Poultry Farming: Home Backyard Farm Basics for Starters

A backyard chicken farm is a home farm in a residential neighborhood.
Many Nigerians are backyard poultry farmers with small holdings below 1000 chickens. Some rushed into setting up a home backyard farm without considering the pros and cons of the idea and ran into trouble which could not be managed and were compelled to fold up. Before setting up a home backyard chicken farm in Nigeria, there are many factors to consider for smooth running.

Advantages:
A small chicken farm containing about 200 to 500 to 1000 birds may be set up in the home provided that adequate space is available. The major advantages of a backyard are:
Firstly, the farmer is closer to the farm in terms of proximity and ability to give prompt attention to the chickens which are among the issues necessary to success in the business. Secondly, necessary facilities such as water and electricity will already be in place which makes a backyard farm less capital intensive to set up. Thirdly, the farmer’s family will be able to assist in the management of the farm which means reduced wage bills.

Problems:
One of the major challenges many backyard farmers have is the chicken waste evacuation which can become a nightmare. Many backyard farmers have problems with their neighbours on account of the offensive odor coming from the chicken waste. The odor results when the chicken waste is not quickly removed from the chicken pen and disposed properly.

• Evacuation of chicken droppings must be done regularly to avoid the offensive odors disturbing the neighbors. If starting the farm with day old birds, the evacuation should be done once in 5 days for as long as egg production is yet to commence if the chickens are layers.

A dirty and smelling chicken house constitutes serious health hazards to the layers chickens which could lead to chicken deaths and increased medication costs. Same applies to broilers and cockerels.

When egg production commences as in layers, then the chicken waste evacuation must be done every 3 days in a backyard farm that operates a deep litter system or a battery cage system that has no pit beneath. Usually, the evacuation is done manually and is a tedious exercise. This may mean engaging someone to do the cleaning when due.

• Ensure that you can dispose the chicken waste properly. It is not to be dumped carelessly because of the health risks. It can be given out to crop farmers or sold to them if there are crop farms around.
If the chicken waste disposal will be a problem that cannot be effectively managed, then do not set up a backyard farm especially in a residential area that is fully built. To do so is to risk trouble with the neighbors who may report to the local government and you will be compelled to close down the farm abruptly.

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