Acknowledgements
Gavin Mac GregorHeifer Project, South Africa
This publication is available on the web: www.nda.agric.za/publications
2004
Revised by Directorate Animal and Aqua Production ServicesDepartment of Agriculture
2000 (Reprinted)1998 (First print)
Compiled by Directorate Agricultural Information Services, Department of Agricultureand Lowveld College of Agriculture: Non-formal Training and AgriculturalExtension, Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture
Printed and published byDepartment of Agriculture
and obtainable fromResource Centre, Directorate Agricultural Information ServicesPrivate Bag X144, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa
Introduction ..................................................................... 1
Why keep hens? ............................................................... 2
Cage .................................................................................... 3
Hens .................................................................................... 5
Eggs .................................................................................... 7
Feed .................................................................................... 8
Manure ............................................................................... 9
Health and disease .......................................................... 10
How to make your own cage .......................................... 11
Contents
iii
As a result of the high cost of meat, people areconstantly looking for a cheaper source of protein.Eggs provide a valuable yet affordable source of highquality protein and vitamins required for normal growth,especially for children.
This guide will show you how to build, manage andmaintain your own affordable household egg productionunit on a small scale. Later on you can increase the sizeof your unit in order to sell eggs in your community, ifthe demand for eggs is big enough.
The information given is based on poultry productionin the warmer to hot areas of South Africa.
Introduction
1
You can provide eggsfor your family bykeeping 9 to12 hens.
Each hen will lay up to6 eggs per week. In this way youcan even start your own small business.
If you have 9 hens, they will lay 8 to 9 eggs perday. You will need to sell 4 eggs per day to pay forthe feed of the hens. The remaining eggs can beused for household consumption.
Eggs provide a valuable yet affordable source ofhigh quality protein and vitamins required fornormal growth, especiallyfor children, when meatis too expensive or isunavailable.
If there is a demand for eggs in your area, youcould expand and sell more of the eggs.
Why keep hens?
2
It is best to keep thehens in a cage.
This means that:
the hens can bekept in a small space
the hens are kept in a cleaner environment
the eggs are not broken easily
the eggs stay clean
the eggs can be collected easily
the hens get fewer diseases
there is less chance of hens being stolen
they need very little care
it is very easy to keep the cage clean as themanure falls through the mesh floor
you can easily see when drinking water is finished
feed is not wasted easily
it makes good record keeping possible.
Cage
3
You can buy the cage or make your own.It is, however, cheaper to make the cage yourself(see instructions on page 11).
The cage should not stand on the ground to ensurethat the manure falls through.
Put the cage on poles, bricks or fasten it to thewall of a house, hut, shed or hang it from ropes tiedto poles.
The cage should be protected from overhead sunand rain by an overhang or roof (e.g. thatch).
In hot climates keep 9 hens in a cage—3 in eachcompartment.
(In this way there is enough space for limitedmovement, and they can all get to the feedtrough at once.)
In cold climates, 4 hens can be kept in onecompartment (total of 12), but then theirmovement is very limited.
4
You can buy day-old chicks and rear them, but thisis expensive and often the chicks dieif they do not receive good care.
It is better to buy young hens,called point-of-lay pullets(18–19 weeks old) which areready to start laying eggs.
The hens you buy must be of very good quality andbe fully vaccinated against all known poultrydiseases.
The best layer breeds to buy are: Amberlink orHy-line laying hens—these hens will start layingwithin 2 weeks after being bought (20–21 weeksof age).
First (pullet) eggs are small, but gradually becomelarger after about 2 months.
The number of eggs laid also peaks halfwaythrough the year and then starts dropping.
The hens should be kept for one year and thensold as cull hens. If the feed is very cheap, thehens can be kept up to 2 years.
Hens
5
If you keep the hens for longer than one year,they will start laying fewer eggs until they stopaltogether.
They will, however, eat the same amount of food,so profits become less and the enterpriseeventually uneconomical.
Before selling thehens for slaughter,you must order newpullets. Do this atleast four monthsahead of time.
You can only startselling your old hensonce the new hens
are in production, especially if you have standingorders with clients and do not want to disappointthem.
The money made from the old hens will pay forthe new hens.
6
In order for the hens to lay as many eggs aspossible, they must have enough light.
They need 16 hours of lightevery day.
This can be done easily if you haveelectricity,because you can put the lights onbefore sunrise and let them stay on for somehours after sunset.
If you do not have electricity, the hens will not layas many eggs as they would with the extraelectric light.
To get maximum egg production without electricity,place your cage outside where the hens can makeuse of natural light.
Do not put the cage in direct sunlight—the henswill get too hot and die.
