HOW TO RAISE CHICKENS

THERE ARE 2 BASIC TYPES OF CHICKENS
1.The pullets (Layers):
These are reared for egg production and most lucrative but more stressing compared to the other ones.

2.The broiler chicken:
These are reared for meat production and they grow fast in comparison to the other ones and are ready for the market in 12 weeks from hatch.
Hence the most important element to setting up poultry is knowing what kind of chickens you want to rare, be it for meat or egg production.



THE PULLETS (LAYERS)
These are kept for commercial egg production.

LAYERING BREEDS
According to the nature and colour of the eggs, layer hens are of 2 types:
1. White egg layering hens, comparatively smaller in size, eat less feed and the colour of the eggshell is white.eg. is a white, Lehman white, hi sex white, sever white etc.
2. Brown egg-laying hens, these are relatively large, eat a lot of feed compared to white laying hens and lay bigger eggs. Eggshell is brown .eg. hi sex brown, sever 579, is a brown, gold line, Havard brown etc. These are very suitable for commercial farming.



LAYER HEN SELECTION
1. For commercial eggs production, you need to choose highly productive laying hens correctly.
2. Not all types of laying hens produce the same number of eggs.
3. Your chosen breed should contain your desired characteristics and a reputation for egg production which is suitable for your business.
4. Always purchase chicks from a famous hatchery, refer to their catalogues before purchase.

KEEPING CHICKS 
Due to transporting the chicks from one place to another, many chicks do not want to drink water during the first weeks after birth, hence the need to make adequate water drinking systems in their brooder house with chick drinker and you have to train them for drinking water. At least 5% glucose should be added to the water for the chicks to easily get energy. Provide them with high-quality multivitamins by mixing with water (suggested by electrolyte production companies’ instructions). These are very effective by transport cage when you transport chicks for a long distance. Reduces tiredness and lack of water and makes the chick stronger.









METHOD AND IMPORTANCE OF LIP CUTTING
Benefits of lip cutting:
1.Reduces mutual fights
2.Prevents food waste
3. Cut the chicks lips at the age of 8-10 days
4. Lip of chicks must be cut 0.2 cm from their nose 
5. Never cut both lips together, cut the lower lip separately with the upper lip.
6. Never cut the lips 2days after or before vaccination, after or before using medicine like sulfur. Don’t cut the lip if the hen is in a strain, and or during adverse weather conditions and if the bird is laying eggs.
7. Serve the chicken water mixed with vitamin "k" three days before cutting lips. Washing the lip cutting instruments with antiseptic. Test the edge and temperature of the blade. Ensure you don’t damage the eyes and tongue of the hen. Cold weather is preferable for lip cutting, serve them water in a deep pot and provide some extra energy enriched feed.



VACCINES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE 
This process is very important to keep the chicks free from all types of poultry diseases.ie;
1. Timely vaccination forms disease resistance power in the chicks’ body.
2. Prevents hens from all poultry diseases.
3.Less disease prevalence.
4.Reduction of the mortality rate.
5.Low mortality rate=more production=more profit.



FEEDING
The feed should always be bought from reliable sources and famous, popular feed suppliers for sustainable produce from your hens, feed should always be enriched with essential food value. Proteins and minerals are a vital element for laying hens.
1.2% of calcium for two weeks.
2. In a process that they are not gaining weight, you need to serve them starter feed for 8weeks.
3. The feed should be served 2-3 times a day till the hens are 18weeks of age.
4.Increase in demand for feed when hens start laying
5. Layer poultry feed should be served according to their weight and age
6. Never decrease the amount of feed in the process of laying even if then hens weight increases.



GROWING CHICKS
1.0—5 week: At the first week, people should offer the food which is easy to digest for the chick. Abundant corn will enforce the growing of the digestion ability. Changing features will be finished in this period, this is the key stage for skeletal development. The weight of the first five weeks chick can decide the egg production ability in future. In a word, this period is very important for the whole successful breeding. 80pcs birds for each square meters till three weeks.
2.6—15 week: People should adjust the chicken weight by improving lighting time, adding feeding and water in the chicken cage, increase food nutrition so can keep the chicken health. Chicken density is the main factor to promise uniformity growing situation which will bring convenience in management. 44pcs birds for each square meters is good.
3.16-25 week: At the beginning of the egg production time, the temperature of the shed is about 18-20 ℃，so can stimulate hens appetite. The hens are preparing for egg production. In this period, people should encourage hens to feed more, in order to promote growth and full development of the reproductive organs.



EGG PRODUCTION
Egg production and profit will be maximized by taking good care of your birds and giving them a happy home.
1. In 20 weeks of age, about 5% of the hens should start laying eggs.
2. Within the 21st week around 10%.
3.26-30 weeks of age they produce highly-sometimes being different based on their strain.
4. Hens stop laying for a few days after laying a maximum number of eggs.
5. Production slowly reduces.
6. Weight and size of eggs increase until they are 50 weeks of age.