ENROL NOW

Poultry

Course CodeBAG208
Fee CodeS2
Duration (approx)100 hours
QualificationStatement of Attainment

Learn to Raise Poultry

Produce your own eggs in the home garden

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Introduction, Terminology and Breeds
    • History of Poultry
    • Terminology
    • Contract Growing
    • Regulations
    • Management Factors
    • Small Scale Production
    • Breeds
    • Classifying Fowls (Egg Laying Breeds, Meat or Table Birds, Dual Purpose Breeds)
    • Cross Breed Poultry
    • Sex Linkage
    • Brooders
    • Skeletal System
    • Poultry Husbandry (Stock Selection, Feeding, Watering, Housing, Health)
    • Turkeys
    • Geese
    • Ducks
  2. Poultry Nutrition
    • Digestive System (Gullet, Crop, Proventriculus, Gizzard, Intestine, Caecum, etc)
    • Nutrient Sources (Carbohydrate, Protein, Minerals etc)
    • Rationing
    • Palatability
    • The End Product
    • Modern Feed Requirements
    • Phase Feeding
    • Limited Feeding
    • Consumption Feeding
  3. Diseases
    • Avoiding Stress
    • Viral Diseases
    • Bacterial Diseases
    • Mycoplasmosis, Fungal and Protozoan Disease
    • Non-infectious Diseases
  4. Layers
    • Extensive (Free-Range) System
    • Semi-Intensive System
    • Intensive Systems
    • Housing
    • Deep Litter System
    • Feeders
    • Battery Units
    • Feeding the Laying Hen
    • Replacing the Flock
  5. Broilers
    • Caponising
    • Brooding Period
    • Feeding Broilers (Starter Period, Finisher Period)
    • Housing
    • Hygeine and Health
  6. Incubation
    • The Natural Method (Using Broody Hens)
    • The Artificial Method (Using Incubators)
    • Selecting Eggs
    • Storing Hatching Eggs
    • Turning Eggs
    • Managing an Incubator (Temperature, Humidity, Testing, Hatching)
    • Reasons for Poor Hatchability
  7. Brooding
    • Heating
    • The Canopy Brooder
    • The Infra-red Lamp
    • The Battery Brooder
    • The Haybox Brooder
    • Feeders
    • Drinkers
    • Floor Space
    • Rearing
    • Problems during Rearing
  8. Record Keeping, Economics and Marketing
    • Growth Records
    • Egg Production Records
    • Small Scale Business
    • Compatible Ventures (Manure, etc)
    • Preparing a Farm Business Plan
    • Finance
    • Land Management
    • Analyzing the Market Place
    • Developing a Marketing Plan

The course can be of real benefit for:

  • Families who wish to keep a few birds at home as pets and for eggs.
  • Breeders, retailers or others who supply birds, feed, cages or other needs to poultry owners.
  • Service professionals such as veterinary assistants, who wish to learn more about caring for poultry.
  • Anyone else with a passion for, or business interest in poultry.