Broiler rearing is seen as one of the most profitable businesses in the poultry line of business. It is seen to be an interesting, and profitable investment whether it is on a large scale or small scale, as it is a rewarding investment.
It is gathered that broiler chickens are made to produce more meat in a very short span between 6-9 weeks as they could easily weigh between 2kg or more in this time frame.
However, it is advisable that before anyone ventures into the broiler chicken-rearing business, they should be familiar with all that it entails to have a thriving business.
Speaking with a broiler chicken farmer, Emmanuel Elutinju, he disclosed that an essential part of broiler rearing is keeping them safe in a well-constructed house.
According to him, “The structure to be built for the broiler chicken business will somehow have an impact on the overall outcome of the business, So, I’ll implore you to follow all the recommendations by experts in constructing a house for the poultry business.
Equipment like heaters, feeders, drinkers, and well-ventilated places is encouraged.
The house should be thoroughly cleaned before the chicks are brought in. Wash the ceiling, sidewalks, walls, and equipment. After cleaning, disinfect the building and ensure the ventilation is perfect for them.
Moderate temperatures should be maintained in the house and by performing good sanitation, rodent and fly control should be controlled during the rearing period.
Experts have advised that the right equipment in the house will ensure that you have a smooth operation and easy management will enhance the broiler’s production.
Also, temperature condition around the broilers is very important for broiler farming and should be treated with high discipline. Failure to-do-so, might lead to some problems for the broilers.
Elutinji stressed that an important factor in broiler rearing is chicken feed.
“When you provide proper and quality feeds to your broilers, you will obtain good results. The broilers consume the feed and convert it into the meat”
For the farmer to be successful, they should give their broilers the right feed. Broiler poultry requires a high ratio of proteins in their feed for them to grow well. Vitamins are also needed such as A, B2, and B12 to fight diseases and keep them disinfected.
Water should be made available at all times in the chicken house.
The broiler farmer described broilers as a hybrid of the egg-laying chicken, a subspecies of the red jungle fowl with white feathers and yellowish skin.
He added that, “Feeds play a vital role in poultry farming and is the major cost of poultry production that could affect the production output if they are well not fed.
However, he said, Improper feeding causes several deficiency diseases that could lead to the death of birds.
While the poultry farmer should endeavour to make adequate provisions for clean water and feed to be equivalent to the chicks available. He should take cognizance that during the dry season, broilers take more water.
Elutinju stressed that broilers require optimal conditions for them to be safe and secure from any diseases. Hence, vaccinating the broilers is a sure way of preventing them from the common diseases that might affect them.
The vaccination process should be well conducted to ensure all birds receive the vaccine and are protected as it protects them from such threats in the long run.
He advised that for easier vaccination, Water vaccination is the most preferable as all the farmer needs to do is to get every bird to drink the vaccinated water. The older the birds are, the more the volume of the vaccine should be.
Marketing
There is a ready market for broiler chickens sales. As a result, there exist no challenge to the farmer as there are buyers of their livestock.
So, with the right house, chicken feeds, equipment, and management of the broiler chicken farm, you can be assured of making great profits out of this business.
However, rearing broiler chicken at home has become popular as it is said that high-quality and nutritious meat is produced.
It is gathered that the best way to rear broilers is by large-scale production. Large-scale broiler production lowers the cost of equipment, feeds, vaccination, and overall management.
While the whole process can be a challenge with the right process, equipment, and management, the farmer would be making huge returns that could yield hundreds of thousands in a short period.
