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A Guide to World Poultry chicken/meat(market/ecnomic analysis,trends,statistics 2012),upcoming trends in world poultry

Upcoming Trends in World Poultry

In the year 2012, the projected expansion of the worldwide meat production is 2 percent, thus taking the total figure to 302 million metric tons. Most of the production is going to come from Asia, especially from Russia, China, India, Turkey and Japan according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. According to a number of poultry analysts and researchers, the worldwide markets for poultry are going to grow on an annual rate of 5 % in almost all of the countries. All the variations in terms of the capital growth are also going to see a major change in the amounts that are consumed on a yearly basis. An important thing to note here is the fact that the most development would be seen in the developing countries in comparison to the developed countries. One reason for thing being the environmental conditions in the developing countries and some of the developed Asian countries are well suited for poultry farming. Japan is also now increasing the use of various techniques and measures in order to increase the poultry output, all because till now it has been unable to properly meet its meat consumption needs. According to a number of different sources, the top 5 poultry producing countries are:

  • United States
  • China
  • Russia
  • Brazil
  • India

On a global rate, production of all the primary poultry products has been increasing on a rapid pace. This is the clear cut reflection of the increase in the meat demands and it also comes to reflect the consumption patterns and how they are changing in the year 2012 and for the upcoming years. The consumers now also demand the meat at a low price due to which all these countries are paying attention to increase the production and efficiency as stated by various reports published by the world poultry industries. The increase in the production of chicken meat in the world has been nearly 3.8 percent. All these statistics do not take into account the value that has been added into these poultry products, whether in terms of food processing or the formation of more sophisticated procedures for processing.

According to a number of surveys and economic analysis of the markets, the largest increases in terms of chicken meat production have been seen in Russia, India, China and Brazil. From the year 2000 to 2008, the output in terms of chicken production rose from 8 million to 8.9 million ton. From 2008 onwards, the growth has not been so agile, all because of the great depression and recession in almost all of the countries. The recession has also posed a number of challenges for the poultry sectors all over the world.  But now as the world is moving towards the stage of economic stability, new trends in the poultry meat production are likely to emerge more rapidly. In comparison to Europe, more than half of the chicken meat production came from Russia which is nearly 1.24 million tons. This indeed reflects some high and profitable investment opportunities in the countries, especially in Russia and India. The share of Europe in terms of the worldwide global meat production has fallen from 16 percent to 15.3 percent. Furthermore, the capital required for investment would also be less than the one required for starting a poultry meat business in the United States.

In order to provide a boost and all sorts of encouragement to the farmers and all other individuals involved in the sector, the governments have offered various compensations and subsidies for the purpose of increasing the export. This step is also going to play a vital role in order to meet the demand and supply of poultry meat inside and outside the countries.

Below is the table for chicken meat production in Europe in tons:

Russian Federation 2500
UK 1265
Spain 1070
France 940
Poland 900
Ukraine 850
Italy 790
Germany 750

All the above mentioned figures are till the year 2010. The president of the Russian federation, Vladimir Putin has also signed the Food Security Doctrine, in which he has stated that country is going to increase its food self-efficiency to 85 %.

For Asia, exports of Frozen/Chicken Meat in tons:

China, Hong Kong SAR 134,089
China, MACAO SAR 461,161
Turkey 114,166

The fall in:

In terms of the important market purchasing, Vietnam, China, Thailand and Turkey have been quite active. But the leading importer of the chicken and broiler meat in the region is Japan with nearly 900,000 tons imported in 2011.

Mass Issues and Uncertainties

Animal diseases and various outbreaks is also one of the major problems faced by the top 5 poultry meat producing countries, which may also come to  increase the cost of production. They are also going to effectuate the international and domestic markets pretty heavily. So, it now evident that the worldwide meat markets are really fragmented due to the limits sanitary conditions.

