

 (Differences, Production and Profitability)

Are you confused on what type of chickens to start rearing in your poultry farming business? I will outline the benefits and disadvantages of rearing each of the types of chickens: layers (for eggs) and Broilers (for meat). What I will say is based on personal experience of majority farmers and I will give you both ways to leverage more in any one you decide to choose to start the poultry farming business.

A) What are Broilers and Layers Chickens?

Broilers or Broiler chickens are birds that are reared solely for the purpose of meat production. Their genes make them grow faster than native chickens and layers. Within few weeks, broilers can grow to attain heavy weights that can cause their vents to protrude out or make them crippled and unable to walk as a result of their excessive weight gain. Broilers’ feeds are made to have excess energy to enable them gain weight.

Layers are birds reared for the purpose of egg production. They have genes that make them lay eggs often (I said often and not daily as some people may make you think as if every chicken must lay egg every day. It is not realistic). Layers tend not to gain weight and their feeds composition is made in such a way that it helps them lay eggs without much weight.

B) Differences between Egg laying chickens (Layers) and Meat producing chickens (Broilers)

1. Layers lay eggs often than broilers

2. Broilers gain more weight than layers

3. Broiler feeding is more costly than layers as more energy and protein is required for broilers to quickly gain weight than it is required by layers. The more the amount of protein content in poultry feed, the costly the feed can get.

4. Layers tend to develop disease commonly compared to broilers because they are reared for longer periods of time. Broilers are reared for few weeks and they are sold out which shows they may not stay long to be exposed to some diseases of chickens.

5. It is easier to start a broiler poultry farm than a layer farm because the initial cost of starting a broiler farm is cheaper and the expertise or skills needed are minimal compared to layers that are more complex and costly initially.

6. You can start earning within few weeks for broilers but you must wait for a minimum of about 5 months for layer chickens to start laying eggs, i.e. if you start brooding the chicks yourself; except if you are going to buy point of lay chickens, which would be additional cost.

7. If you ever run at a loss, it will be less in broilers than in layers because you can easily start all over again in broilers; whereas in layers, it may take a whole year for you to recover from a loss.

8. You can make profit from a few hundred broilers but you have to start with large number of layers for you to really make profit. I will explain more below.

C) Which should I start in a Poultry farm? Layer chickens or Broiler Chickens?

I will not give you a direct answer to start layer farming or broiler farming in your Poultry business as it will depend largely on your skills, the starting capital and the marketing strategies you employ. You will do well if you continue reading to fully understand the Poultry business before you start any.

I will explain the reasons based on the challenges you will encounter while rearing chickens and you decide based on your strengths.

1. Marketing

I am starting with this because people often start poultry farming without knowing how to market the final products and at the end they are forced to sell at cheap rates which often make them run at loss. To avoid failing in the poultry business, know where you are going to market your products, how you will market and be sure of it before you even start. Be practical about the marketing and do not sit in your room and imagine your profits as if you were the one going to buy the products. Ask those that have been into the business and know how they sell the products and how easy or hard it can be to sell them.

If you are going into broiler fairming, know those who buy it, how much they buy, what can affect the market and how you can leverage the market. Broilers are not good to market as the chickens will continue to consume the feed (you must feed them whether you have someone to buy the chickens or not). This means that if you do not get people to buy the chickens even after they reach the market weight for selling them, it means you will continue to feed them pending when you get someone to buy the chickens. The more the broilers stay without selling, they more you will be losing because no matter the weight the broilers gain, it depends on how much the customer is willing to pay for them. To avoid this, you should have a cold room or frozen chicken shop that you own yourself so that you can store the meat after slaughtering the chickens and you can be selling the meat directly yourself. This is the only way to gain profits from broilers. If you do not have a means of storage, then be rest assured the market will not be in your favor most times.

Layers on the other hand are easier to market as the eggs produced by the chickens can be stored without getting spoilt. It means you will only sell the eggs when you are willing and you will not get desperate about them. Even though you will be feeding the chickens every day, they will be laying more eggs that you get to sell when you find customers that want to buy. The only downside to layers marketing is that the price for eggs in almost all regions of the world is fixed according to your location. This means that whether your eggs are very big, you will still sell at the same price as other farmers.

2. Immunisation/Treatment of Infections and Diseases

Rearing of broilers to attain market weight that you can sell only takes about 42 days or 6 weeks; sometimes it can get to 8 weeks. This is a short period of time. It means you can rear many sets of broiler chickens in one year. This can help you especially when you have disease outbreak. In terms of disease outbreak, you will lose some chickens and within 3 months, you are back rearing another set of broiler chickens. This is not the case for layers. When there is disease outbreak in layers and some die, you cannot start another set of layers again and you have to wait for about a year to recover from the loss.

The money you will spend on treating chicken diseases will be more with layers than broilers because layers stay longer and hence you have to spend money to buy their drugs, their vaccines and processes such as debeaking (cutting their beaks to reduce the rate at which they injure one another and also destroy their own eggs and drink it). Almost everything affects egg production in layer farming: whether the feed is not enough for the birds, they will reduce the egg size; any infection or disease or even the debeaking affects their egg production. Treatment or prevention of chicken diseases by some drugs especially for coccidiosis affects their egg production. You will therefore need a lot of knowledge on diseases and treatment options for layers before you even start.

3. Level of skills for starting the Poultry farming

With broilers, you can easily start as a novice and become a professional after few sets of chickens. This is because the birds need fewer vaccines as they do not stay for a long time as layers. You can start with few broilers like 10 or 50 or 100 broiler chickens and use them to gain experience before starting on a large scale. Reverse is the case for layers. Will you want to rear 100 layers in a year before you start on a large scale (how many will die and how many will be left)? It will therefore require that you have a partner who has been into layers farming before starting it, in order to leverage on his/her knowledge.

4. Initial startup cost

Starting a poultry farm requires much capital but less capital is needed in broiler farming than in layer farming. Broilers need light, clean water, space, few vaccines and food and within 8 weeks (2months) you are ready to sell them out and start another set of chickens. Layers on the other hand require all that broilers require with additional vaccines, debeaking (imagine you have to debeak 2,000 birds or more? If you will use battery cage to avoid debeaking, then imagine how much extra cost will be needed to set up a battery cage system?), extra cost of feeding for months before the birds start laying.

5. Long term revenue

With more time, layers farming in a large scale will bring in more revenue than broilers because after laying of eggs, the birds can be sold out as meat even though at lesser price compared to that of broilers. This means, when the layers grow old and the rate of their feed consumption is higher than the egg production, you should know it is time to sell them out to start another set of layers again. This selling out of old layers can be additional revenue added to the revenue generated from selling of the eggs they had been producing.

Broilers can only generate more revenue than layers when you already have a large market demand that you cannot even satisfy all the demand. This can occur when you need to supply fix number of broiler meat to a company (a hotel, eatery or school etc.) and even when you have enough customers from your location. In this case, you can produce at a large scale and sell out within 8 weeks and start another round of chickens again. This will make you sell more and generate more profit than in layers. But what will happen when the market demand for layers is also large? So the final advice for you will be what I have said initially that you should know the marketing strategy you will adopt, know the demand and know the challenges of each before you start anyone.

Broilers and layers poultry farming are both good and choosing anyone depends on the factors stated above. You can make money with anyone and the profit depends on the number of birds you are producing at a time and the market demand.