Question: We are new to keeping chickens and housed them in an enclosure. They subsequently developed crusts on their legs. We’ve read in books and asked around and have had answers such as its being mites and that we’d have to use old engine oil to get rid of them!…
Question: Is it necessary to wash and sanitise a poultry house? Yes. In fact, it’s an important part of the production process to ensure that the house is correctly sanitised and rested before the next batch of chicks is placed. HOW TO Carrying out a good dry-clean and dusting off…
Question: What are brooders and incubators, and how does one use them? Brooders are used on a farm and incubators are used in a hatchery. BROODERS There are many types, but their basic function is to provide heat for newly-hatched chicks. The simplest ones use wood or charcoal burners to…
Question: Can water quality have a negative effect on vaccines used for poultry? There’s no negative effect on the “killed/inactivated” (oil emulsion) vaccines, applied as intra-muscular or subcutaneous injections. Water quality becomes very important, however, when “live” vaccines are used. Excessively hard water, or water that contains a lot of…
Question: What do FCR and PIF mean in poultry production? FCR stands for Feed Conversion Ratio. It is the quantity of feed the broiler consumes to gain body weight. As feed is the most expensive part of broiler production, the lower the FCR the more efficient the growth rate and…
South African poultry producers have been afforded a second opportunity to fight Namibia’s import restrictions on SA chicken. The case was heard in Namibia’s High Court. The restrictions in question have been valid since April 2013 and were intended to protect Namibia’s young poultry industry. In April 2014 the South…
The Tanzanian poultry industry is gearing up for the introduction of Cobb 500 broiler chickens by a new breeding partnership between Irvines Tanzania Limited and Tyson Foods of the United States of America. Irvines Tanzania Managing Director Pietro Stella said the Sh32 billion poultry farm in the Kilimanjaro region will…
According to a report from the OIE, 3 outbreaks of the deadly viral poultry disease Newcastle disease have been reported in Botswana. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) yesterday released an immediate notification report of 3 outbreaks of the disease in the Kgatleng, Central and South-East provinces. A total…
An expert gives some suggestions to improve feed conversion ratios (FCR) in broilers. The secret of successful broiler nutrition is to adopt the correct feeding strategy to ensure the best possible feed conversion ratios (FCR). Rick Kleyn from Spesfeed, an animal nutrition company, has some suggestions on how farmers can…
Question: How can I check the health of my chickens? If you use your basic stockman’s skills and your senses, a visit to the poultry house will provide a wealth of information regarding the health and management of the chickens. LOOK As you enter the poultry house, especially where young…
Zambia has recorded an increase in poultry exports, says the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ). This is mainly due to the country being free of the highly contagious avian influenza (H5N8) that has affected the region. Dominic Chanda , PAZ executive manager, says Zambia has managed to capture markets previously…
The South African government and poultry industry have set up a protocol for the import of fertilised broiler chicken hatching eggs, which will now be negotiated with trade partners. The import of the eggs can alleviate the supply shortage caused by the highly contagious H5N8 bird flu virus. The Department…
Question: What is water belly in chickens and what causes it? The correct name for water belly is Ascites and it is an accumulation of non-inflammatory fluid in the abdominal area. The fluid is usually a clear yellow colour. The following are possible causes of the condition: Increased arterial pressure due…
Question: I farm my favourite breed, Buff Orpington chickens. Lately, however, they’ve started eating their eggs. They are fed every morning and afternoon and they also get a lot of greens and snails from the garden… and also a lot of love. Can you suggest a cure? Hens generally eat…
About 15% of South Africa’s laying hens have already been culled due to an outbreak of bird flu. The disease is causing havoc in the poultry industry. Dr Charlotte Nkuna, acting executive officer for the South African Poultry Association, earlier said due to the number of chickens culled, egg shortages…
Stakeholders in the Zambian poultry industry want an independent consultant to investigate whether the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8), commonly known as bird flu, can spread to the process of making deboned chicken meat. The request comes after reports of backyard meat processing companies which sprung up to meet the…
The Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) says the decline in the price of chicken feed will boost local production. “Now that the cost of feed is coming down remarkably thanks to the reduced price of maize and soya beans, we can see a silver lining for the industry,” PAZ said…
Philafrica Foods, which forms part of the South African company Afgri Group Holdings, has formed a 50/50-partnership with Novos Horizontes, a Mozambican chicken producer, to develop the poultry industry in this country. According to mr. Roland Decorvet, Philafrica Food’s CEO, between 60% and 70% of the chicken consumed in Mozambique…
The success of a broiler production business depends on a reliable supply of day-old chicks. Some farmers might struggle to find hatcheries willing to supply them, while others believe the chicks they receive are of inferior-quality. Sometimes farmers are also advised to consider using smaller hatcheries in order to obtain…
The Northern Cape is the only province in the country spared from bird flu, which has wiped out up to 20% of the country’s lay chickens This indicates the virus is not yet under control. Meanwhile, more than 4.2 million chickens were culled or have died from the virus, the…
Shezy Nzovu’s poultry business is an example of how many Zambians can profit from the burgeoning demand for chicken. It is appropriate that Shezy Nzovu’s small poultry business was born out of the need to help finance a younger sibling’s wedding. And it shows how many Zambians can profit from…
We’ve received a large number of inquiries about poultry farming and our expert articles on the topic remain very popular with farmers. Here’s a list. Click on the headline to access the article you want to read. GETTING STARTED How to get started – meat or eggs? How to source day old chicks…
Poultry farmers’ production loss due to the outbreak of H5N8 poultry virus in the Western Cape in South Africa amounts to more than R800 million. More than two million chickens were culled and eggs had to be destroyed to try and stop the virus from spreading. There were 36 outbreaks…
David Chifuna (40), a Lusaka-based insurance underwriter, is successfully farming quail as a sideline business. It is not unusual for Zambians to run a part-time business while they work a full-time job. When David decided to farm quail as a second income stream he had no experience. His savings of…
