White broiler chicken in a Poultry Farm.[FILE/Standard] The term Ascites refers to the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity because of heart failure. It is also commonly referred to as a water belly. Although most people refer to it as a disease, it is a metabolic disorder that is commonly seen in fast-growing birds during the cooler months of the year. Broilers by their nature are fast-growing birds. They can double their day-old weight by the fourth day, and by the seventh, they will weigh four times their placement weight. Causes of water belly Water belly condition occurs when…
Author: By Dr Watson Messo
Mrs Kasendi Mutinda inside her holding structure where she rears over 500 layers at Ngengeka village in Kitui county. The birds give the farmer 12 crates of eggs per day. She says demand for eggs is steady and unmet. [File, Standard] The term Ascites refers to accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity because of heart failure. It is also commonly referred to as water belly. Although most people refer to it as a disease, it is a metabolic disorder that is commonly seen in fast growing birds during the cooler months of the period. Broilers by their nature are…
Mr John Njuguna the director of Renray Poultry Solutions collecting eggs in his farm located in Ruiru, Kiambu County.[FILE,Standard] Most poultry farmers in Kenya are practising the deep-litter system of farming. This involves keeping birds on the floor with wood shavings as bedding material. However, recently, farmers are shifting to battery cages (metal or wire enclosures used to house laying hens). Here are the pros and cons of the two systems. The initial cost of establishing poultry units in a cage system is higher than in a floor system. Most layer farmers rear their birds on the floor from day…
Chicken handling and processing must always be done in a professional and hygienic manner.[Courtesy] Most poultry producers in Kenya have not invested much in new chicken processing technologies, which are more efficient and ensure food safety for consumers. A majority of farmers use the traditional method of manually slaughtering birds on a concrete slab. Whichever method you choose to process your mature birds for the market, there are fundamental procedures that must be followed to ensure that the final product is fit for sale and consumption. Let’s look at some critical factors that must be addressed to ensure a good-quality…
Mr Fredrick Mutie (R), the project officer for enhancing opportunities for women enterprises project shows Kasendi Mutinda how to vaccinate chicken against Newcastle and Fowl pox diseases which are highly contagious. [Philip Muasya, Standard] Fowl pox is a disease of birds caused by a virus called Poxiviridae. The disease is a major concern globally, with indigenous (kienjeji) breeds the most affected locally because they are non-vaccinated. The disease rarely affects broilers and is common during the rainy season when flies and the insect population are high. Biting or sucking insects spread the fowl pox virus directly through contact with infected birds through…
General meat consumer preferences keep shifting, with the trend expected to continue over the coming years. More consumers are leaning towards chickens raised with low or no antibiotics, as they are leaner, safer and less associated with antimicrobial residues. This means that every poultry meat farmer must be able to develop a better understanding of how poultry disease outbreaks can be predicted and ultimately contained without using antibiotics. Follow The Standard channel on WhatsApp This calls for good biosecurity and prudent animal health practices in reducing and managing disease outbreaks on our farms. Antibiotics are used in food animals (cattle,…
Anne Wanjiku Ngugi a poultry farmer puts feed for her layers at her farm in Thika Kiambu County. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard] With proper management, care, and monitoring, well-trained staff can easily manage egg production losses to guarantee excellent egg production for your commercial layer business. The main objective of any farmer is to continuously produce a steady supply of good-quality table eggs for the market. This cannot happen without implementing a thoroughly laid-out management system, which starts with proper housing, nutrition, and disease prevention strategies. Housing: The ideal poultry shed should provide the birds with a comfortable environment and protect them…
Broiler chicken, feed under Smart Brooder, in Tala, Machakos County, on June 27 2018, a technology that relays information to a farmer through SMS .The system is able to determine the age of the chicks and regulates the conditions in the brooding space to meet the chicks’ requirement at specific age. Currently, the device is able to control infrared lamps and infrared catalytic gas brooders for heating requirements. [David Njaaga,Standard] I have repeatedly pointed out that the two most critical periods in the management of your poultry flocks are the first seven days before placement (preparation period) and the first…
Anne Wanjiku Ngugi a poultry farmer puts feed for her layers at her farm in Thika Kiambu County. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard] Escherichia coli (E coli) peritonitis in chicken layer flocks is one of the primary bacterial diseases for table egg farmers and remains a major issue in intensively raised commercial layers. It is caused by a pathogenic bacterial agent called Escherichia coli. The disease-causing bacteria can get access into the chickens through the eyes, mouth, vents, cuts on the skin, or through the eggs. Predisposing factors during the peaking period include keeping different flocks of poultry in a multi-age complex, a…