jamp:
Fnk, longest tym. How is broiler biz going? Am thinking of adding broilers to my farm but I need to get the market first.

But how can you get the market without starting? I say go in small, and build from there. We are coming up small small, I think this 2015 will be much better for us, we sold quite a few of our birds this holidays, and that is good, because our product is getting into the hands of more people, the idea for us now, is to get more customers that will patronize our birds on a regular bases. How is the egg side? I bought 200 day old layers to experiment, I want to see what will happen without given them the conventional medication/vaccination regiment, just the medication they get in their first 10 days. The experiment I conducted in 2011 worked, but they were only 10 layers, so you cannot count on that. I will see how it goes, then I will take lectures from you pros on that side of poultry business.

Hope all is well

olubankemi:
@Fnk, thank you very much. You are so detailed in your advise and the time you set aside to write this is appreciated.

Thank you.

I am glad that you appreciated my comment, I know your husband will see what you have seen, if you take your time and work with him, I could not do what I am doing now without the support of my wife, I was able to sell her the vision, had she not buy into it, I wouldn't not have been able to continue. I cannot say that we are making money from the farm yet, but the farm is sucking a lot of money from us, had she not been on the same page with me, it could turn to problem and look like a waste of the family's resources.

So, my advise for you, is not to let the dream die. Stay focus and keep faith.

sleekman:

@fnk thank God 4 his bountiful mercies and d opportunity 2c another new year. Had a quiet halls with lots of reflection. Are u in d country? Yeah we all have learned 4rm eachother this past year save 4d data loss we experienced in d 1st or 2nd quarter. I believe nairaland has afforded people d opportunity 2 learn, explore, invent and innovate better. For those of you who didn't get 2 read lost data then perhaps u'll want 2 explore morianga seeds, dry pawpaw seeds, garlic, oregano, guava leaves(fresh shoots), mint and basil. That's what I can remember. I think there may be others. @jamp, @fnk et al u can help me out here. Focus of this thread is trying 2 explore organic remedies for disease prevention in poultry. There are various journals online u can explore 2 improve d health of ur poultry. Thank you.

I went home for the holidays to be with my family, I should be back before the end of this month. You are right, those plants you mentioned were talked about as things that can help. I spent good amount of money taking my concoction to the lab to test and test again. My believe is that a healthy bird can fend off any illness. So, lets see how this year will go for everyone. Good luck.

dozieihems:
I need advice on the way forward i purchace two plots of land can it be able to contain 5000 layers?that is my projection of layer for the two plots of land,i want to start small and grow pls can someone help me with good poultry plan am jet starting new and i was told that good poultry plan contribute to 40% of survive of the birds house pls assit me on how to establish the poultry farm

5000 layers is not starting small. And yes I think 2 plots can give you a space to that will take more than twice that your number. But if you are a newbie, 5000 is a lot, and get ready for the funds necessary to run it. And I think the info that you seek is already discussed here on the thread, so go back and start reading and taking note. Good luck.

Oshlander:

I have wanted to reach you a long while after I joined Nairaland last October and discovered this thread in December, and started reading all the previous posts page by page until I got to page 23 and I lost concentration. I must say that you, hindsight & others have been so much helpful in enlightening laymen in understanding what Animal farming is more about. I appreciate your efforts. If I can possibly get the report of your experiment which you executed years back, I'll be appreciative. greatoshlander@gmail.com

No wahala, we all are here to learn from one another. Check your email, remember, it will only serve as a guide, and if you take some not from this thread, you would have gotten some updates from everyone's questions and contributions. Good Luck.

@FNK thanks so much for ur reply going through this thread there was this poultry report you sent to some people in this forum pls can you send one to me my email is dozie_ihems@yahoo.com

Chairman, we are doing well. The layer biz is good and less stressful compared to what I heard about broilers. Am bringing in new birds dis jan. I might add 50 broilers to test run.
I will also experiment with about 10 layers as you did. lol

this year will be good for all of us and I pray for the unity of this country to enable us actualize our dreams.

fnk:

But how can you get the market without starting? I say go in small, and build from there. We are coming up small small, I think this 2015 will be much better for us, we sold quite a few of our birds this holidays, and that is good, because our product is getting into the hands of more people, the idea for us now, is to get more customers that will patronize our birds on a regular bases. How is the egg side? I bought 200 day old layers to experiment, I want to see what will happen without given them the conventional medication/vaccination regiment, just the medication they get in their first 10 days. The experiment I conducted in 2011 worked, but they were only 10 layers, so you cannot count on that. I will see how it goes, then I will take lectures from you pros on that side of poultry business.
Hope all is well

jamp:
Chairman, we are doing well. The layer biz is good and less stressful compared to what I heard about broilers. Am bringing in new birds dis jan. I might add 50 broilers to test run.
I will also experiment with about 10 layers as you did. lol

this year will be good for all of us and I pray for the unity of this country to enable us actualize our dreams.