Deep Litter Method and Litter Management Guide

The nutrition value of poultry is best preserved through the proper and careful management of litter. Furthermore, it is also useful for preventing the surface and the surrounding areas from being contaminated. The importance of all types of litter management including chicken deep litter method, chicken coop deep litter method etc. is best understood in the farm house settings. So, if you plan to get the best out of your investment in poultry, then you should try to follow the standards as well as some modified strategies. There are a wide variety of maneuvers and measures when it comes to litter management. There are a number of disadvantages and damages that might be inflicted due to improper handling and poor storage techniques of the poultry litter. These effects include:

  • Loss of the nutrients value from the fertilizers
  • Spread of various diseases
  • Odor and other related issues
  • Contamination of the land and water
  • Deterioration in the health of the domesticated animals including chickens, ducks and others
Deep Litter Material

Deep material is indeed the most widely and successfully used housing system for the poultry based settings. It involves spreading dust and other sawdust materials on the floor for different purposes. The initial layers of deep litter system helps provide a bedding sheath or layer for the animals which are always exposed to the environmental changes. Furthermore, the farmers continue to add more and more layers while cleaning out the previous layers. These mechanisms helps in keeping intact, the health of the animals as well as more conducive farm house environment for the growth of the animals.

 

 

deep litter material

 

 

Tips for Deep Litter and keeping the litter un-wet

Deep litter method is based on allowing the coop and other forms of litter to grow with the passage of time. No matter you have backyard chickens, ducks or any other domesticated animals, the litter materials help provide a great amount of heat to the animals, especially in times of the winter season when the animals happen to be at great danger at the hands of the atmosphere. Here are some tips for the deep litter:

  • Adding substantial amounts of food grade at the top layer, so that the poop may dry out in no time.
  • Proper ventilation for the coop. The Importance of ventilation is really important for the respiration of the animals and for the materials to dry up. In order to estimate the levels of moisture you can pick up some litter and squeeze for seeing some change in the normal levels.
  • Try to make small ventilation holes inside the farm or the room in which the animals are being kept. It is crucial that the litter should remain dried and should be removed at set time intervals.
  • The chicken can also in keeping all the litter turned over. This maneuver is best done by adding some pieces of bread or any other material so that the chickens might also help in the litter management. For those of you who are new to farming, chickens also help in the processing of the litter and litter bedding by digging holes in the ground.
  • Furthermore, chicken poops also come in handy for making fertilizers and chicken manure. Also try to keep the water in a running position and not in the coop. But if you do want to keep it into the coop than try to make sure that the water isn’t spilled on the litter.
  • Try to make the maximum use of pie shavings and related materials for the litter management in poultry.

 

 

litter management

 

 

Disadvantages of Wet Litter

Wet litter has been proved to cause a number of harmful emissions and diseases in animals. In other words, the more wet the litter is, the higher are the chances for the spread of pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, the overall broiler production is highly effectuated by the ammonia emissions which are given off as a result of the wet litter.(A part from this it also produces bad smell in chicken house) There are various farms all over the world that have suffered detrimental effects and losses caused by the ammonia emissions. Opposite to this, the litter should also not be kept as very dry, as it might lead to problems such as dehydration. In addition, wet litter might also increase the chances of breast blister.

bacteria and fungal diseases-disadvantages of wet litter

 

Free green roof chicken coop plans – build one yourself

Since ages people have been raising chickens and cocks in their backyards; there are a number of reasons for indulging in this habit – many do it for their interests and for many it’s the source of income. Interestingly, the survey shows that this trend is getting popular over the years in both rural and urban areas. You must have seen a conventional type of green roof chicken coop in the homes of those who are in chicken caring business, but these are not very effective for all the weathers; many overlook the fact but a chicken coop must be strong enough to bear the harsh weather. If you talk about the normal types of chicken coop designs, they seem attenuate to cope up with the environmental changes – this leads to affect the health of the animals residing in there – which are an ultimate loss for the caretaker.

Other than this, if chicken and chicks are not looked after properly, they incur various diseases and that gets troubling because it is fatal. However, you are not supposed to panic because with a number of various green roof chicken coop plans and amazing ideas related to chicken coop structures, you can easily get through with the problem.

You should always go for green roofs if you are into animal domestication. First of all, it provides a fresher appealing ambiance to the animals inside, and also provides enough space for the animals to move around. In fact, a green roof would make it a cool chicken coop by letting the sun rays away from it. Also, it empowers one to plant some of the healthy and fresh plants over the top so that it becomes an ideal structure for chicken coops for hot weather; basically, it would act as a thermal insulator. Also, the fine appeal can be added to the chicken coop easily this way – after all, you want your chicken house to look as good as it can be.

Many questions about free green roof chicken coop plans and how to build a chicken coop. Well, most of items that you would require can be procured from home – so here you go;

Material needed:

  • Screws and its driver
  • Drill
  • Pond liner
  • Blankets (used)
  • Yorkshire board – it would help in setting the roof
  • A medium sack of gravel
  • Peat medium sack
  • Sharp sand

1: First of all you need to find a roof structure; make sure it’s strong enough to bear the weight of the plants.

