Optimizing Backyard Poultry Husbandry
Dr. Tanmay Mondal
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Science, Rampura Phul Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Punjab
Introduction
Poultry farming, a cornerstone of security for impoverished farmers, is witnessing rapid growth in India, offering a lucrative venture with potential for substantial profits. It sustains rural livelihoods, particularly benefiting women and children, with low-input systems centered on indigenous bird rearing. Despite modest production, it contributes significantly to national egg production and plays a pivotal role in the expanding economy. Enhancing backyard poultry with improved chicken varieties promises greater meat and egg yields, ensuring food security and livelihood stability for families, while also offering income opportunities for unemployed youth and women, especially in tribal regions with high demand.
Attributes of poultry birds for backyard rearing
To enhance profit in backyard poultry rearing, introducing improved poultry strains is imperative. Ideal birds for this setting should possess traits like adaptability to village conditions, self-propagation, robust brooding and mothering abilities, optimal body conformation, hardiness, effective scavenging, attractive plumage, predator evasion skills, and disease resistance. These attributes ensure sustainable and efficient production while minimizing inputs, maximizing output, and safeguarding against threats, thereby boosting profitability in backyard poultry farming.
Feeding management
Backyard poultry rearing prioritizes natural resource utilization, allowing birds to scavenge for nutrition in open yards. Feeding twice daily involves recycling household and farm waste, supplemented with grains and by-products. Clean water access is crucial year-round, especially during summer for cooling. Balanced diets are formulated with locally available ingredients and supplements for optimal performance. This sustainable approach empowers rural farmers, particularly women, generating income and meeting basic needs. It fosters economic stability, enabling investments in education, property, and other essentials, ultimately alleviating poverty.
Housing management
Poultry housing, constructed with low-cost materials like bamboo or polythene sheets, should prioritize protection from environmental elements and predators. Layers require nest boxes, while free-range systems allow for daytime foraging and nighttime shelter. Considerations for optimal housing include orientation for weather protection, elevated and durable flooring, proper ventilation, adequate height and slope, strategic lighting for warmth, and use of affordable materials like wood or thatch. Moisture prevention and structural integrity are essential for maximizing production performance and ensuring the well-being of backyard poultry.
Housing inside cages Kept loose for scavenging
Brooding of chicks
Brooding is necessary to maintain the required body temperature of the chicks during first 6 weeks of age and this also helps in protecting themselves from predators. Chick guard can be used to restrict the movement of the chicks near by the heat source.
Salient features of natural brooding:
Indigenous hens are excellent sitters, but improved fertile eggs are used for incubation. Provide nesting materials, food, and water during incubation. A broody hen can manage 12 to 15 chicks during brooding and hatching. After hatching, chicks are allowed to scavenge with their mother. Separate accommodation inside the shed is essential for young chicks and their mother at night.
Salient features of artificial brooding:
Artificial heating, provided through electricity, gas, kerosene, or wood, maintains an optimal temperature of 95⁰F in the first week, decreasing by 5⁰F per week until reaching 70⁰F by the sixth week. Two-watt heat is essential up to six weeks to stimulate feed consumption and prevent stampeding. Continuous light for up to 48 hours initially and 10 to 12 hours during the growing stage aids in maximum growth, while 15 to 16 hours of light is ideal during the laying period. Chick guards, placed 15 to 18 inches high and 3 feet away from the hover, prevent direct contact with heat sources in the brooder house.
Brooding of chicks with provision of metallic chick guard
Health care management
Maintaining a clean coop and outdoor area is crucial for bird health, requiring weekly cleaning and yearly disinfection with a bleach solution. Healthy birds exhibit active behavior, bright eyes, and normal droppings. Backyard chickens should be monitored individually for laying and eating habits. Vaccination against diseases like Ranikhet, Marek’s, and Fowl pox is essential, along with deworming for internal and external parasites. Regular cleaning, feeding, watering, and predator protection ensure their well-being and productivity.
Role of women in backyard poultry rearing
Backyard poultry rearing, primarily managed by rural women, offers a familiar and accessible source of income with minimal inputs. While not yielding substantial profits, it empowers women economically and enhances their socio-economic status, representing a crucial step towards financial independence and community development.
Conclusion
Backyard poultry rearing, with its low-cost investment and high returns, has immense potential to uplift small-scale farmers, enriching them economically and fostering rural development in India through improved nutrition and employment opportunities.
“Back yard poultry production can result in personal enjoyment and pride, the privilege of knowing your food source, and an over all unique opportunity”
