Stages involved in rearing:
There are some steps involved in rearing of chicken:-
1. Selection of the best layer: An active intelligent looking bird, with a bright comb, not obese should be selected.
2. Selection of eggs for hatching: Eggs should be selected very carefully. Eggs should be fertile, medium sized, dark brown shelled and freshly laid eggs are preferred for rearing. Eggs should be washed, cleaned and dried.
3. Incubation and hatching: The maintenance of newly laid eggs in optimum condition till hatching is called incubation. The fully developed chick emerges out of egg after an incubation period of 21 – 22 days.
There are two types of incubation namely natural incubation and artificial incubation. In the natural incubation method, only a limited number of eggs can be incubated by a mother hen. In artificial incubation, more number of eggs can be incubated in a chamber (Incubator).
3. Brooding: Caring and management of young chicks for 4 – 6 weeks immediately after hatching is called brooding. It can also be categorized into two types namely natural and artificial brooding.
4. Housing of Poultry: To protect the poultry from sun, rain and predators, it is necessary to provide housing to poultry. Poultry house should be moisture-proof, rat proof and it should be easily cleanable and durable.
5. Poultry feeding: The diet of chicks should contain adequate amount of water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.
