Poultry Behavior and Management Insights

Understanding poultry behavior is key to effective management and ensuring the health and productivity of your flock. Here's a comprehensive guide to poultry behavior and its implications for farming practices:

1. Flock Formation and Social Structure

• Natural Behavior: In the wild, chickens form small flocks, typically consisting of 1-5 hens and one cock. Smallholder farmers often keep flocks of 4-10 hens and one cock, but sizes can range up to around 30 adults and young birds.
• Social Hierarchy: Within a flock, chickens establish a pecking order where each bird has a specific rank. High-ranking birds have priority access to resources like nesting sites, resting spots, and food. Dominance is often displayed through body language, such as stretching the neck and turning the bill.

2. Physical and Behavioral Characteristics

• Size and Weight: At the point of lay, an indigenous hen typically weighs 1.2 – 1.5 kg, while a mature cock weighs 1.4 – 2.0 kg. Free-range hens generally start laying eggs at 22-32 weeks of age, producing 30-60 eggs per year in 3-4 clutches.
• Nesting and Brooding: Hens prefer quiet, dark places for laying eggs and brooding. They usually incubate eggs for 21 days, with around 8 out of 10 eggs hatching successfully.

3. Feather Maintenance and Parasite Control

• Feather Care: Chickens spend significant time cleaning and preening their feathers, which is crucial for protection against temperature extremes and predators. Dust bathing, which helps control external parasites, is a daily routine. Ensure they have access to a dry area for dust bathing, and consider adding dry lime or ash to their bathing area for added parasite protection.

4. Management of Large Flocks

• Broiler Behavior: In large flocks, such as those ranging from 500 to 50,000 birds, normal social behaviors are less visible. The risk of disease spread is higher in large flocks compared to smaller ones. Management practices should include restricting flock entry and maintaining consistent personnel to minimize stress and prevent outbreaks of fear, which can lead to high mortality rates.
• Layer Farms: For layer farms, a density of 5 layers/m² is recommended in deep-litter systems to ensure comfort and productivity.

For optimal poultry management and equipment, including quality cages and other essential tools, visit Engoho Kuku Farmer.