Poultry Farming: Birds and Requirements

Simply defined, poultry farming is the activity of raising fowl for meat, eggs or feathers, and this can be done for commercial purposes or for personal use. These birds mostly comprise of chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. Out of these, chickens are the most popularly farmed birds, mainly for their meat and eggs, with a large number of people all over the world practicing this type of poultry farming. If you are looking to start a poultry farm, there a few things you should consider before you undertake the project. Though it is not overly demanding, poultry farming requires adequate planning to ensure you benefit fully.

Types of Birds to Keep:
Before you start poultry farming, you need to decide on a few things. It is important to determine what kind of birds you want to farm with. This will be in line with the purpose for raising the birds. Here are some of the functions different fowl can fulfill.

Geese – They can be raised for their eggs, meat, feathers, breeding, weeding or simply kept as pets. Geese produce feathers that are used for making pillows, stuffed animals and comforters. If kept as pets, geese are not only good company, but will also keep the yard free of weeds. They are even good ‘watch dogs’ and deter strangers. Their meat is fresh and tasty just like their eggs. Furthermore, you can raise these animals for breeding purposes and sell them. Types of geese to raise include Emden, Toulouse, African and Chinese geese.

Turkeys – These birds are popular in North America. This kind of poultry farming can be practiced for eggs, meat, breeding purposes, as pets or for show. The turkey is the symbolic meal associated with Thanksgiving; so many people breed and sell these birds. There is the Narragansett, White, Bronze and Black Turkey.

Ducks – There are more meat breeds than egg breeds for this species. If you choose to farm with ducks, make sure you are aware of what breed you go for. Muscovys, White Pekins and Rouens are usually kept for meat while Indian runner ducks are good for eggs. Ducks and geese cohabit well and are commonly referred to as waterfowl. Make sure you have a pool of water nearby for them to wade in if you choose ducks.

Chickens – The most prevalent form of poultry farming, chickens offer necessary protein to humans and are always in high demand. You can farm chickens for their eggs, meat, feathers, manure or for breeding purposes. Chickens that are kept for their eggs are known as layers and those raised for meat are called broilers.

Poultry Farming Requirements:

Once you have decided on what type of poultry you want to farm with, the next step is to prepare a suitable area for the birds. This will include:

• The coop or farmhouse for your birds of choice. Depending on the fowl, the housing should suite the birds that will live there e.g. for chickens, the chicken coop should be raised off the ground and kept warm with adequate lighting, especially for when the chicks are fairly young.

• Food, proper sanitation and medical supplements are very essential in poultry farming. Ensure you have proper feeding equipment, the right food supplies and that the necessary vaccinations are administered.

• It is also advisable to have some experience and knowledge of poultry farming. There are many sources of information, e.g. poultry farming books, magazines, other poultry farmers and also the internet.

• Lastly, plan your finances to avoid mismanagement or overspending.

About the Author: Poultry farming is available only in local rural places. Forming Poultry units need a low budget and a small land. So it is like generating income that is sufficient for the rural population. Click here for Hatcheries