2: Once the roof has been selected, must attach the pond liner around it; attach it in a way that it overlaps so that when it rains the water does not enter the roof. Join it with glue or staples firmly.

3: Now you should cut the roof into the size which blends well with the box (structure) of the coop. In order to provide a finishing touch to the box, cover it with the blanket. This would help the coop retain the necessary water.

4: Now take the gravel and nicely put it over the roof; make sure that the amount of sharp sand and gravel is equal while making the mixture. In this way the water will get drained easily without harming the chickens inside. Your backyard chicken coop is ready.

5: Lastly, plant it up with plants of your choice. Well, whatever plants you intend to grow and place there, make sure you look after them regularly. Don’t let them get dry or fall because it would then not only destroy the look of the coop, but also the main aim of keeping it cooler would get disturbed. Well, one of the popular types of plant which are ideal for the coop use is Sedum – there are many varieties of Sedum to choose from like;

  • Angelina
  • Blue spruce
  • Dragons blood
  • John Creech
  • Orange Stonecrop

sedum roof chicken coop

These are the layman’s given names, but you can easily find them in the plant shops. I hope the piece of information is ideal enough to help you build your own attractive and comfortable chicken coop design.

10 Guiding Principles To Optimize Poultry Processing

Poultry processing should be taken seriously, especially when you plan to optimize the yield and the profits. In other words, you need to make use of a number of standardized procedures and plans in order to get the best value for your investment in broiler processing. For example, if the lighting is too much in the farm setting, then there are high chances that the birds might come to be stressful and engage in irrational behaviors. For your convenience here are the 10 guiding principles to optimize poultry processing, all of which are to be used in an effective way for increasing the workflow and outputs from the processing plants.

1. Harvesting

Harvesting is one of the most crucial components in poultry and chicken processing. In caging the birds, it must be ensured that the cages are not too small and not damaged in any away. Furthermore, door less cages are also used, as having a door in them might slow down the output when closing and opening the cages. In times of transportation, it is better to make use of big cages for the accommodation of a large number of birds.

poultry transportation

2. Transport

Having adequate and impressive transport facilities is another key to the success of the poultry processing. There are a number of broiler and chicken processing plants that are unable to obtain substantial results from the yield, all because of the limited transport facilities to various areas. The trucks should also be equipped with proper temperature control mechanisms in summer or winter, so that the birds might not be at risk. Furthermore, proper arrangements should also be made on the arrival of the birds at the respective locations.

3. Hanging the Birds

Before going to the full fledge chicken slaughtering process, the process of stunning is performed. So, here it is imperative that the route leading to the stunner should have moderate levels of light. The hanging should be done in a way that the birds may not damage their wings from the nearby metal and also kept safe through the use of breast comforters. The timing for reaching the stunning site is also important here and should not be prolonged.

hanging the birds

4. Stunning and pre-wash before scalding

The place where the stunning is done should not be wet and it should also be ensured that the birds might not get an electric shock from the floor. In other words, the birds should be kept away from having a pre shock that might create a number of problems. When the chickens are slaughtered, a fecal material can be seen on the body, thus creating a need for washing.

stunning

5. Scalding

Afterwards, scalding is done to loosen the weather and for the dilation of the body parts, so that the slaughtering process might come in quick and easy. Moreover, the timing between the movements of the animal from scalding to plucking should also be minimal.

scalding

6. Plucking

The body temperature of the chicken should be higher on entering the plucking process. It is because the follicles tend to open and loosen on high temperature which makes the plucking process easier. If the body temperature of the animals falls before reaching the plucking machine, then this might lead to the deposition of the fecal material on various parts of the body.

plucker

7. Evisceration

In this phase, the organs and parts of the animal’s bodies are separated on the basis of suitability for human consumption. On collection of these parts, proper chilling should be done for the reduction of bacterial deposition and growth on these organs.

evisceration

8. Chilling Carcasses and Giblets

The poultry processing plant managers should ensure that the water used for chilling should be maintained at 0C, in order to keep the body of the products are prepared for the next phase. Furthermore, an increase in the temperature should be controlled.

chilling

9. Packaging

On completion of the previous processes, the products are then selected for specific type of bins. Each of the products should be packed and processed properly for keeping the quality intact and for minimizing the bottlenecks. Extreme cold temperatures should also not be used, as this might lead to the darkening of the animal skins.

