Backyard Poultry Farming: A Better Source of Income for Rural People

Backyard Poultry Farming: A Better Source of Income for Rural People

Dr. Shahnur Rahman

              MVSc. Scholar, Department of Livestock Production and Management,

                  FVSc & AH, SKUAST-K, shuhama, Aulsteng, Srinagar – 190006   

                                Email id- shahnurrahman134@gmail.com

Introduction

Backyard poultry production has been practicing since old age in rural India. In backyard system, farmers rears indigenous birds which have poor production performance viz 70 – 80 eggs/birds/year and low body weight at marketable age. However, the  productive performances can be optimized by rearing improved variety or breed of poultry to get more economic return to uplift the socio-economic conditions of traditional farmers of rural India. Backyard farming system can start with low initial investment by the farmers but it has a tremendous prospect in terms of economic return as well as to meet the deficient animal protein source for consumption.

Benefits of backyard poultry farming:

• Initial investment is low.
• Farming can be started with few chicken.
• Left over kitchen and agricultural by-products are used for housing and feeding the birds.
• Eggs and chickens can be sold in local market.
• Chicken are sold at high prices as demand for local poultry is more in market.
• Low labour cost since family members mainly unemployed women are involve in backyard farming system.
• Eggs and birds can be termed as organic since birds are grown through feeding with kitchen and agricultural by-products.

 Better strain of poultry birds for backyard farming:

Desi or indigenous birds are generally poor performers in terms of egg and meat production. For obtaining maximum profit from backyard poultry farming there is an urgent need in the country to improve the status of backyard poultry farming with improved strain of poultry having better genetic merits and should have following character:-

• Well adaptation capacity to the prevailing climatic condition,
• Self propagation
• Better brooding capacity
• Good body conformation
• Hardy in nature
• Good and better scavengers
• Attractive and coloured plumage
• Capacity to escape from predator
• Resistance to the prevailing diseases in the region of rearing/farming.

Varietie like Rainbow Rooster, Kroiler (public sector) Rajashree, Kamrupa, swarnadhara, Grahamapriya, Vanaraja- etc. have all the above characteristics and can be recommended for backyard poultry farming in the rural India. The annual egg production capacity of Gramapriya and Vanaraja birds are 150 to 170 and 160 to 180 egg/bird/year, respectively. First egg lays at 200 to 230 days depending on plane of nutrition and other managemental parameters. Egg weight varies from 55 to 60 gram. Mature body weight 2. 5 to 3.5 kg.

  Management of house for backyard poultry farming

Backward poultry does not need elaborate housing. It should protect the birds from sun,    rain & predators. In free range system, the birds are let open during the day and at night sheltered in shed.

Some of the criteria that can be considered are:-

1. The poultry house should be in east-west direction to protect from summer wind and cold stress and in winter month from direct sunlight.
2. During summer direct sun light should be avoided.
3. Floor should be in elevated land or above ground level (minimum 2ft) and free from water crack, easily cleaned, rat proof and durable.
4. To reduce gas formation there should be free air movement in upper part of shed.
5. Brooder house should have proper ventilation and wire netting which can be used for open air ventilation.
6.  Bulb can be fitted above the ground as hoover may to keep the chicks worm.
7. Housing material that costs less like bamboo, grass, thatch etc can be used.

Process of brooding of Chicks

There are two types of brooding viz. Natural brooding and Artificial brooding that can be adopted for backyard poultry farming.

Natural brooding:

Here the local broody hens are used as the indigenous hens for good sitters. Fertile eggs are needed  for incubation. The hens are provided with nesting materials. Normally 12 to 15 eggs are used for single hen. After hatching there should be separate place in the shed for young chick and mother at night.

Artificial brooding:

Here the brooding is done by artificial heat. Artificial heat can be provided with electricity, gas, kerosene, woods, sawdust etc. The optimum temperature is 95 F/35 C. One watt per chick heat is required in brooder house. Proper lighting system should be there to increase the feed consumption for maximum growth in short period of time. The height of the chick guard is high enough so that the chicks cannot jump over it.

Feeding management

In  poultry production farm,  the feed cost alone is 70% of total expenditure. In backyard poultry farming the expenditure for feed is  minimum. Here the birds are let loose for scavenging in the open yard and they collect the required amount of protein, energy, minerals and vitamins etc from insects, snail, termites, seeds of grasses and weeds, household wastes etc. Feed ingredients like broken rice, ground nut straw, wheat, rice bean etc also can be given to the birds. During rainy season poultry feed should not be stored more than 1.5 months to avoid fungus growth (Aflatoxicosis). In backyard poultry farming birds are fed twice; once at morning and once in the  evening. The space requirement for feeder and drinker is different in different period of growth. For formulating the balanced ration, appropriate percentage of maize, rice polish, wheat bran, ground nut cake, fish meal, shell grit or lime stone along with salt, minerals and vitamins  or may be with locally available ingredients. The poultry feed should contain at least 20% protein in starter level, 16% in grower and 18% in laying stage with energy level (ME) 2800 kcal/kg feed in starter, 2600 kcal/kg at grower and 2650 kcal/kg in layer ration.

Health care management

From time to time the birds should be vaccinated against various diseases . The diseases that mostly effect the birds are Ranikhet disease/Newcastle disease, Marek’s Disease, Fowl pox, IBD/Gumbroo disease etc. Regular vaccination schedule may be followed in a poultry farm (Table 1). For internal and external parasites deworming also should be done to maintain healthy birds. Other diseases that may affect the poultry birds are Coccidiosis, infectious coryza, Salmonellosis e.tc. And should be taken great care

Table 1. Vaccination schedule for poultry birds.

Source: kishanseva          

Finger tips suggestion for backyard poultry farming

1. Healthy disease free, improved strain, dual purpose poultry birds should be used for back yard poultry farming.
2. Periodical vaccination from time to time should be done.
3. Birds should fed with clean drinking water and fungus free feed.
4. The poultry shed should be free from moisture and humid condition and should be regularly cleaned.
5. Poultry should not be avoided.
6. If possible different age group birds should placed separately.
7. Sick/diseased bird should be immediately separated/ culled from healthy flock.
8. Equipments like waterer and feeder should be regularly cleaned and disinfected.
9. There should be restriction for outsider into the poultry shed or farm and there should have footbath in front of poultry shed.
10.  The birds should be free from predators.

11. Before procuring new flocks the shed should be cleaned properly and disinfected.
12. The shed should be protected from cold in winter and hot in summer. In summer month water can also be sprinkled.
13. Eggs should be collected regularly from the shed.

https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/backyard-poultry-farming-pills-to-increase-farmers-income-in-rural-household/

Refferences:-

• http://www.extension.umn.edu
• agrifarming.in
• krishiseva.com
• thesangiaexpress.com
• theveterinarysite.com/2021/10/why-to-go-for-backyard-poultry-farming.html
• https://justagriculture.in/files/magazine/2021/august/010%20BACKYARD%20POULTRY.
• theveterinarysite.com/why-to-go-for-backyard-poultry-farming.html/
• cpublishingmedia.com/BACKYARD-POULTRY-FARMING-1.

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