A Study on Backyard Chicken Rearing System at Sherpur Sadar,

Abstract

The present study was accomplished to investigate the backyard chicken rearing system at Sherpur Sadar Upazilla, Sherpur, from 17 February 2021 to 16 May 2021. Total number of farms were 28 which were selected randomly based on the availability of chicken. Data was collected through a pre-structured questionnaire. The study was aimed at observing the present status of backyard chicken farming. In this present study we found that most of the farmers are middle aged and among them 90% were females. No distinct patterns of breeds were found at the study areas where most (66%) of the farmers reared nondescriptive deshi breeds. In Sherpur Upazilla, majority of the farmers were medium producer where rest were low (34%) and high producers (18%). The results also showed that each household consumed between 6 and 10 chickens on average. Most farmers used a scavenging strategy to raise their chickens. Farmers added an additional 40gm to 50gm of feed per bird per day. The highest percentage was 1000-1500gm of adult-weight chicken. Every household's chicken produced a sizable number of eggs. Newcastle disease (25%), Infectious laryngotracheitis (17%), and Mycoplasmosis (15%) were the most prevalent diseases in chickens. Most of the farmers (87%) failed to immunize their flocks. The products are mainly sold in native market by local farmers. The cost to sell of one egg was Tk. 10 to Tk. 12 and for an adult chicken, it ranged from Tk. 350 to Tk. 400. The backyard chicken rearing system in study area is revealed as a source of income for the rural and marginal people of the rural areas.