10. Coolers

The ideal temperature on which the carcasses and giblets should be allowed to enter into the coolers is about 4C. Here also, the temperature should always be monitored, as higher body temperatures might slow down the efficacy of all other processes.

These principles are going to act as a poultry processing management guide for you, but only if you follow them respectively and carefully.

8 Revolutionary chicken coop designs

Do you have a passion for poultry farming? Enjoy the benefits of the best chicken coop designs.

Explore your poultry keeping options through the new and creative designs available at your disposal. Keeping poultry does not have to be stressful once you have mastered the art of backyard chicken coop designs. Chicken coops come in handy in poultry farming because they provide a conducive habitat for your chicken to lay eggs, rest and feed. They can also be the difference between a safe haven for your poultry and a death trap that is prone to predators that will destroy your investment and make you go at a loss. Building a chicken coop is not rocket science; one can easily construct a home made chicken coop that will serve its purpose effectively without incurring high costs.

Great chicken coop designs need to display creativity and have to be practical as well.

Some of the best chicken coop designs include:

EGLU Chicken Coop

Eglu Go coops which are designed by omlet are advanced and highly innovative. It has brilliant features that are guaranteed to make poultry farming successful with reduced risks. Such features include:

  • It is made of Durable plastic material which does not rust when rained on or harbor pests such as red mites
  • It is Predator proof hence guaranteeing your poultry a safe haven form wild animals
  • Egg cartons that enable you to easily collect eggs.
  • Water and feed containers
  • Attached run if you choose sized for2-3 standard or 3-4 bantam chickens
  • A secure wire run that grants effective restriction to prevent the chicken from straying as well as grant them adequate freedom
  • A spacious area that makes it easy to clean
  • Fair pricing that will ensure that you save on overheads cost while purchasing and maintaining the coop
  • A refund guarantee should you purchase coop that does not meet your expectations.
  • Open accessibility that enables you to purchase the coop from wherever you are.

designed by omlet

Chicktopia designed 

This chicken coop is designed by studio h and is  made of one hundred reclaimed sticks from a tobacco barn and has incorporated a modern architectural design that involves two skewed boxes that are able to aid in the construction of a cozy home for  your poultry.

designed by studio h

Cocorico design

Designed by Maxime Evard, this egg-shaped housing compartment by yankodesign is connected to a covered mesh area that provides a secure home for your poultry to play around and scratch freely without the fear of predators attacking them.

Maxime Evard design

Breed and retreat coop

This coop was designed by Frederki Rioje at dezeen who made sure that he came up with a modernized design that enables you to construct an elevated with private rooms and a large glassed-in-egg area that allows you to monitor your chicken while they lay their eggs.

desined by Frederki Rioje

Chicken circus coop

This coop was designed by sturel H. they have managed to design a coop that makes it easy to feed your chicken and collect your eggs. The coop has two doors that grant you easy access to the coop while the front run provides adequate protection for your poultry.

desined by studio H

The modular coop

Designed by Mitchell Snyder this coop is beautiful and highly modernized. It provides a comfortable home that is protected from any harm. The design is simple and straightforward making it easy to construct.

designed by Mitchell Snyder

The metro coop

This coop was designed by Glenn Nardeli, it goes for four thousand dollars and provides a functional home for your chicken as well as an all weather home that can last through winter. It has a decorative wire that is more durable compared to any normal wire that makes it beautiful and its dimensions can be adjusted to fit in as many chicken as you would want.

designed by Glenn Nardeli

Bake's Binster coop

This coop was designed by John Bake and goes for seven hundred and ninety five dollars. It is made of cedar and has a compost bin attached to it. This brilliant design helps you collect manure in the compost bin and helps you provide a clean home for your chicken.

designed by John Bake

The Effects of Avian Flu(bird flu) on Poultry Sales/humans/birds and its treatment/precautions

The outbreak of any epidemic or the widespread of any disease leads to an inevitable slump in the market. Be the sale in direct or indirect relation to it, the market is affected greatly in any case. So, you can very well analyze the affect on the market if the sale is directly proportional to the epidemic. The product here is directly proportional to the epidemic so you can very well imagine the severe effect.

