Chicken breed selection in poultry can be challenging, especially for novices. You may have heard about the profits that can be made from starting a poultry business, but let’s do it right.
Starting a poultry farm depends on chicken breeds for production developed to suit environmental conditions and market preferences. You must know what works well in your locality to select a chicken breed.
It could be a local breed, a foreign breed, or a hybrid. Consider the factors listed below to choose the best chicken breed for your production.
What are the factors to consider in selecting chicken?
Studying birds in a new habitat with samples rather than a big population is strongly advised. This article will help you figure out how to establish a favorable atmosphere for future development in chicken breed selection.
1) Weather conditions
Weather-related characteristics and behaviors differ amongst bird species. A normal temperate bird may not survive or perform well in a tropical setting. Unless they have high weather adaption traits, their chances of survival may be minimal if they are relocated from their habitat to a new place.
On the other hand, modern farm facilities may be programmed to change environmental temperature and relative humidity (RH) to guarantee that birds survive when relocated to a different location with differing weather conditions.
2) Environment adaptability
Chicken’s ability to adapt to their environment is important, as people prefer where they wish to live. The same applies to poultry birds; the farmer must provide a solution.
Changes in feed supply, feeding schedules, water quality, and, in certain circumstances, noise levels all influence the chicken breed selection for production.
3) Production cost in chicken breed selection
Management must consider cost before selecting a breed, regardless of whether farm infrastructure is modified to meet specifications.
Regarding environmental adaptations, you should consider the birds’ chances to survive when transferring them from their original habitat to yours.
4) Disease tolerance
Regarding diseases that are common in your region, it is important to consult with your local veterinarian. Avian influenza, avian pox, fowl cholera, typhoid, Newcastle disease, infectious coryza, and other common chicken illnesses can all be deadly. Learn here: 7 Free biosecurity tips you should practice on your poultry farm.
The absence of poultry production in a specific place may not suggest a substantial opportunity to establish one. To ensure your safety, rely heavily on poultry disease infection history in your locality or undertake extensive study.
5) Feed conversion ratio
The feed conversion ratio refers to a bird’s capacity to convert a given feed into an expected output (meat or eggs).
There are pros and cons to most of the chicken breeds out there. Some of the most well-known poultry breeders include Cobb, Lohmann, and Hy-Line.
6) Laying ability
Egg production is a key source of profit in the poultry sector. It is, nevertheless, better to be acquainted with the breeds that excel at producing eggs.
Although environmental circumstances, weather conditions, and production management may all influence egg-laying chickens, all of the above elements must be considered. Animal welfare is critical to optimize revenue by selecting the greatest breed.
Source:PoultryABC.com
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