The cost of eggs and chicken in my country inspired me to raise my birds and after several attempts, I finally got things right. Global inflation has forced a lot of people to start growing their foods and I am not exempted. I attended a farmer seminar a few weeks ago and I was surprised to know that the majority of the people who attended are into farming for their consumption, they raise goats, birds, fish, and even grow crops just for themselves.
There are lots of benefits attached to growing one's food and saving money is part of them. Growing your food helps you save more money for other things.
Growing your food assures you that you are consuming a healthy meal, you food won't have to go through processing, preservatives, and chemicals.
It has always been my dream to own a huge poultry and I could be on the path to bringing it to reality if I succeed with my little start.
I made a small hen cage myself in 2021, I was bored that day. I had some leftover wood from my kitchen renovation so I decided to make something out of it. It took me a few days and I was glad I could build it.
It was a long time before Easter so I thought of raising some chicken for meat. I got three broilers for a start but they failed, they died one after the other despite buying the necessary feeds and treatment. I felt discouraged but after Easter, I decided to try again so I got Cockerel this time.
They lasted about 2 weeks before they died so I thought of giving out the cage to someone but my mom prevented me from doing so.
I abandoned the cage for a long time but something happened a few months ago. I saw a video on Tiktok where someone actually has over 100 local hens producing eggs for him.
This would be a good idea since local hens do not need the excessive care given to broilers and cockerels.
After checking that the cage was in a good condition, I got a small hen and cock. I could have gotten more but animals are not allowed in the compound where I stayed so I have to be contented with two. These two can fit into the cage easily and if by chance they grow to the stage of having babies, I will take them to a bigger place.
At first, I started feeding them with chicken feed but I fed them with rice for about two days when I couldn't get their feed, and they ignored their feed afterward. They only eat it when they are extremely hungry and I don't have leftovers for them.
The male is younger and it took more than four months before it began to mate with the female. Cleaning their cage was a bit stressful initially but it soon became a routine for me.
With my little time with them, I have learned a lot about them. They have a way of communicating with humans but most times we do not pay attention to them. Somehow, I have grown a likeness for them and I enjoy watching them move around the house during their time out from the cage.
They know when it's time to get out, failure to let them go results in noises from them and they know when to return as well.
Over two weeks now, the female was making some funny sounds so I opened the cage because it might want to get back into the cage. It didn't get out so I went to check it and to my surprise, it laid an egg.
I was really excited about it, it laid more so I put them on a plate so they won't roll off from the cage.
Unfortunately, two eggs broke while the hen was walking around in the cage. I got a deep pan, pour sand, and arranged the egg in them to prevent further losses.
It actually laid ten eggs and for over four days now, it barely leaves the cage which is quite challenging because it prevents me from cleaning the cage properly. It almost attacked me while cleaning so I understand how it feels so I will be patient until it leaves the cage to feed.
I don't know how long it will take but I am looking forward to seeing all ten eggs survive, I will definitely keep them all, and raise more chickens till have over 100 as well. By that time, they will give me sufficient eggs.