The greatest risk factor for Bird Flu, seems to be contact with sick birds or with surfaces contaminated by their feathers, saliva or droppings. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a handful of cases of limited human-to-human transmission of bird flu. But unless the virus begins to spread more easily among people, infected birds or material present the greatest hazard. Migratory waterfowl and ducks in particular, carry the viruses that cause bird flu. Often unaffected themselves, the host birds can spread the infection to susceptible species, especially domesticated chickens, turkeys and geese, resulting in severe epidemics that sicken and kill large numbers of birds – sometimes in a single day.
Avian viruses generally don’t affect humans, but in 1997, an outbreak of bird flu in Hong Kong infected 18 people, six of whom died. Since then, human cases of bird flu have been reported in the Netherlands, Canada and throughout Asia. Most were traced to contact with infected poultry or surfaces contaminated by sick birds.

BBC news said that: The \”intense interest\” in the risk of a UK bird flu outbreak could seriously damage chicken and poultry sales, the National Farmers’ Union have warned. This was the headline of an article in the BBC news front page. David Salisbury, head of immunization at the Department of Health, said an assumption was being made that one in four people would be affected by any such outbreak \”The risk is very real, we’re very aware of what’s happening in south-east Asia and are monitoring very carefully the spread of disease amongst birds,\” he told BBC News.

Another date the BBC news front page said: Poultry producers in Wales say their businesses are at risk following a ban on bird sales and shows to lessen the potential spread of avian flu. \”We go to the sales to keep the cash flow going, but this ban has taken 80% of our market away\”. Said the Poultry producer Chris Taylor, which very clearly states the condition of poultry sales due to the ban levied on it.

Hence, the above-mentioned reports very well sum up how the sales have been affected in case of poultry due to this bird flu. This viral infection has been the cause of so many problems. The H5N1 virus currently infecting birds in this avian flu have caused human illness and death is resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, two antiviral medications commonly used for influenza. Two other antiviral medications, oseltamavir and zanamavir, may treat flu caused by the H5N1 virus. Tamiflu is the most effective medicine against this perilous disease. And remember Tamiflu is most effective if treatment is started within 48 hours of symptom onset. So Don’t Loose Time Buy Tamiflu.

Current picture of poultry farming in India 2012

The poultry farming sector of India has attained a lot of success over the past few decades as it has been among the most rapidly growing industries here. The growth and progress has been due the investment that has been poured in by the government and private sector. This exposition is to give you an idea about the various features and trends of development in this industry, the driving forces behind such trends, and developments and the predictions which can be derived about its future.

History and development of poultry industry in india

If you gather the statistics of the past three decades or so, you will find that Poultry farming in India has been a huge success. Stats show a 2 percent increase per annum in the agricultural production during the last 30 years, while the rate of increase or growth in the poultry sector has been a dominant 8 and the recent trend is 12 percent which gives an idea about how well this industry is doing. Its annual turnover is closing in on 10,000 US dollars. If you look at the statistics of the growth in the population of livestock exclusive of poultry, the trends are mixed because there have been a rise and fall. But if you move towards the livestock population of poultry, the rate is continuously on the rise with every passing year. Poultry business in India is now going through various structural changes among which most of them are just in the discussion phase. Emphasis are being laid on devising methods for enhancing vertical coordination between the supply channels that will enable to lower the transaction costs even further. Similarly steps are being taken to maintain the balance between production and imports of poultry item so that the local producer is not harmed and neither the prices are inflated. The main structural change has been the increase in the integrated producers which are merging feed milling, breeding contract growing and are fostering improved production and reduction in marketing costs. So the gist is that the present is showing the same positive indications as the past and the rate of growth is expected to increase even further.

Poultry production and consumption trends in India

Poultry production and consumption trends in India

A population of more than one billion and an increase in growth of 3 to 4 percent in per capita income on annual basis, India is proving its potential for commercial Poultry farming. The production and consumption figures for poultry meat and other poultry items have been continuously on the rise. Though the government very rarely publishes authentic data on the growth and production of this sector, the market research by different experts have suggested a substantial increase of 15 percent as compared to the past 10 years. India is among the top three largest egg producers of the world and is also a very prolific broiler producer. The rise in the consumption and production trends has also to do with the approach of the people as they are now getting more inclined towards the use of poultry meat rather than veal, beef and the Buffalo meat. This shift has given investors the urge to invest more and more into this industry and the result is the increased Poultry production in India.

