My simple chicken brooders from used plastic cans

James Ooko makes his brooders in his workshop in Siaya. He sells the brooders to customers in Siaya, Busia, Kisumu, Homa Bay and other neighbouring counties. PHOTO | BARRACK ODUOR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Ooko, who makes at least two brooders daily, came up with the idea in 2006 after his 26 chicks died suddenly.
  • Due to the increased demand for the brooders that go for Sh3,000 each, Ooko is today a full-time maker of the gadgets, selling to customers in Siaya, Busia, Kisumu, Homa Bay and other neighbouring counties.
  • A farmer should ensure that the brooder environment and equipment are in good condition and are meant for the correct number of chicks. There should never be overcrowding of the chicks inside the brooder as this might lead to death.
  • The use of plastic made brooders is only suitable in warm climatic areas but may not be suitable in cold regions, according to Prof Paul Kimurto, an agricultural expert.

Standing at the door of his carpentry workshop in Siaya Town, farmer James Ooko looks like he has packed chicks in a cartoon box for sale.

But one realises that the boxes the farmer has kept his chicks in are not ordinary.

The 55-year-old farmer and carpenter has a knack for improvising brooders from various materials that include carton boxes, plastic cans and wood to cut costs for the smallholder farmer, many of who find it costly to offer supplemental heat to their chicks.

Ooko makes dozens of plastic brooders which he sells to farmers.

“I make my brooders from 20-litre plastic containers, nails, wood, wire mesh, nails, bolts, locks, screws and vanish.”

He starts the process by placing a used cooking oil plastic can that he buys at Sh100 near fire to melt the oil away and then cuts the sides.

“I then make several circular holes of a uniform diameter on the walls for feeding and watering. Thereafter, I make the provision for feeding and water troughs. The last phase involves attaching the plastic parts together to form a rectangular cube,” explains Ooko, adding he later places the brooder on a stand made of wood.

Ooko, who makes at least two brooders daily, came up with the idea in 2006 after his 26 chicks died suddenly.

“The five-day old chicks died due to cold weather. Then, I thought that they would survive even without additional heat but I was wrong,”recounts Ooko, who had bought 30 broiler chicks from a farm in Kisumu at Sh80 each as he sought to venture into poultry after retiring to his Alego-Usonga home.

After the death of his chicks, an agricultural officer advised him to have a brooder to ensure chicks grow in the right conditions, where they get good warmth, aeration and proper feeding.

NECESSITY LED TO MODELLING

Necessity led him to modelling a 20-litre plastic can into a brooder.

“When I placed the four remaining chicks inside the new brooder, they all survived and grew up to maturity. Improvising the brooder made me understand that chicks, especially in their early stages, need supplemental heat,” says Ooko, noting consultations with veterinary officers from the county made him better the brooder.

He expanded the floor spacing to host 25 chicks per square metre for layers and 20 chicks per square metres for broilers to prevent overcrowding.

“I was advised to make the brooders, which host 25 chicks each corner-free by using hard boards and wooden pegs to prevent the chicks from crowding in the corners. I also added drinkers and feeding troughs on the sides. The chicks can feed without dirtying the troughs and they can reach the water but not fall in and drown.”

Michael Otiende, 40, a poultry farmer in Homa Bay Town who has 178 mature Kienyeji chickens and 50 chicks uses Ooko’s brooders. He says they have been helpful, enabling him to cut costs.

Farmer Michael Otiende uses the brooders on his farm in Homa Bay. Otiende says the brooders have been helpful, enabling him to cut costs. PHOTO | BARRACK ODUOR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

“I had a problem with brooding my chicks, today this improvised brooder has assisted me in reducing mortality.’’

According to Otiende, the three plastic layer walls of the brooder protect the chicks from cold though he provides from outside minimal supplemental heat to keep the chicks warm.

CAPABLE OF GENERATING HEAT

Due to the increased demand for the brooders that go for Sh3,000 each, Ooko is today a full-time maker of the gadgets, selling to customers in Siaya, Busia, Kisumu, Homa Bay and other neighbouring counties.

“I have exhibited my products at Nakuru and Eldoret ASK shows and last week I was in Kakamega where I sold 10 brooders. The County Government of Migori through its Department of Trade and Infrastructure sponsored me to a regional trade fair in Kigali, Rwanda recently. Later I toured Uganda and Tanzania exhibiting the brooders.”

Sophie Miyumo, a poultry expert from Egerton University, notes that the first four weeks of a chick’s life are by far the most critical since the birds are totally dependent upon a farmer to meet their needs.

“A farmer should ensure that the brooder environment and equipment are in good condition and are meant for the correct number of chicks. There should never be overcrowding of the chicks inside the brooder as this might lead to death.”

She adds that chicks should never be brooded on slippery surfaces as this might cause permanent leg damage.

“If the brooder temperature is right, then the chicks will be evenly distributed throughout the brooding area, indicating comfort. If temperatures are low, chicks tend to huddle under the heat source. If temperatures are high, chicks stray far away from the heat source.”

Prof Paul Kimurto, an agricultural expert from the same university, says materials used to make a brooder must not expose chicks to cold.

“Materials used to improvise a brooder should be capable of generating heat. The use of plastic made brooders is only suitable in warm climatic areas but may not be suitable in cold regions.”

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Get it Quick

Supplemental Heat

  • During the early stages of life (brooding), birds require supplemental heat as they are not able to generate enough heat for warmth but the temperatures have to be adjusted as the chicks grow older.
  • Brooding should be done at 320C for the first week of the birds’ life and, thereafter, gradually decrease by 20C per week until when birds are eight weeks old and the temperature is 240C (room temperature).
  • During the hot season, ensure there is adequate ventilation and provide fresh and cool water.