Know Your Record-keeping For Effective Kienyenji Bird-rearing: The Nature Network Group Poultry Project Committee Shares Chicken -rearing Knowledge to Inform Skills (Part III)

Know Your Record-keeping For Effective Kienyenji Bird-rearing: The Nature Network Group Poultry Project Committee Shares Chicken -rearing Knowledge to Inform Skills (Part 3)

A chicken farmer has set out time to engage in an agro-based activity that requires commitment, consistency, routine and dedication.  However, that farmer can be more effective if they embrace record keeping for the chicken farming. Whatever methods one uses in record keeping, whether a computer or hand one should ensure that the records are well maintained and categorized correctly. This enables the farmer to identify problems right after it happens.

Before one sets their mind on rearing chicken of the type known as Kienyeji, please read about these tips given freely and from experience. In this series, we are talking about record-keeping. Record keeping is crucial in chicken farming.

Record-keeping enables chicken farmers to connect sourcing of materials, the types of materials, identify persons to work with, draw schedules that catalyze commitment, proper housing, disease control, vaccination, brooding and establish a culture of record keeping. It is a very vital part of your chicken farming venture. 

So, what are those records?

Success Story records:

Success stories of poultry farming in Kenya can be looked up online, through word-of-mouth, visiting poultry farmers and borrowing books on poultry from the library.

A feasible plan record:

A feasible plan is a form of record in place showing how a farmer will roll out the process smoothly by starting with procuring materials (building, food and birds), identified builder, housing, source of water and source of feeds, a veterinarian, vaccinations, ability to respond to emergencies and livestock officers for extension services and most importantly, the farmer should plan from the outset on marketing.

Production records:

Production records enable one to assess progress and outcomes of one’s efforts (productivity). For example, in Kienyeji, the visual or weighed daily or weekly weight gain indicates productivity. Weights can be used to compare the records to the standard chart. One can then make changes in the feeding plan. Many farmers usually weigh their chicken right before slaughter. However, the best way is to weigh weekly to identify any negative deviations. One will be in a position to minimize losses because one can make changes as soon as one notices a deficiency. Production records include dates, eggs produced, opening balance, and birds or eggs sold as well as the closing balance of the eggs. Ensure to include daily day to day sales of your eggs. Never forget to maintain a record of the number and sale price of breakable saleable eggs as well as those of the pullet eggs.

 

Management records:

Management records usually include data that is related to executable, activities or management issues. They include number, date, innoculations, purchases, contracts, expenses, type of vaccination or medication administered, type and amount of feed given, death or loss of chicken, date of chick placement as well as working shifts. The records should include management practices such as introducing growers’ meals, beak trimming, de-worming dates, culled birds, disease incidence and the steps taken. Management records help one when assessing the levels of production of one’s chicken. These records enable one to go back in time and know where things are moving on or off track.

Financial records:

Financial records contain all the financial transactions in a chicken farming venture. It is crucial to enter records of incomes and expenditures such as those of feeds and purchase of day-old chicks. It is important to keep any financial records of any items sold or bought including supplies, contracts such as builder, carpenter, veterinary costs, and equipment.

A chicken farmer sets out time to engage in an agro-based activity which can be effective when records are regularly originated and maintained.