india poultry

Broiler and Layer growth trends and investment opportunities

The annual average growth which is being shown by the broiler industry is about 10 percent and has been characterized as steady but volatile. This steady and effective growth is the result of the expansion in the middle class of this country and the rise in their demands for protein affluent food. Though the demand is increasing but the production faces fluctuations due to factors like overproduction and avian influenza. Year 2008 saw a rapid fall due to A1 outbreaks and rebounded back on the path in 2010 after which the trend has again been a rising one with average between 10 and 15. 2012 has set a new record of broiler production i.e. 3.2 million tons.  Similarly the layer industry is showing increased growth due to increasing demand for protein with low costs. Products of egg powder of India have a strong demand in Africa, Middle East and Asia and this is also promoting the growth. So the country has many opportunities for investment in the broiler and layer industries.

egg and layer production

Significance of poultry meat and eggs in country’s export

Though India is the leader when it comes to the population of cattle and animals, its exports of poultry meat is not at the most convincing level as compared to its potential. The reason is the undeveloped meat processing industry. Egg exports and exports of other powder egg products have always been on the rise which is due to factors like cost competitiveness and other logistical advantages. The low cost poultry meat which furnishes people with desired protein has increased its importance as compared to other meat like veal and beef. The poultry exports of India for the current year have been on the higher side with 503154 million tons but are low as compared to the potential of the industry here.

poultry exports

Various positive reforms are being introduced to promote the industry even further and provisions for effectiveness of facilities such as environmentally poultry control houses/shed in India are being made.  Poultry farms in India or India poultry farming industry is taking the country to new levels of progress.

 

10 Tips for keeping chickens warm in the cold weather

With the start of the winter season, it is vital for the people who manage a backyard Chicken coop or are in the poultry business to take necessary steps to ensure the health and hygiene of their Chickens. So it’s important for them to understand the precautionary measures needed for raising Chickens in winter. As the winter season kicks off, the Chickens have to face difficulties like cold water and their bodies also tend to get cold which cuts down on their egg production to low or zero level. So how to keep Chicken healthy and happy in the winter season is what this exposition deals with. The Chickens which are free ranged surely outweigh those which are controlled reared during winter season. The basic theme behind this exposition is to how to develop suitable Chicken coops for winter, and this can be done by bringing some changes in your existing coops so that the Chickens remain warm. Following are some tips which can be used for the purpose:

1.       Chicken roosting

Chickens have a natural way of keeping warm and they achieve it by keeping their feathers fluffed at the night time. This natural methodology is called Roosting and Chickens do it in a group by roosting together and sharing the heat of their bodies. To facilitate their method, the caretaker of the coops should increase the space for roosting by 8 inches for every chicken. Increase the level of comfort in the coops, and it’s also good if one adds more Roosts to the coops.

rooster

2.       Light control

Pineal glands of Chickens have a strong influence on their laying ability and these glands are controlled by daylight. Sixteen hours of light are needed for facilitation of maximum egg production, and such light is short in winter as compared to summer due to short days and infrequent sun exposure. So for keeping Chicken in winter at a suitable level of egg production, caretakers need to add 1 or 2 bulbs of incandescent light and the bulbs should have a power of 60 watts. A timer can also be used to prevent the effort of switching the lights on and off.

light in coop

3.       Warm water

Water in the Chicken coops tends to get very cold in the winter nights and they drink such water in a lesser quantity which cuts down on their desired level of intake. This can be prevented by adding heater bases under the galvanized metal containers in which the water is placed. Such heaters are easily available in the market.

water heater

4.       Provision for insulation

Insulation materials should be used on the inner surfaces of the coop to facilitate conservation of heat.

insulation in chicken coop

5.       Proper Ventilation

The coolers which are normally used in the coops to prevent it from overheating during summer, should be utilized in winters as well because they are necessary to remove out the stale or dry air which blows in winter. This also ventilates the coop and provides it with fresh air which is important for healthy growth of Chickens.

ventilation in coop

6.       Depth of litters

Another easy provision which one can make to keep Chickens in the winter warm is the utilization of deep Litters. Slow composting of the litter and manure emits back heat into the coops and keeps them warm. Use about 4 inches Litter in the coops at the start or the summer season. Then add enough quantity to make sure that the coops remain dry and clean throughout the summer.  By the start of winter, the depth of the litter will reach about ten inches deeper and this will facilitate the release of proper heat in the coop. when the Chickens scratch on the litter, it turns and aerates it. This can be done by spreading out some grains on the surface of the litter in the coop for inviting Chickens to eat.  Pitch fork can also be used for turning them.

