THE DIARY GAME:POULTRY BUSINESS IN NIGERIA BY @WEALTHY76

POULTRY FARMING BUSINESS

In two decades ago, the poultry business was not rampant in Nigeria and other part of African nations. We could hear of it as a thing or business of the western world but; in recent years, it has caught the attention of our people over here in Nigeria. And many individual farmers and companies have emerged who are deeply involved in various aspects of the business, such as: feed production and hatchery, distribution and retailing of feeds. This has also encouraged the industries that produce vaccines and other treatment and growth enhancement drugs etc.

The proliferation of these poultry businesses in our world might have been encouraged by the huge benefits derived from it.

It has been proved that bird meat is source of white meat. white meat is healthier than red meat because of it's less content of cholestrol. When cholestrol is high in the blood arteries, it does not disolve rather, it builds little particles in the blood arteries thereby, reducing the diameter of the arteries; and consequently result to high blood presure condition. Red meat is high in cholestrol which can endanger one's health.

Other benefit that could be derived from poultry business, is the economic aspect of it. Many are in this present day, making great fortune in the poultry farm business. Some people hatch eggs and distribute the chicks, sell eggs,feeds and treatment drugs. And myself, that have been in the business for some years now deemed it necessary to come up with some information that can educate those who may intend to do such business; and to make them understand the risk or advantages that coule be seen or experienced in the process.

AMOUNT REQUIRED

The fiscal cash required for a start is dependent on the number of birds one would like to keep. Othder factors that should be taken into consideration are, facilities that are available. We are going to concentrate on those with low income earning. A 12inches room with good ventilation would do;
Other temporary structures with good space can be used, two to three big feeders and drinkers and brooding heater or warmer to avoid cold.
NOTE: Birds need good space that would is getting good ventilation so as to avoid excess heat and easy spread of poultry diseases.And the saw dust must must be regularly changed.
The minimum amount it will take to keep 20 birds especially broilers to a matured stage is sixty thousand naira (N60,000).

Also, the minimum amount it will take to keep 50 birds to it's full age is about one hundred and twenty thousand naira(N120,000) . This above estimation would also give intending ones the clue to how to calculate the amount it will take to keep a larger number of birds.

REQUIRED FACILITIES

•Two big drinkers.
•Two big feeders.
•One brooding warmer.
•A poultry house.

BROODING STAGE

In the first two weeks of brooding these these day old birds; the birds must be kept under a hot condition by using the brooding warmer. It is risky to keep the birds under a hot-free condition because, it may cause death of some. As we know naturally, that chicks need warm condition that proceeds from the mother hen's body to feel good and strong.

VACCINATION

Vaccines are those drugs that help the immune system of the birds to be able to put up a good resistance against diseases that may come against the birds in the future. Those who neglect vaccination of their birds, most times suffer a huge loss at the long run. And there are other relevant drugs that must be applied concurrently at the early stage with these vaccines so as to encourage and enhance the healthy developments of these chicks.

Day old birds are given glucose products such as; glucomol at the first day of arrival for increase of energy. Then, at the second day, multivitamin drugs follows. The third day onwards, antibiotics is to be applied in order to curtail stomach or digestive problems.
NOTE: These drugs are better dissolved in certain measure of water;
Though some may be mixed with their feed.
One teaspoonful of these drugs can be applied to two litres of water,depending on the number of birds in the farm.

THE SEVENTH DAY(1 WK.)

On the seventh day, the vaccine that should be applied is called lasota.

Dosage:100 doses of lasota should be administered to birds numbering from 1-50 while 60-100 birds will take 200 doses.

APPLICATION

This should be dissolved into 1 litre of water, but; before this is done, the birds should be kept from water from 2-3hours so that they will take the water speedily.

THE FOURTEENTH DAY(2 WKS.)

On the said two weeks old chicks; they are now ready to receive another important vaccine called,gumboro. Gumboro disease makes the birds to have difficulty in walking. In other words, it cripples the birds at certain stage.
DOSAGE: One to fifty birds takes 100 doses of gumboro. While sixty to hundred birds can take 200 doses.

FEEDING

The kind of feed that should be given to the birds, depends on their level of maturity. Day old to five weeks(5wks.) should be fed with what we call, super starter. But after five weeks, they would be fed with another kind of feed called, finisher to full stage.

INSTALLATION

Before these birds are being installed,the floor must be thoroughly cleansed and possibly disinfected to avoid diseases.The must be regularly cleansed and drinkers washed.This is just a measure to prevent the invassion of some organisms.

COMMON POULTRY DISEASES

•Newcastle disease.
•Gumboro disease.
•Coccidiosis
•Cough and cold.
•Thyphoid.
•Pox.

SYMPTOMS

1.Newcastle disease: Greenish shit and high body temperature
2.Gumboro: Difficulty in standing and walking.
3.Coccidiosis: Brownish shit.
4.Pox: Growth on the neck and the head part of the chicks,and blockage of the eyes and ear etc.

SOLUTION

Visit a vertenary doctor if accessible or the drug dispensers and follow instruction.

MATURITY

Broilers can be ready for consumption or marketing from three to four months.

Thank you for reading my post!!!