Chicken is one of the best sources of protein in Nigeria. It is one of the commonest dietary staples, that is readily available and can easily be prepared in different delicacies in Nigeria. For some individuals, adding chicken to their diet has helped them to lose weight, support muscle growth and keep healthy bones. Chickens are kept for egg-laying or for meat production. The Chicken kept for meat production are called Broilers while the egg-laying chickens are called Layers.
5 Factors to Consider Before Raising Your Chickens
Generally, there are some factors to consider before raising healthy chickens. Getting it right, from the time they were incubated until they are prepared for cooking is vital. Here are five (5) key factors to consider;
You can follow these five helpful techniques to raise your brood of chickens.
Build the right size coops
Much the same as some other pets, chickens need a spot to remain. They can’t be seen inside your home going around with your youngsters since it has its own place. You can make your own coop utilizing wood or hard cardboard or simply let the craftsmen build one for you. A coop offers your chicken maximum comfort and protection against pests, predators, natural disasters and adverse weather conditions.
Give them a spacious coop
When constructing the coop, it must be well-spacious and ventilated for the chickens. Also, ensure to make provisions for nest boxing for egg-laying and roost bars. Furthermore, make room for the roofline so as to allow ammonia odour to escape and to keep dust from accumulating in the coop.
Invest your time and resources
Commitment to caring for your chicken is very paramount. The chickens can not feed themselves, so they need your time and money throughout the duration of rearing because timely feeding is of essence to the chicken. In addition, you should be available to clean the chicken house regularly so as to avoid diseases.
Feeding
Most importantly, feeds for your chicken should contain all the nutritional needs required for healthy growth. For example; If you are raising your chicken from- a Day Old, you can feed them with “Livestock Feeds” Chick Starter Feed which could be either mash or crumbled form.
Sourcing for the right chicks
Depending on the purpose of the chicken, sourcing the right chicks can not be over-emphasized. Buy the best quality stock. Healthy chicks are easily recognized by their dry, fluffy, down feathers, bright eyes, good appearance and high level of activity.
Before raising your chickens, being prepared is always the best way to start.