30/06/2024
Village Chicken Farming for Beginners
Questions first timers ask:
1. Can my hens lay eggs without a c**k?
Yes they can lay unfertilized eggs. The laying of eggs depends on the diet you are feeding your hens not on the c**k. However, if you want the eggs to hatch you need a c**k. You need 1 c**k against 10 hens.
2. Can I feed my chickens gaga (maize bran) only?
Asking this question is more like asking, “Can I eat nshima without relish?” Don’t feed your chicken maize bran (gaga) only. Maize bran contains carbohydrates/ fibre, your chicken need proteins and other nutrients for them to grow healthy. Just like you need balanced diet to grow healthy.
3. So what can I feed my chickens?
You can make your own simple feed. The main component is maize (meal size 3) or you can still use gaga, you need one more ingredient from the following; broiler concentrate, sunflower or sunflower cake, soya beans or fish meal, to add to your maize meal or gaga.
4. Where can I get the components mentioned on answer number 3?
Broiler concentrate is found in shops where they sell feed. Sunflower cake is available from those people who make cooking oil, you can buy soya beans from farmers near your area. If you have land, just plant to reduce on costs. And fish meal is available in markets from those marketeers who sell dry fish.
Note: If you are keeping a small number of chickens like 15 chickens, I advise you to buy fish meal, soya beans or sunflower, because broiler concentrate can be expensive for you.