With 16 hours of light every day,each hen will lay about 280 eggsin one year and without extralight they will lay about200 eggs.
Eggs
7
To lay well, the hens must get the bestpossible feed.
Hens need plenty of calciumin their diets to lay eggswith hard, strong shells.
It is best to buy a goodcommercial feed such aslaying mash/pellets.The mash is speciallyformulated to provide allthe nutrients they need inthe correct quantities.You can buy this feed at mostcooperatives.
Feed must be available in the troughat all times, as well as cool, freshwater in the bottles.
Layingmash
Pellets
Prevent wastage, do notoverfill the trough
Feed
8
Each hen will eat 120 to 150 g of feed per day(some will be wasted, landing on the floor).
One bag of feed (50 kg) will last approximately1 month—make sure that you have bought enoughfeed (2 months supply) before the hens arrive.
Make sure that you have a permanent supply offresh drinking water for the hens.
Fresh manure can be covered with a layer of sawdustor dried leaves, grass or any other dry vegetationevery day. It will become good compost if turnedregularly. This method also helps to remove badsmells.
The manure can be soldin feed bags as organicfertiliser or compostfor vegetable gardens.You can also use it foryour own garden or vegetablegarden or lawn or cattle pastures.
Manure
Old feed bags
9
If you buy point-of-lay pullets froma reliable producer, they will befully vaccinated against all majordiseases—no need for you to buyvaccines.
To make sure that the hens adaptquickly to their new home, give themStresspack in their drinking water when theyarrive at your home.
If there is a sudden serious outbreak or epidemicof a specific poultry disease in your area (e.g.Newcastle disease), vaccinate all hens against thedisease immediately. If the hens get lice, treatthem with Karbadust powder.
Keep wild birds away from the hens and their feed,to prevent the spread of the disease to the hens.
Make sure that the hens at all times:have clean, fresh, cool water(wash water bottles once a month)have enough fresh feed(throw wet, mouldy or rotten feed away)are kept under shelter away from the sun,rain and cold.
Health and disease
10
Be sure to make your cage strong enough to carry9 to 12 hens.
The size of the cage must be 120 cm long by70 cm wide by 45 cm high.
You can build it from galvanised welded mesh,cane, bamboo or wattle sticks.
The floor of the cage must be made of weldedmesh so that the hens’ droppings will fall through.This ensures that the floor on which they standstays clean.
How to make your own cage
11
10 19
5meter
A r t l i n e70
@mark ing pen
q w e rd f g h j kw q r f x ps f c m
Small spanner Marking pen
Hammer
Hacksaw Tin-snips Pliers
Tools you will need
Measuring tapeWire cutter
Material you will need
2 l plastic colddrink bottles Old feed bags
Hose pipe—old, second-hand or damaged pipe
Gutter
Gutters
WELDED MESH
Galvanised welded mesh(type = 25 x 50 mm)
Metal frame
3 drinking nipples
12
Weldedmesh
Gutter
120 cm
180 cm
5meter
Cut the right length ofmesh, 180 x 120 cm,and bend it until flat
Use a hammer to flatten themesh and keep the edges andcorners flat and sharp
CageMeasure and cut the welded mesh
Bend the mesh around the frame
Get your frame ready
Attach the mesh to the framewith pieces of wire (securetightly)
13
Cut every second tip off forboth inside panels
Cut the binding wires
Separate the mesh from theframe after cutting the binding wires
120 cm
180 cm
5meter
Cut the 4 panels55 x 45 cm, 2 forinside and 2 foroutside
Measure and cut 4 side panels
14
Cut every second tip off on the 2 outside panels
Use pliers to fasten the 2 insidepanels to form 3 equally sizedcompartments
Fasten the 2 outside panels.Neaten, cut off or bend allsharp points or edges
Cut 3 corners off for the2 inside panels
Fasten the panels
15
140 cm
120 cm
10 cm
10 cm
Use a hacksaw to cut a piece of gutter,140 cm long
Mark off 10 cm at eachend of the gutter andcut along the bends
Neaten and flatten by using the hammerand pliers. Remove sharp edges
Lastly, make a small hole on each end for securing thefeeder to the cage with wire
Feeder
Fold eachpieceinward
16
Punch holes in each bottle cap using a nail andhammer—do not remove the plastic innerlining of the cap
Use a hand drill to enlarge the holes so thatthe nipple will fit tightly
Screw in the nipple until it fits well
Punch a hole onthe bottom ofthe bottle witha hammer andknife to make asmall openingfor air to flow in
Screw the cap and turn the bottle up-side down andattach the bottles to the cage in the centre of eachcompartment
Use pliers to bend the mesh slightly for the bottletop to fit in tightly
Drinkers
Unscrew the capof the bottle andfill it with waterbut close theopening under-neath with yourfinger to preventleaking
17
Your cage is now readyWhen putting the cage into position, remember toslant it forward slightly so that the eggs, once laid,can roll down the slope gently into the egg tray.Test this before securing the cage.
