Trading a meal for an improved livelihood (The Art of Poultry Farming)

 

                                        Dorothy (the hen) receiving her vaccination.

I first met Dorothy (the hen above) about two months ago when she showed up in our garden as a gift from an uncle. Although everyone was determined to see her tanned to a crisp, covered with rosemary, and surrounded by potatoes, I was determined to save her and give her a chance at life before death. Little did I know was that I was saving more than just one life. I was saving 13. 

The art of poultry farming in rural Africa follows a similar story. Becoming a poultry farmer is not about going out and buying several chickens. It is about the farmer focusing their efforts on acquiring one or even two hens and providing them with the food, vaccinations/medications, and safety they need to stay alive and lay eggs. You might ask why not include a rooster? Well that is because purchasing a rooster is not always a necessity as these tend to roam through the village offering free services until they are exchanged for other roosters or sold periodically to allow safe breeding to continue. 

Farming poultry in a rural setting is easier than farming cows, goats and even agriculture because the landscape, weather conditions and food availability are more conducive for free-range poultry. The agricultural food waste that is predominantly from cereals as well as food left over from meals gives the birds a continuous supply of food. They also require little open space and are able to find water on their own while roaming through the village. 

As for Dorothy, two months after relocating to a village in Eastern Uganda, she had 12 chicks that are alive and well. For a rural farmer, that means that one has gone from owning one chicken to 13. Now with the arrival of the KUKUSTAR® vaccine that can protect chickens against the vicious outbreaks of the highly fatal Newcastle Disease, Dorothy and her 12 offspring have a chance to survive and prosper. The other good news for this farmer is that if Dorothy keeps up her productivity she is expected to lay eggs three to four times in a year, which would bring the farmer a total number of 36-48 new arrivals in a year. 

Now if Dorothy and her  12 original offspring  chickens were to be kept in a clean and safe environment, and are able to get the vaccinations like KUKUSTAR® that they need, then depending on the number of female chicks that hatched, the farmer could find themselves with even more hens down the road that will be able to join their mother Dorothy in laying eggs. In the case of Dorothy, five of her chicks are female and by the time their mother lays eggs for the fourth time, her five daughters will have joined her to form a breeding team of six. If the daughters were to keep true to Dorothy’s genes, this team of six will be driving towards hatching 72 new chicks every time they hatch, clearly sending the farmer firmly on the path out of poverty. 

The reproduction rate and low maintenance costs make birds, especially chickens, the perfect animal for rural farming and for uplifting the quality of life of rural peasant farmers. In the past, outbreaks of Newcastle Disease have put a dent in rural poultry farming, and discouraged others from investing in what could be a lucrative business if done properly. This is why giving them access to vaccines like KUKUSTAR® is of great importance because saving these chickens will in turn improve or even save the lives of the people who own them.  

Watch the interview with George Mukiibi-Muka where he talks about the Art of Poultry Farming in rural Uganda - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATGFS0TPPOQ&feature=youtu.be&a

Dorothy and her chicks.