If you are interested in starting a poultry farm there is some basic information that you need before you can start this type of farming.

In the production of food, especially the production of animal protein, poultry production is the only type of animal production that can provide an income in the short, as well as the long term and also can be incorporated into any other type of farming system, throughout the country.

Keeping poultry is also the only type of production of animal protein that can be performed from the backyard in a suburb/village, at a small to medium size farm, or as a multimillion rand enterprise.

The main purpose of poultry production is the provision of protein in the form of meat and eggs, but there are also valuable by-products such as manure and feathers.  If you consider it to keep poultry, for household purpose or as a business, the following questions need to be answered.

How do I start with Poultry and Egg Production?

The answer to this question is not a simple one because poultry production consists of various production systems, different breeds for the different products and a variety of housing and equipment systems.

The aim of this information series is to introduce poultry farming to those whom are interested in producing poultry products for their own household needs as well as those who wishes to gain knowledge to venture into a commercial enterprise.

What are the different production systems available?

There are basically three systems from which the farmer can choose.

Extensive

This system of keeping chickens is the oldest form of keeping chickens. According to this system you keep chickens but you do not provide them with any housing, feed, medicine etc. These chickens are roaming all over the property fending for them self, laying there eggs anywhere, hatching and rearing chickens without your knowledge. With this system you do not have any control over the number of eggs that you can collect the number of chickens that are hatched, reared and reach maturity.

Semi-intensive

When you keep chickens in this way you provide them with housing, nests, feed, medicine etc. Although you provide them with housing you also have a camp attached to the house where these chickens can roam freely. By providing them with housing, nests etc. you have control over the number of eggs that you collect as well as the number of chickens that are hatched, reared and reached maturity. With this system you can increase your flock as well as producing eggs commercially.

Intensive

This system is a system where you keep the chicken inside the house and provide them with housing, feed, medicine etc. Normally this system will be for commercial use only.

Which system suits you?

The system that you will choose will depend on the following:

• The purpose why you want to keep the chickens. Is it for household production or is it for commercial production or a little bit of both?
• The land that you have available. Do you have enough land available for a semi- or intensive system?
• Capital. How much capital do you have available for the erection of a house/s, equipment etc.
• Your managerial knowledge regarding chicken farming.
• If you do not have any knowledge regarding poultry farming it is advisable that you attend a poultry course.