It is true, broiler is a lot of work, but I think once you have sales outlet, like the egg guys do, it is a matter of 6 to 8 weeks and they cycle is over and money in the bank.

Hello Guys,
Pls how best do one treat Salmonellosis infection in poultry. My birds (laying and pullets) are both infected and mortality is occurring.
Vet Doc after post mortem examination prescribed Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin for lauers and pullets respectively.
The doses have been completed now but 1 or 2 birds still die daily and some pullets show severe signs of sickness.

Some1 suggested the use of Penicillin and Streptomycin but am scared of its effect - it weakens the birds.

Any other suggestion?

ntyce:
Hello Guys,
Pls how best do one treat Salmonellosis infection in poultry. My birds (laying and pullets) are both infected and mortality is occurring.
Vet Doc after post mortem examination prescribed Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin for lauers and pullets respectively.
The doses have been completed now but 1 or 2 birds still die daily and some pullets show severe signs of sickness.

Some1 suggested the use of Penicillin and Streptomycin but am scared of its effect - it weakens the birds.

Any other suggestion?

Where is ur location? If u are close to ibadan send one carcass to animal care lab for test. The test will reveal which drug to us.

If u are not close to ibadan n you are through wit the drugs precribed by the vet, give the birds some weeks, they will be ok though u might have some moralities.

Also place them on multivitamin. Pls note that too much antibiotics its not good for birds

pls house i need to know how to fumigate my chicken coop b4 transfering them because right now they're in the brooding house and wat are d tins dat i need to do to prevent diseases 4rm entering d farm, again how do i contain the odour so it doesn't disturb d neigbours, someone told me there's a chemical dat i can spay on d floor but he wasn't so sure abt it. sorry 4 all d questns am asking but i really need some help. thanks.

Good afternoon all,

Please i am about to startup my own poultry, please i need a good contact of someone who can build one effectively. i need to start at the beginning of next week.

endy247:
pls house i need to know how to fumigate my chicken coop b4 transferring them because right now they're in the brooding house and wat are d tins dat i need to do to prevent diseases 4rm entering d farm, again how do i contain the odour so it doesn't disturb d neigbours, someone told me there's a chemical dat i can spay on d floor but he wasn't so sure abt it. sorry 4 all d questns am asking but i really need some help. thanks.

It is true that there are some products or systems out there that can help prevent or reduce the odor, another thing that can really help is making sure that the pen doesn't get wet, and or you need to remove the liter regularly. One of the ways to reduce wetness, is how you water them, i.e: their drinking water. I don't know if you can get and connect the poultry nipple drinker system. I am not using it yet, but I have bought a whole bunch on Amazon and will be fixing it myself when I get back. it is something you can do yourself (DIY) you can see bunch of videos on Youtube. With this, you control the wetness, and your birds will always have water to drink.
I have noticed that by pen doesn't smell with it is not wet, and even when we pack the liters and bagged them, as long as they are not wet, you can walk by without noticing it.

Now be careful with the fumigation and your birds, give at least 5-7 days from the time that you fumigate the pen to when you move the birds from the brooding house into the pen. You don't want them to chock and die from the strong chemical of the fumigation.

I raised layer along cockerel in the same deep liter pen. some of the cockrel have been sold off remaining like 6 among the laying birds. And they are mating with the layers. As at now no any problem, the layers are laying well and the cockrel are not tampering with the egg. Hope my practice does not have any negative effects on the long run.

samuel25:
I raised layer along cockerel in the same deep liter pen. some of the cockrel have been sold off remaining like 6 among the laying birds. And they are mating with the layers. As at now no any problem, the layers are laying well and the cockrel are not tampering with the egg. Hope my practice does not have any negative effects on the long run.

