The Hustler's Digest StaffRaising chickens is one of the most profitable yet riskiest business ventures you can adopt. It is profitable because chickens are always in demand in the market and you can never have enough chickens. It is risky because bird viruses can be contagious and even transfer to human beings as well. Therefore, proper maintenance of the flock is of extreme importance. Starting a poultry farm is not a difficult task. You need an open space where you can build a coop and chicken feed to provide food to the birds. However, the maintenance of a poultry farm can be challenging. The success of a poultry farm depends on how hygienically well-maintained it is.
Here is how you can maintain your poultry farm to make your business successful.
1. Prepare The Space Before Bringing The Birds
You should always prepare the farm before bringing in the fresh flock. The reason behind this is that the bird viruses spread quickly. If you have been keeping a flock in the place and bringing in the new flock before cleaning the place, germs from the previous flock may enter the fresh ones, making them sick.
Never risk your birds’ health. If your chickens are growing healthy, only then will you have a good reputation in the market. If you are providing sick chickens, you will be spotted eventually. Therefore, prepare the coop first and then put in the new chicks. Also, make sure that the space is fairly large as compared to the number of chicks because crowded places can cause the shed to warm up, thus risking the health of the chickens.
2. Maintain Cleanliness
Cleanliness should be your utmost priority when raising chickens. Bird feces contain germs that can cause serious stomach infections in birds, and cause lung diseases among human beings. Therefore, you should keep the coop clean.
Sweep the floors regularly and sanitize the place properly to kill infectious germs. Arrange sanitization for the farm and get the space fumigated before bringing in the new birds.
3. Keep An Eye On The Birds
If one of the chickens gets infected, it can spread the disease among other chickens as well. Therefore, you should always keep your eyes open and check your chickens regularly. If you notice anything suspicious, separate the bird immediately and talk to your veterinary doctor instantly. If the disease is curable, complete the antibiotic course of the bird before putting it back among others. Ask the doctor if other birds need a precautionary dose.
When you are raising birds, you should act quickly in terms of bird diseases. If you show negligence, you may lose all your birds or even compromise your health.
4. Provide Clean Water
Birds can get stomach infections that can compromise their growth and reduce their market value. The fastest way of getting stomach infections is through the water. Water-borne diseases are relatively common and can become uncontrollable at times. Therefore, you should take extra care of the water you are providing to your birds.
Always clean the water containers that you are using to supply water to the chickens. Provide clean drinking water through clean channels. Keep an eye on the water pipes and see if there is any fungus growing. Clean or replace the pipes immediately if there is anything suspicious.
5. Keep Necessary Farm Equipment
To maintain a poultry farm successfully, you should have all the necessary equipment required to run the farm. You should have a transport truck available at the farm all the time. Take care of the loading van and maintain its cleanliness. If you have a loading truck, for example a Chevrolet truck, then you should keep a Chevy Truck Repair Manual at the farm in case you need quick fixes.
Apart from trucks, you should have water pumps, feeding containers, sanitizer sprays, and other necessary equipment required at a chicken farm.
6. Keep In Touch With A Vet
When you are raising an animal farm, especially a poultry farm, you should have a good veterinary doctor available all the time. Animals can get sick and require immediate medical attention. If you show negligence or laziness in this regard, you might lose your birds.
It would be wise to have your farm built in an area where you have quick access to a good veterinary hospital. You should also ask your vet to visit the farm now and then to ensure the health and safety of the chickens.
7. Keep Yourself Informed
Most times, bird infections are seasonal. Therefore, you should always keep yourself informed about the latest news. Watch television or read the newspaper to get the latest information about birds. You should also keep in touch with the other local poultry farms to keep yourself one step ahead.
