I keep a few desi hens at home but lose birds to dogs, hawks and sometimes sickness. How do I protect a backyard flock?
How do I keep backyard desi hens safe from predators and disease?
BBijay Sahoo5 महीने पहले · 197 व्यू
4 जवाब
🌾Farmer.in Krishi Teamविशेषज्ञ ✓4 महीने पहले
For backyard poultry the two big losses are predators and Ranikhet disease, and both can be managed simply. Provide a secure night shelter with a strong door and wire mesh so dogs, cats, snakes and rats cannot get in, and give shade and some overhead cover during the day against hawks. Vaccinate against Ranikhet disease, which sweeps through village flocks; the lasota type vaccine is commonly used and your animal husbandry department can guide the schedule and even supply it. Give kitchen scraps plus some grain and greens, always with clean water, and keep the shelter dry and clean to reduce parasites. Improved backyard breeds suited to free range can give more eggs than ordinary desi birds while staying hardy.
LLaxmi Behera4 महीने पहले
A predator proof night coop saved most of my losses. After I also got the birds vaccinated against Ranikhet through the local department, the flock finally started growing.
PPrafulla Jena4 महीने पहले
Hawks were taking my chicks during the day until I gave them some overhead cover, a few bushes and a low shade net over part of the yard. The hens learnt to run under it. The night shelter has to be really tight though, even a small gap and a snake or mongoose gets in.
SSanjukta Nayak3 महीने पहले
I switched some of my flock to an improved backyard breed from the department and they lay noticeably more eggs than the old desi birds while still scavenging for most of their food. They stayed hardy too. The free vaccination camps are worth attending, that is where I get my birds covered against Ranikhet.