Is the eggs for hatching? I want to play with trying to hatch a few eggs and see how it works, for a little over $100 there is an incubator that have the capacity to hatch 48 eggs. I have not looked into parent stock and have no idea how to raise them, Is that what you are doing? I bought 200 layers and 200 cockerel, they are just between 3 and 4 weeks now, but they will be growing together.

samuel25. There is no problem in doing that. I had a similar experience when a few of my laying birds would leave their cages and be subsequently mated by the cockrels on the floor. None of my customers ever came up with any complaints about eggs brought from me. Success

@fnk thanks for ur advice, pls how much did u buy d drinkers from amason.

Eggcelent:
samuel25. There is no problem in doing that. I had a similar experience when a few of my laying birds would leave their cages and be subsequently mated by the cockrels on the floor. None of my customers ever came up with any complaints about eggs brought from me. Success

Thanks so much.

Farmers can use these simplified formulations to prepare feed for hybrid layers and broilers:

Making a 70 kg chick mash (1 to 4 weeks)

Growing chicks require feed with Digestible Crude Protein (DCP) of between 18 to 20 per cent. The following formulation can be used to make a 70 kg bag of layers chick mash:

Ingredients
31.5kg of whole maize
9.1kg of wheat bran
7.0kg of wheat pollard
16.8kg of sunflower (or 16.8 kg of linseed)
1.5kg of fishmeal
1.75 kg of lime
30g of salt
20g of premix
Amino acids
70g of tryptophan
3.0g of lysine
10g of methionine
70 g of Threonine
50g of enzymes
60g of coccidiostat
50g of toxin binder

Making a 70 kg bag of growers' mash (4 to 8 weeks)

Growers (pullets or young layers) should be provided with feed having a protein content of between 16 and 18 per cent. Such feed makes the young layers to grow fast in preparation for egg laying:

10kg of whole maize
17kg of maize germ
13kg of wheat pollard
10kg of wheat bran
6kg of cotton seed cake
5kg of sunflower cake
3.4kg of soya meal
2.07kg of lime
700g of bone meal
3kg of fishmeal
Additives: 14g of salt, 1g of coccidiostat, 18g of Pre-mix, 1g of zinc bacitracin, 7g of mycotoxin binder.

Making a 70 kg bag of layers’ mash (8 weeks and above)

Ingredients

34kg of whole maize
12kg of Soya
8kg of fishmeal
10kg of maize bran, rice germ or
Wheat bran
6kg of lime
Amino acids
175g premix
70g lysine
35g methionine
70kg Threonine
35g tryptophan
50g toxin binder

Layer feed should contain a Digestible Crude Protein (DCP) content of between 16-18 per cent. The feed should contain calcium (lime) for the formation of eggshells (laying hens that do not get enough calcium will use the calcium stored in their own born tissue to produce eggshells). Layer feed should be introduced at 18 weeks.

Formulating a 70 kg bag of broiler feed

Broilers have different feed requirements in terms of energy, proteins and minerals during different stages of their growth. It is important that farmers adapt feed rations to these requirements for maximum production. Young broilers have a high protein requirement for the development of muscles, feathers and other body organs. As the broilers grow, their energy needs for fattening up increase while their protein requirements decrease. They, therefore, require high protein content in their starter rations than in the grower and finisher rations. Broilers should have feed that has between 22 -24 per cent DCP.

The following guidelines can help the farmer to make the right feed at each stage of growth:

Preparing broiler growers feed (70 kg)
10kg of whole maize
16.7kg of maize germ
13.3kg of wheat pollard
10kg wheat bran
6kg of cotton seed cake
4.7kg of sunflower cake
3kg of fishmeal
2kg of lime
3.4kg of soya meal
40g of bone meal
10g of grower PMX
5g of salt
5g of coccidiostat
5g of Zinc bacitracin

Broiler starter feed (1-4 weeks)

40kg of whole maize
12kg of fishmeal (or omena)
14kg of soya bean meal
4kg of lime
70g of premix
Amino acids
35g of lysine
35g of Threonine

NOTE: For farmers who have more than 500 chickens it is advisable to make 1 tonne of feed at once (there are 14 bags of feed in one tonne). To make 1 tonne of feed, multiply each of the ingredients by 14. Ensure that all the feed you make will last for one month and not longer – this ensures the feed remains fresh and safe for chickens. Any feed that lasts more than one month may deteriorate in quality and can affect your chickens.