deep litter in chicken coop

7.       Provision of corn

Providing Chickens with some cracked corns to eat in the evening will ensure that their digestion process continues in the night because this process keeps them warm and happy.

corn to chicken

8.       A space to move around

A little exercise or walk here and there is good for the health of the Chickens and it makes them happy. If you have a congested coop, you can always built a greenhouse style shelter or a cold frame other than their coop. Give them some time out of the coop under the aforementioned shelter where they can move around and get knotty with their feathers. This allows them to obtain some fresh air which is good for growth.

provision of space

9.       Provision for protection from frostbite

Many breeds which feature wattles and large combs are normally vulnerable to frostbite in severe winter climates. This can be prevented by smearing the wattles and combs of such breeds with petroleum jelly.

chicken with large comb

10.   Provision for snow

Backyard Chickens in winter or the other Chickens do not like to walk on the snow when the temperature is in the range of 20 degree Fahrenheit. The best thing to do here is to scatter or spread Straw or Hay on the surface for making it more acceptable for them. However, the case is different when the temperature is around low 30’s as they don’t seem much hesitant or reluctant to walk on snow at such temperatures.

provision of snow

So Chickens and winter season or Chickens in the winter requires you to be extra cautious and proactive.

Chicken Egg Candling Guide

Candling chicken eggs is an important part of poultry production, especially when it comes to carrying out observations about the growth of egg overtime. There are a number of phases through which egg passes before getting into a complete shape. The procedure used to observe the development of the embryo that lies inside the egg, is mainly done through the use of a bright source of light. It is this light which helps in getting an idea about how much the being has developed inside. The reason for which the procedure has been named candling is all because initially candles were used to observe the development and growth of the egg. Yes, this was indeed quite long ago. The modern lamps differ from the conventional lamps in a number of different ways. The modern lamps make use of a strong beam of light which is concentrated at one spot. Furthermore, now days LEDS are also being preferred due to the ease they come to provide being efficient, powerful and portable.

Why is candling so important

In addition to pointing out the growth of an egg, candling also helps in gaining about the fertility of the egg and the levels of weight loss that might occur from time to time. During the time of incubation, the eggs do need to lose nearly 13 % of their overall weight which should be monitored at all times. Moreover, it is this procedure that is going to helpful in identifying the dead or expired embryos before the egg comes to explode. It is all done to avoid the spread of germs which the exploding might initiate. The process of observing the incubation of chicken eggs is best done when the mother leaves the nest at regular intervals. So, this is the right time to make use of the chicken egg Candler. In times of extremely dry conditions, then an increase in the air sac size might be seen. In such conditions, the humidity of the chamber should also be increased to compete with the dry conditions. If the air space appears to be smaller, then the opposite mechanisms are applied.

Knowing the Viability of an Embryo

In the presence of a candling lamp, the embryo comes to look like a very dark shadow. The embryos which are healthy would eventually come to respond to the use of light. The time required for the movement might vary, but on when the time lies between 30 to 40 seconds, then it is a possible indication that the embryo is not healthy. Furthermore, looking at the blood vessels which are quite visible is also necessary for monitoring the growth. If, in case the embryo dies, then the blood vessels start to deteriorate quickly and soon come to appear like streaks that lie under the shell. Infertile eggs are quite easy to detect and must be discarded at the very first instant. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, the absence of movement is also helpful in knowing about the deaths, but the viable ones are those that respond to the light. Yes, hatching chicken eggs is not as easy as it might initially appear to be.

egg embryo

viable eggs

The Procedure

It is best if you candle the eggs in the evening time. In addition, you can also do the candling when the lighting conditions happen to be dim. Now here we have the equipment which is used for the procedure:

  • Pencil
  • An egg candling device or torch
  • Cartons of eggs

Procedure

  • First of all remove the eggs from the areas of the incubator and then place them in the allocated cartons
  • Dim the lighting conditions or it is better to do this in the evening time
  • Check out the embryo for each egg in front of the candle or the device you would prefer to use with an efficient amount of light
  • Remove all the eggs you find infertile and separate them from the healthy ones
  • Return all the healthy ones to the incubator

egg candler

Timeline for Candling

The best time to initiate the procedure is 3 days after incubation or on the 4th day of the incubation. In case of the fertile ones, you would see a dark spot and even some movement, but that might not be the case with those that are infertile.

