Chicks are the little birds that require a farmer’s full attention when raising them on your farm. Chicks mature with time, gaining weight and increasing egg productivity that will later earn you income on your farm. The majority prefer to start a poultry industry with chicks rather than older birds, as chicks are straightforward to monitor and ensure their status in the future. It is also possible to venture into the chick business after hatching.
Let us get started on how to take care of chicks in Kenya. I will take you through how to take care of chicks that will work well for you. Continue reading until the end.
11 Ways to Take Care of Chicks
1. Heat the House for 24 Hours Before the Arrival of the Chicks
It is imperative to have a well-constructed chick’s house heated for 24 hours before the arrival of the chicks. This ensures that there is almost the same temperature as that of the mother chicken. Besides, this temperature is essential as it keeps the birds active.
2. Maintain a Temperature Range of 30 to 33 Degrees Celsius
In the first week, maintain these room temperatures to keep the birds warm and active. To maintain this temperature, prevent cold air from falling on the chicks by closing all the routes where cold air can penetrate.
4. Provide Lukewarm Water
Give your chicks’ lukewarm water at a temperature higher than 20 degrees Celsius but less than 28 degrees Celsius. Lukewarm water prevents chicks from getting pneumonia.
5. Proper Ventilation of the House
A well-ventilated house helps remove stale air and brings in fresh, oxygenated air, which is essential for the breathing of the chicks. A poorly ventilated room will only contain carbon dioxide, which may cause suffocation of the birds.
6. Use Paper or Gunny Bag Material in Feeding
Feeding is essential for chicks as it helps in the growth of the birds. Use paper to put feed for chicks in the first three days. Avoid putting food on a random floor surface, as birds may consume contaminants.
7. Light Source
It is best to have a source of light in the birds’ coops. Lighting is vital as birds use it to see and for vitamin purposes. Enough light will lead to faster growth of chicks.
8. Avoid Overcrowding the Chicks
Overcrowding is discouraged when raising chicks since there is insufficient space for chicks, and also, pecking may take place, causing stress. Stressed birds do not grow faster. Ensure there is enough space to accommodate the chicks without overcrowding them.
9. Proper Feeding
Chicks are given chick mash and multi-vitamins for the first few days. Give an average of 20 grams per day of chick mash. Chick mash has a high protein content that facilitates the growth of the birds and a low fiber content to help with digestion.
10. Vaccination
Adopt a suitable day-old vaccination schedule that will boost the immunity of your chicks. Increased immunity is essential in fighting deadly outbreaks of diseases that are harmful to your birds. Use a vaccine prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture or your trusted veterinarian.
11. Maintain Hygiene
Hygiene is crucial in the rearing of chicks in Kenya. A clean environment helps the birds thrive well. Poor hygiene in the birds’ coops creates a breeding environment for parasites that later cause infection in the chicks. Infections cause retarded growth or death of the chicks; thus, your farm will only register losses.
Therefore, it is crucial to understand a day-old chick management pdf to have a clear view of how to raise your chicks till maturity.
How Much is a Day Old Chick
Are you wondering how much a day-old chick costs in Kenya? A day-old chick in Kenya usually costs Ksh. 100.
This affordable cost will fetch you maximum profits when the birds mature. Select good breeds that have exquisite characteristics.
How to Become a Kenchic Farmer in Kenya
Kenchic is the leading agricultural producer in the Kenya agribusiness industry, which makes most farmers want to work with it. Kenchic gives farmers contracts allowing them to practice chicken farming in Kenya.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to become a Kenchic farmer in Kenya that will work well for you:
Step 1: Visit the Kenchic Office near you
This is a swift step toward becoming a Kenchic farmer in Kenya. Visiting the Kenchic office will help you know what you need, such as the capital and rearing requirements, among other factors.
Step 2: Fill In the Given Forms
You are given forms that require your details. Attach the necessary documents as requested in the papers. Honesty is the policy of gaining a contract with Kenchic.
Step 3: Submit the Forms
Once you are done filling out the information and attaching the forms, you can submit the form to the Kenchic office so that they can assess the details.
Step 4: Assessment of the Premises
Kenchic assesses your premise to check whether it is conducive to the birds or not.
The Kenchic project managers do assessments. Ensure you possess the requested requirements to have an easy time with the assessors.
Step 5: Start Raising Kenchic Chicks
Once you have passed the assessment test, you can raise the Kenchic chicks, providing them with the best care. Follow the Kenchic layers manual pdf strictly if the birds are layers. 3-day-old chicks require close supervision to avoid messing up the whole generation.
Taking care of kienyeji chicks can only be simple when following the correct procedure. Besides, kienyeji do not require much attention compared to GMOs, so raising them is affordable.
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