Indigenous Chicken Housing and Hygiene

Proper housing and hygiene are essential for maintaining a healthy and productive indigenous chicken flock. Here's a guide to creating a safe and clean environment for your birds:

Housing

• Night-Basket or Chicken House: A simple night-basket or a dedicated chicken house is vital for protecting your chickens from bad weather, predators, and theft. These shelters provide a secure environment for the birds to roost at night, reducing stress and potential losses.
• Perches: Inside the chicken house, provide perches for the birds to roost on during the night. Perches help keep the chickens off the ground, which can prevent foot problems and reduce the risk of disease transmission.
• Nests: Place nesting boxes inside the chicken house to make it easier to collect eggs and ensure that hens have a quiet, undisturbed place to lay their eggs. This setup also helps reduce the risk of eggs being broken or contaminated.

Hygiene

• Clean Feeders and Drinkers: To prevent the spread of disease, always keep feeders and drinkers clean. Dirty or contaminated feed and water can lead to health issues, including infections and parasites.
• Regular Cleaning: The chicken house and nesting areas should be cleaned regularly to remove droppings, insects, and other debris. This helps maintain a healthy environment and reduces the risk of disease.
• Fresh Bedding: Replace the straw or hay in the nests weekly to provide a clean and comfortable place for hens to lay eggs. Adding a small amount of ash on top of the bedding can help prevent parasites such as mites and lice.
• Deep Cleaning and Disinfection: At least twice a year, or after any serious disease outbreaks, thoroughly clean the house, perches, and nests. After cleaning, paint the surfaces with lime to disinfect and deter pests. Lime helps in sealing cracks where parasites might hide.
• Dealing with Persistent Problems: If your chicken house or small wooden cages have ongoing issues with parasites, it may be best to burn the infested structures and build new ones. Parasites can hide in tiny cracks and crevices, making them difficult to eliminate through cleaning alone.

For high-quality chicken housing solutions and essential poultry farming equipment, visit Engoho Kuku Farmer.