Poultry farming is one of the most accessible enterprises to venture into as it does not require much capital, big land size or intensive management skills.
Due to the increased demand for eggs and white meat, many youth and women groups have ventured into this business to intensify their income. Unfortunately, many end up frustrated due to early fatality rates. In this article, we will look at the causes of these early fatalities.
Poor Nutrition of the egg
Chicks hatched from eggs that lack vital nutrients such as vitamin A are often weak, have poor disease resistance, and have a high mortality rate. To have strong chicks with high disease resistance, always feed the mother hen with all necessary nutrients two weeks before laying.
Poor hatching
Poor hatching and incubation, especially in artificial incubators, is another reason for high early mortality rates in chicks. Weak and too-small chicks, unhealed navels, malformations, crooked toes with bent legs, runts, swollen heads and backs of the neck, and closed eyes/blindness are some of the many complications of poor incubation.
Chicks with complications often have a low life span. Always ensure the necessary conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and turning, are maintained, especially the first seven days and the last three days of the incubation period.
Poor brooder
Poorly built brooders with insufficient light and temperature are another cause. High temperatures often cause temperature shock and even death. Cold temperatures often cause the chicks to clump together, leading to injuries, suffocation and even death of weak ones.
A dirty brooder increases the chances of diseases that may cause death. Continuously regulate the entry of your brooder to prevent the spread of diseases by visitors from other farms.
Lack of Vaccination
Other causes include the unavailability and high cost of vaccines, such as Marek and poor administration. Most farmers are reluctant to follow the vaccination schedule and only react when they see signs of sickness, forgetting that administering a vaccine to a sick chick is killing them.
Read Also: Complete vaccination schedule for layers in Kenya
Others follow the schedule, and their chicks die, and they wonder why. Administering a sterile vaccine is the cause. Power outages in stockiest premises raise the fridge temperatures to sterilize the vaccine.
Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the vaccine and administer it immediately after purchase for efficient results. Marek vaccine is so expensive that even most private hatchers can’t afford it.
Lack of Marek vaccination on the first day is the cause of up to 90% of the deaths.
Poor Feeds
Poorly formulated feeds and contamination with aflatoxin are significant causes of early death. Always ensure you source your feeds from trusted formulators. You can also develop your feeds using locally available materials.
Conclusion
Use high-quality feeds and vaccines on time with high-quality vaccines. Construct a good brooder and maintain a high hygiene level with a foot dip containing disinfectant to prevent transmission of diseases.
