On-farm comparative evaluation of Solomon hay-box brooder and Mekete bamboo brooders at Basketo Special District, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in two peasant associations (ZabaEla and GezaAyima) and in one city administration (laska) at Basketo special district of SNNPR, Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to compare Solomon hay-box brooder with Mekete bamboo brooder for growth and production performances of day-old chickens. Ten randomly selected households (5 participants with Solomon hay-box and 5 participants with Mekete Bamboo brooder) were involved and each received 50-dayoldkoikok breed chicks. The brooders were used during the night whereas chick-runs were used to hold and feed the chicks during the day. During the brooding period (up to 8 weeks old), chicks were fed on commercial starter ration. Water was provided to chickens at ad libitum. All collected data were analyzed by using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20.0. The total cost for building Solomon hay-box with 50 chicken capacities was 4600BIRR and 910BIRR for Mekete bamboo brooder. About 92, 89.2, 87.6 and 86% of chick survivability was recorded at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks, respectively at Solomon hay-box and for Mekete bamboo brooder the result was 94.8, 91.6, 90 and 88.8% at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks, respectively. The average age at first egg laying at Solomon hay-boxwas 139.6 days and 145.4 days at Mekete bamboo brooder. Average weight of eggs at Solomon hay-boxwas 39.16 g and 38.38 g at Mekete bamboo brooder. The average weight of male and female chicken at 20 weeks of age was 1.63 and 1.18 kg, respectively at Solomon hay-box and 1.61 and 1.18 kg for Mekete bamboo brooder. Both brooders have almost similar capacity in all compared parameters except that of cost of input. So, introducing economical brooder is compulsory to increases profitability of farmers.