What to keep in mind when it comes to housing choices

A simple poultry house. A ideal kuku house should be ventilated have a perching area and space.

Why should housing matter to you as a commercial poultry farmer? The right poultry housing guarantees the birds’ good health and welfare and affects egg and meat production. Poultry houses ideally should be in isolated places to minimise human traffic and mixing between different farms. You have probably noticed how far Kenchick locates their production units – in the middle of nowhere. You may not afford this luxury as a small-scale farmer but still you can use the furthest corner of the farm.

When housing birds, do not overcrowd. Create enough room for the birds to perch, walk and run around. Ensure there is good ventilation because birds are easily stressed when there’s ammonia accumulation in the air. To cure this, make sure the house has sufficient flow of fresh air and is adequately lit. Sterilise houses when bringing in new chicks. Here are the three broad categories of rearing: