Integrated poultry-fish farming

Poultry raising for meat (broilers) or eggs (layers) can be integrated with fish culture, to cut down costs on fertilizers and feeds in fish culture and maximize benefits. Poultry can be raised over or adjacent to the ponds and the poultry excrete recycled to fertilize the fish ponds. Raising poultry over the pond has certain advantages: H maximizes the use of space, saves labor in transporting manure to the ponds and poultry housing will be more hygienic. No significant differences have been observed on the chicken's growth or egg-laying when they are raised over the ponds or on land. In case of the former the pond embankment could still be utilized for raising vegetables.

A. FISH CULTURE

1. Pond Preparation

· Remove predatory and weed fish either by draining the pond or applying of piscicide, such as Phostoxin/Qulckphos, at the rate of 1 tablet/23 cu m water.

· Apply 25 kg lime to pond bottom if the pond is dry, or dissolve lime in water and spray it if pond has water.

Pond Preparation

2. Stocking

· Stock 600-1,000 fingerlings of Indian carps catla (Catla catla), rohu (Labeo rohita), (Clrrhinus mrigala) and Chinese carps silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon Idella) and common carp (Cyprlnus carplo). Ratio of species could be 40% surface feeders (catla and silver carp), 20% rohu, 30% bottom feeders (mrigal and common carp) and 10% grass carp.

3. Feeding. No feeds need to be given, as the feed spilled by chicken (which could be as much as 10%) will be falling into ponds.

4. Fertilizatlon. No fertilizer is needed, excepting for excrete of chicken falling into ponds.

Fish

5. Harvesting. Harvesting of fish could start 6-7 months after stocking when some fish reach table size.

6. Oxygen depletion. When water becomes deep green due to plankton blooms, oxygen in the water may get depleted and fish may die. In such cases, put mats or plastic sheet below the poultry house to catch the chicken excrete. If possible, irrigate the pond with fresh water.

B. POULTRY RAISING

For the first 14 days, chicks need to be raised separately in a brooder (not on pond), as they need higher temperature of 28-33°C (85-95°F). Each chick during this period needs a space of 9 sq inches. To maintain the required temperature range, the chicks could be enclosed in a bamboo fence and hang an electric or kerosene lamp above them. A rice husk heater can also be used.

1. BROILERS: 30-50 broilers could be raised on 1000 sq m pond.

· The poultry house can be constructed over the pond at least 0.5 m above maximum pond water level, or on the embankment. Each bird requires 1.5 sq ft space (50 birds require 75 sq ft space). The house can be made of bamboo or any other locally available cheap materials. Roof can be covered with hay or some such material. Enough cross ventilation should be maintained to keep cool during hot days. Floor to be constructed with bamboo slats, with 1 cm gap, to allow excrete to tall all into pond, but not big enough for the chicken's feet to get caught in between and injured.

Figure

· Any fast-growing chicken, like Shavar Starbro broilers, can be raised.

· Feed with starter mash from 1-4 weeks and finisher mash from 5-8 weeks, given as much as they can consume. 100 kg starter mash requires 50 kg crushed wheat, 14.5 kg rice bran, 16 kg sesame oil cake, 19 kg. fish meal and 0.5 kg salt.100 kg finisher mash requires 50 kg crushed wheat, 17 kg rice bran, 15 kg sesame oil cake 16 kg fish meal, 1.5 kg. bone meal and 0.5 kg salt. In both cases, vitamin premix is added at the rate of 250
9/100 kg of feed.

· Water should be provided at all times.

House for 50 broiler chicken

Feed

2. LAYERS: 30-50 layers can be raised over a pond of 1000 sq m.

· Housing can be constructed on pond or on embankment. Each bird requires 3 sq ft floor area.

· Any good strain of chicken, like Star Cross Shavar, could be raised.

· For the first 16 weeks, feed is given at the rate of 80-110 g/day/bird and from 17th week onwards, 11012Og/day/bird. Feed composition is given in the following chart:

Housing

Feed composition

Vitamins premix @ 250g/100 kg feed

· Temperature maintenance. Temperature in the poultry house should always be above 20-22°C. When the temperature goes below this level, hang two 200-watt bulbs or two kerosene lamps for every 50 chickens. A rice husk heater can also be used.