Plastic pipe protectionPrevent injury to the hens’ necks by making sure thatthe pipe used is smooth
Secure the pipes with wire or cable ties. Make surethat any sharp ends of the ties or wire are cut offshort and are facing away from the hens’ necks
Fit one pipe over the backedge of the gutter and theother one over the top ofthe cage opening
Cut 2 lengths (200 x 120 cm)of old plastic irrigation pipeor hosepipe
Slit both pipes open alongtheir length
18
19
MA
NA
GEM
ENT
PRO
GRA
MM
E FO
R LA
YERS
(P.O
.L) 1
8–20
wks
Act
ivity
*18
-20w
ks P
oint
-of-
laying
(P.
O.L
)*Cu
lling
period
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
1.Po
int
of la
y pu
llets
arr
ive
X
2.Gi
ve s
tres
spac
k in
wat
er d
urin
g ar
riva
lX
3.D
aily
insp
ecti
on o
f un
heal
thy
chic
ksX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
4.Co
llect
ion
and
reco
rd o
f m
orta
lity
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
5.Cl
ean
wate
r bo
ttle
s an
d su
pply
alw
ays
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
6.En
sure
tha
t en
ough
fre
sh f
eed
is a
vaila
ble
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
7.Co
llect
ion
of e
ggs
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
8.Re
cord
ing
of e
ggs
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
9.O
rder
new
pul
lets
bef
ore
culli
ng o
r se
lling
X
10.T
ake
out
the
bag
with
man
ure
unde
r th
e ca
geX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
11.B
uy e
noug
h fe
ed a
mon
th b
efor
e ne
wfl
ock
arr
ive
X
12.I
f th
ere
are
lice,
tre
at w
ith
Karb
adus
t/Bl
ue d
eath
pow
der
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
XX
X
NB:
*La
yers
are
bou
ght
at p
oint
-of–
laying
in
this s
yste
m
*The
y wi
ll be
fully v
accina
ted
alre
ady
agains
t all maj
or d
isea
ses
BUT if
ther
e’s
a se
riou
s ou
tbre
ak,
vacc
inat
e all he
ns immed
iate
ly
20
MA
NA
GEM
ENT
PRO
GRA
MM
E FO
R LA
YERS
(P.O
.L) 1
8–20
wks
Act
ivity
*18
-20w
ks P
oint
-of-
laying
(P.
O.L
)*Cu
lling
period
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
1.Po
int
of la
y pu
llets
arr
ive
2.Gi
ve s
tres
spac
k in
wat
er d
urin
g ar
riva
l
3.D
aily
insp
ecti
on o
f un
heal
thy
chic
ks
4.Co
llect
ion
and
reco
rd o
f m
orta
lity
5.Cl
ean
wate
r bo
ttle
s an
d su
pply
alw
ays
6.En
sure
tha
t en
ough
fre
sh f
eed
is a
vaila
ble
7.Co
llect
ion
of e
ggs
8.Re
cord
ing
of e
ggs
9.O
rder
new
pul
lets
bef
ore
culli
ng o
r se
lling
10.T
ake
out
the
bag
with
man
ure
unde
r th
e ca
ge
11.B
uy e
noug
h fe
ed a
mon
th b
efor
e ne
wfl
ock
arr
ive
12.I
f th
ere
are
lice,
tre
at w
ith
Karb
adus
t/Bl
ue d
eath
pow
der
NB:
*La
yers
are
bou
ght
at p
oint
-of–
laying
in
this s
yste
m
*The
y wi
ll be
fully v
accina
ted
alre
ady
agains
t all maj
or d
isea
ses
BUT if
ther
e’s
a se
riou
s ou
tbre
ak,
vacc
inat
e all he
ns immed
iate
ly
USING A MANAGEMENTCALENDAR
A management calendar is just a reminder of what youshould do each week or month to make sure yourchickens are healthy and happy and that they produceeggs regularly.
The calendar can be divided up into months and weeks.You can either use the one that has been filled in oryou can use the one on the next page to fill in to suityour conditions.
This can be put on a wall near the cage or it can bekept in the house as your reminder.
For further information contactDirectorate: Animal and Aqua Production ServicesDepartment of AgriculturePretoriaTel: (012) 319 7448Fax: (012) 319 7570orHeifer Project, South AfricaTel: (031) 777 1374/5Fax: (031) 777 1376orResource Centre, Department of AgricultureTel: (012) 319 7141/7085
21