Daily feed requirements for each growth stage

Farmers should maintain the right feed quantities for chickens at each stage of growth as shown below:
An egg-laying chicken requires 130-140g of feed per day.
A chick requires a minimum of 60g per day - if they finish their daily rations, give them fruit and vegetable cuttings to ensure they feed continuously.
Young chickens (or pullets), which are about to start laying eggs should be fed 60g for 2½ months and then put on layer diet (140g per day). Supplement the feed with vegetables, edible plant leaves and fruit peelings in addition to their feed rations.
Broiler chicks require 67g per day. Broiler finishers require 67g of feed per day to the day of slaughter.
Rat-proof all chickens sheds to keep away rats and birds which eat the chickens feed and bring in fleas and even diseases. To do this, ensure the floor is made of concrete and the chicken wire holes are too small for rodents to get in (preferably ½ inch by ½ inch).
Chickens are sensitive to aflatoxins - never use rotten maize (maozo) while making feeds.


source - http://www.theorganicfarmer.org/articles/19/poultry-keeping-what-farmers-need-to-succeed

Who can help me with a genuine seller of a day old CHI broilers. I'm based in aba though.

choo:
Who can help me with a genuine seller of a day old CHI broilers. I'm based in aba though.

Well,I can get you CHI specific broilers but it depends on the numbers you need because Aba is far from here.

doctormalik:

Well,I can get you CHI specific broilers but it depends on the numbers you need because Aba is far from here.

Pls, if you can help get contact of any marketer with CHI, I lost the contact I had with me.

Will need pullets by February ending.

Thanks.

Hello Great farmers,pls when i saw going tru isa brown layers management i saw four different types of feed,starter,grower,pre layer and layer mash pls do we gav all this type of feed in naija?the only once i kwn ar starter,grower and layer mash bt they advice we giv layers pre layer mash after grower because it contains more of calciums pls advice me where to get the feed.

dozieihems:
Hello Great farmers,pls when i saw going tru isa brown layers management i saw four different types of feed,starter,grower,pre layer and layer mash pls do we gav all this type of feed in naija?the only once i kwn ar starter,grower and layer mash bt they advice we giv layers pre layer mash after grower because it contains more of calciums pls advice me where to get the feed.

..
I'm not sure they're available in nigeria, unless you formulate urs. U may also give pullets extra calcium while they're still on growers and just before they start laying.

Visit www.facebook.com/farmergiant

@farmtech pls my oga can i use the normal started,grower and layers mash we hav in nigeria to feed my layers and also achieve maximum output frm them? Waiting 4 ur reply

HappyNewYear to everybody. @jamp i'm still waiting 4 ur visit to my farm o. @fnk, bro thanks 4 keeping this forum alive with all the broiler info. Though i've not been to your farm, but i believe from your posts you're living my dream 4 the broiler business. (Can we have an appointment pls. I wouldnt mind booking a same day cheep return flight for few hours visit to your farm)

2014 was in deed a very great year 4 me. Full of challenges with great lessons learnt. Some painful, some hillariously painful (because it exposed how naive one can be when it comes to business). Thank God for the progress achieved as well. I started with and still doing Broilers, but gradually the Pullets are growing along. Though I,ve not started making income that match the investment, slowly but surely we will get there.

My appreciation also goes to all those who responded to my need during one of the respiratory crisis i experienced with the birds. Here we are those pullets will be 17weeks tue Jan.

My Advice 4 all:
CREDIT AND TRUST is key in Biz, be careful when choosing those you give these previlages.

@Jamp, obnelly, farmtech, sleekman,agrictech and all other experience farmers in the house. I currently have 1000 pullets. 75% @ 17wks while the remaining 25% are 10wks old. Can I share the 1000 dose 3in1 vaccine for the 2batches ; by giving d older ones now, then keep the remaing vaccine in the fridge for the next 6wks when the younger batch will be 16wks old. Or should i just vaccinate all of then now.?

dozieihems. Yes, pre-lay mash is recommended for pullets cos of the high calcium content. Giving it to your birds starting 16th week till they attain a specific laying percentage prevents your flock from having rickets, as well as, producing low-quality eggs. As of this moment, I know that AMO BYGN Finished feeds has the pre-lay variant. You may check their website for more info, please. Success.