Are you planning to get in poultry farming this year but still unsure about which type to choose? Or maybe you have been raising one type and are thinking of adding another to your project? Poultry farming in Zambia is one of the easiest ways to start or expand a farming project, but choosing the right type of birds matters more than most people think.
Livestock
Why Chickens Have Combs
If you have ever looked closely at a chicken, one of the first things you notice is the fleshy red crest on top of its head. This is called the comb, and it is not just decoration. The chicken comb plays an important role in temperature regulation, overall health, communication, and even reproduction. This article explains why chickens have combs, the different styles suited for warm and cold climates, how to recognize a healthy comb, what signs indicate problems, and finally, the surprising ways people have used combs in food and medicine.
The Untold Story of Luwingu’s Fish Farmers
Deep in Luwingu District, where quiet ponds glisten under the northern sun, a group of resilient small-scale farmers are building something extraordinary. It is a vision of aquaculture that could feed families, build incomes, and transform rural livelihoods. A recent study gives us an intimate look into their lives, their practices, and their potential..
Why are my chickens not laying eggs?
What am I doing wrong? This is a question that every poultry farmer asks when their chickens are not laying enough eggs. If this is you, you’re probably looking for solutions right now. I feel your pain and hope this article helps you solve your production challenges.
Poultry Heat Stress: Prevention And Treatment
The effect of heat stress on farmers and their businesses cannot be overemphasized. If not prevented or treated, poultry heat stress alone can cause a high mortality rate leading to a great loss.
Heat Stress in Chickens
It’s the hot season again! That time of the year when poultry farmers face challenges in managing their flocks. During this season there is a high mortality rate among chickens as a result of heat stress.
Lifespan of a hen
Chickens are one of the most common livestock. They are also among the farm animals with the shortest lifespan of all. A hen is an adult female chicken mostly known for its role in egg laying, hatching, and breeding. Because of this, farmers and poultry owners pay more attention to the well-being and life span of this particular chicken. We, therefore, examine a hen’s life expectancy and the various factors that may impact its life span. Here are three:
How To Protect Your Chickens From Cats
Unlike dogs and other domesticated animals, cats will always have a natural wild side. Just because they spend hours lounging beside a sunny window does not mean that cats won’t go after your feathered animals. Hunting is their primary purpose, therefore, cats may well be attracted to the lively frolics that a flock of chickens displays.
5 Common Chicken Diseases and How to Prevent Them
Poultry farming is one of the most common farming practices in Zambia. However, your poultry is susceptible to abnormal conditions that cause some of the common chicken diseases that interfere with productivity. Such conditions are caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria or environmental stress. It is essential to combat diseases once you spot them to regain productivity and prevent your birds from dying. Here are five of the most common chicken diseases and how to avoid them:
How To Get Your Chickens To Mate
It happens naturally right? The Rooster sees the hen and it just happens all the time? Well, Yes! But not all the time. Roosters lose interest in mating with same hen repeatedly. Also, hens get bored with mating the same rooster. So, how do you keep chicken copulation going? How do you ensure that your flock is growing steadily?