· Production. Broilers reach market size of 1.5-1.8 kg in 7-8 weeks and it is possible to raise six batches in a year. Layers start laying after 22 weeks and 250-280 eggs/bird/year could be obtained. Egglaying becomes uneconomical after chickens reach the age of 18 months, when they need to be replaced.

Feed composition

· Poultry diseases. Because the chickens are usually kept in confinement, they are susceptible to disease. When disease strikes, the whole flock may be affected: growth will be retarded, egg production will be go down, or the chickens may die. Thus, broilers will not reach market weight in time. For layers, sexual maturity is delayed. Protective measures are needed.

Poultry disease and preventive treatment

Vaccinate Your Poultry

Vaccines can be obtained from the livestock office in your area, free of cost. The following are some reminders when collecting vaccines:

· Bring a good thermoflask and a little cotton wool.

· Do not waste vaccine. Obtain only the exact amount needed. Vaccine production costs a lot to the government.

· Store vaccines at low temperature, preferably in a refrigerator, to maintain their effectiveness.

Equipment Necessary in Vaccination

· Thermoflask of sufficient capacity to carry the vaccines.

· Nylon syringes—one or two, graduated at one ml intervals. Smaller-capacity syringe is preferable.

· Needles of gauge 20 or 21 and 14 or 15. Shorter needless of 1-2 cm length are preferable for poultry vaccination. A few large sewing needless suitably modified for Fowl Pox vaccination.

· A measuring cylinder.

· Two wide-mouth bottles: one to carry distilled water and the other to dilute vaccines, when necessary. These items preferably should be of nylon or polypropylene could be sterilized by boiling when necessary.

Reminders When Vaccinating Poultry

· Sterilize syringes, needless and all other equipment before using.

· Put ice cubes at the bottom of the thermoflask and a layer of cotton wool before placing the vaccine vial. Close the flash.

· Check vaccine if it looks all right. Do not use discolored or unusual-looking vaccines.

· Use distilled water purchased from a pharmacy when diluting vaccines, or boil clean water for 1015 minutes. Cool down then strain into a clean bottle

· When only a small amount of distilled water has to be added, draw the required amount into the sterile syringe and injected into the vial. Dissolve by vigorously shaking the vial.

· Pour the balanced amount of distilled water into the mixing bottle. Draw the dissolved vaccine into the syringe. Pour into the mixing bottle containing the balanced quantity of distilled water, thoroughly mix with a sterilized rod.

· In case of Fowl Pox, remove the required amount into a sterilized empty vial and use for vaccination. This prevents contamination and subsequent waste of surplus vaccine.

Do not spill vaccines. This could be fatal to chickens.

· Hold the needle with the knob. Do not touch the tip when assembling the syringe for vaccination. Contaminated needless should not be used until sterilized.

· Before vaccination, confine the birds, picking up one by one and releasing after vaccination. This makes vaccination easy and no bird is missed.

· Do not vaccinate birds suffering from disease or in a state of stress. Vaccinate them only when they are back to normal.

· Two vaccines should not be given the same day. A 10-day gap is needed between two successive vaccinations.

· Record data so that the next vaccination will be known.

· It leftover diluted vaccine can be used within a short period, it should be put in a clean polythene bag and placed in the flask containing ice.

· Wash all equipment used with soap and clean water, then sterilize in boiling water.

· Thoroughly clean empty vaccine viais. Return them to the Livestock Officer when collecting the next requirement of vaccines.

· Vaccinate birds on time.

Figure

C. COSTS

· A broiler farmer needs capital for investment for raising one cycle of broilers, which he can sell after 78 weeks. The sale proceeds can be used for the next batch.

· A layer farmer needs capital investment for chicken feed for the first 22 weeks. When the hens start laying, the farmer can use the sale proceeds from eggs for chicken feed.

· A broiler farmer needs capital for:

Taka budget from 1,000 sq m pond in integrated poultry fish farming with 50 broilers.

Taka budget from 1,000 sq m pond in integrated poultry fish farming with 50 layers over 18-month period.

1 US$ - TK 38