Backyard Poultry Management and Production System at Barlekha Upazila, Moulvibazar

Backyard poultry is one of the key sources of protein for the rural people of Bangladesh. This study was carried out in the Barlekha upazila under Moulvibazar district of Bangladesh with the aim of assessing the management system and production performance of backyard poultry. Data were collected from 26 randomly selected households in the Barlekha upazila and analysed statistically. Farmers in the study area were low producers having average flock size of chicken, duck, geese and pigeon were 6.5, 6, 5, and 4 respectively. Most (53.85%) of the poultry houses were made shortly with wood and tin. Litter materials used by the farmers were sand, ash, rice husk and jute bags. About 15.38% farmers did not use any litter materials in their poultry houses. About 38.46% farmers provided boiled rice, rice polish and broken rice. About 15.38% of the farmers provided additional paddy, rice or wheat along that. Pond water, tube well water and water from nearby river and canals were supplied by 46.15%, 30.78% and 23.08% farmers respectively. Almost all the poultry raisers reared their poultry through free-range scavenging system. In 84.62% of the households, women were the main poultry raisers. Most (69.23%) of the farmers did not vaccinate their poultry. Newcastle disease was identified as the major threat to the backyard poultry. Two causes of death of poultry were identified – 76.92% due to different diseases and 23.08% death due to predators. Egg production of chicken and duck were 30-45/year and 60-80/ year respectively.