Poultry production of both broilers and layers has disappointed many farmers in the country having a number of farmers from different places complaining on the growth of chickens in this summer season. Mortality rate is high on broiler chickens with more than fifty percent and the remaining having stunted growth. There is an outbreak of poultry diseases such as fowl cholera, newcastle, ascites and fowl typhoid Signs of illness in birds are coughing, swollen eyes, feather dropping, discharge from nose, less or no appetite, and sneezing resulting in immediate deaths. A survey carried out in Domboshava shows that most chickens have a stunted growth to an extent that farmers are now selling eight weeks old birds at $2 each resulting in losses and low production returns. ” I purchased one hundred and twenty five chickens at one supplier here at showground but only sixteen are left now not sure if they will make it to sixth week” one farmer explained. Farmers said that they are now prioritizing the use of natural remedies to treat sick birds as well as prevention as it is effective and with the fact that they lose a lot of money since December. The use of aloe vera plant leaves, chilli and mutiti bark and is now prevalent mixing it with drinking water for the birds. Another factor is that farmers, has complained that the suppliers are giving them rejects which will not easily grow thereby they are now maximizing use of boosters to chickens. Layers production has also decreased with the birds less drinking eggs produced and some explained that crushing the shells and de worming can boost egg laying. This shows that farmers are communicating among themselves and share experiences that might help each other. Talking to one company which supplies chicks in Harare, Charles Stewart representative said that due to water excess in summer the air becomes saturated and disease prone to chickens thereby farmers must equip well their fowl runs. The position of the fowl must be considered not facing direction which with rain or wind. Farmers are encouraged to make extra cleanliness to their fowl runs having a footbath at the doorstep and always making sure that bedding is dry so that chickens won’t get diseases from wet bedding. He also emphasized that farmers should correctly position a brooder so that warmth is even distributed. Hopefully, farmers should isolate infected birds, spraying and cleaning fowl runs after chickens are out with pesticides before the day old ones and frequent use of chemicals from the suppliers such as ESB3, virukill and stress pack and expected intervals to produce a better increase poultry production. |
Article by Priority Mufungi