 

A Comprehensive Guide of China’s Poultry Industry

History and the Development of Poultry Industry in China

All the industries in China including the Poultry industry are now on the stage of total economic boom. This tremendous development and boom can be contributed to a number of factors.  The development and expansion had started many years back. Based on the analysis and statistics of the china yearbook which is published every year, the total egg production coming from the country has now crossed the 30 Million Metric Tons mark. Now here it can be said with some confidence that China is really in the lead when it comes to poultry exports and imports. Furthermore, the total amounts of meat production in the year 1989 coming from the country was 8 % but till the year 2009 a dramatic shift had been seen, as the percentage had risen to 21 %. So, it is evident that China Poultry is really of a promising nature. For a bit more clarity, the total meat production for the year 2009 was nearly 16MMT. The same amounts of agile growth were also seen in the duck meat and other forms of water fowl. The output of duck and goose meat coming from China accounts for nearly 70 % and 95 % of the total world output. On the other hand, chicken eggs are the ones that are the major contributors to the total amount of egg production in China. The calculated percentage of the chicken egg production is around 87 %.  In addition to this, the pigeons, breeders and broiler production have also been on the rise till now, which really elucidates the commitment of the Chinese towards changing the face of the world poultry

poultry indutry in china

Rural and Urban Production

China has taken a very strategic approach towards the development of the Chinese poultry sector, especially in terms of the outputs coming from the rural and urban sectors. In fact, both of the sectors have played a vital role in the past 10 years in taking the country’s poultry production to the top of the world. But here it should also be considered that a major portion of the production of poultry is utilized within the country. Furthermore, the government has also taken a number of steps towards increasing the output coming from the rural sector. In short, the output coming from both rural as well urban areas have been steady all the time. China presently has more than 2 billion layers in stock, among which more than 1 billion of them are in the phases of production. The poultry farms in China also happen to be much more than most of the other leading countries in the domain of poultry.

rural poultry farming

Poultry Processing and By Products

In terms of poultry processing techniques and the products which are produced it can be said that the success of the sector in China lies in the increased efficiency and technical progress which has been seen over the past decades. Poultry processing and the products produced happen to be quite distinct components of the sector. According to the reports published by FAS Beijing Post the poultry processing by products are going to be on the rise for the year 2013 as well. The same was also said for the year 2012. The number and amounts of by products imported and exported have also been changing from time to time.

poultry processing in china

Poultry Consumers and their Preferences for Various Foods

Consumption of the poultry meat including goose, duck and chicken are also rising now. In terms of preferences, goose in addition to duck meat is the one that are the most preferred of them all. The reason for preference is the amount of fat and cholesterol which is present in these products. The gains in the consumption can also be linked to fame and popularity of the local specialties including the roasted and Peking ducks, Guangdong Goose and many more. The ready to eat products are also being sold at a more rapid pace at all super markets and shops. Furthermore, the super markets also offer carcass cuts to all people, especially to those who prefer to cook at home but do not want to purchase the entire bird. Now here an important thing to note is that almost all of the turkey and related products are being imported from other countries. The turkey products are most of the times consumed in the larger cities, which are marked by a better economy in comparison to the rural areas. The roast turkey meat is mostly offered in the major hotels and restaurants chains. Another aspect to consider here is the low preference for the chicken meat in the country which is known to be a leader in terms of chicken poultry production in China.

food preferences in china

Exports Share and Investment Opportunities

The broiler exports from China had risen more than 9 % taking the total output to 445,000 MMT. It was followed by a similar increase from the year 2011. It can be said that the exports coming from China have been increasing. The sales of poultry products have been increased to a number of countries including Japan, Korea and many others. In Hong Kong, an increase in the sales of fresh and chilled chicken has been seen. The exports in terms of live broilers have fallen, mainly due to the rising environmental concerns. It is evident from this rise in the profits and sales that there is indeed a major room for investment in the country.

china poultry exports

Challenges and Problems for the Poultry Sector

Although the sector has shown a major transition towards development and growth, still the sector faces some major challenges and concerns from all dimensions. One of the major challenges to the sector is the occurrence of various diseases. Furthermore, a decrease in the feed for the animals has also been seen. The US has also placed a case against China in terms of their production and export policies. Some of the countries are also of the view that China makes use of some poor farming practices. In addition to this, the country is also being challenged in a number of antidumping cases which is indeed a serious issue. A lot indeed needs to be the done from the side of the poultry companies so that things can be leveled out in best way possible.

feed problems in chinapoultry diseases in china