Fo
r Some, keeping Poultry birds, is like a norm especially in Nigerian homes, while people keep them for different reasons, maybe for meat or to make money from selling off meats, whatever be the case, i'd say its a good thing to keep domestic animals, sometimes they are ones companion and a friend one need.
One of the issues that tend to discourage people is the fund to start off a poultry farm, from getting them a house, to getting their feeds and adequate medications.
One of the poultry type people tend not to pay attention to is the free range system. To be clear the free range system is allowing the birds to roam any length while keeping a close watch on them to be sure they are not devoured by predators or stolen.
In the case of birds, i'd provided them shelters, And keep them in a confined place for about 6 weeks before allowing them the freedom.
The reason is to feed them earnestly day and night and administer their medications for proper health.
The reaon i allowed my birds for free range is to have access to other minerals through grazing,
Birds do feed on grass and also on insects while pecking through the soil. Infact this further improves the quality of eggs being laid by these birds.
- Keeping birds in an enclosed area can limit their growth while some become overweight thereby affecting their walking and leading to death.
But again, one must bear in mind some risks involved in free range system, while it could be more beneficial to birds it alo might be dangerous. In my own case, it is theft, I've lost some birds through this process, though that was when i started allowing them going out of the gates, while some dont come home again, the case of predators feeding on them too.
- what i did was to allow them out only in the day time, while i allow them in again once the sun goes down, while i watch closely.
I'm rather impressed seeing the birds became mlre healthy, added more weight through the grass and other insects they feed on, the egg quality being laid also got improved.