Raising Poultry

Managing a Poultry business is not an easy task! This is what I’ve learned after we visited my Uncle’s farm in our province in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte. I really had so much fun playing with my neice and nephews, so as my cousins.

The Province of Ilocos Norte specializes in some agricultural products like rice, corn, garlic, root crops, legumes, tobacco and other fruits and vegetables. The province is also known for their Tilapia Industries. My Uncle is currently raising poultry like chickens, ducks and other livestocks like cow, sheep and pigs.

Among all these poultry animals, raising chickens is the most interesting. Most farmers keep chickens primarily as source of food, consuming both meat and eggs.

Here, i took a picture of one of their chicken.

manok ni blue by you.

I’ve learned that not all chickens are laying eggs. Chickens that are farmed for eggs are called “hens” while chickens farmed for meats are called “broiler chickens”. Sad to say, the life span of these poor broiler chickens typically take less than six weeks after thay have reached their slaughter size. Luckily, egg laying hens will naturally live for more than 6 years!( Thanks God)

Moving forward, chicken eggs are incubated until they hatch after 21 days. My uncle is using an improvise incubator, placing  incandescent bulbs inside the cage.

Nearly all parts of the chicken can be used for food and the meat can be cooked in many different ways. I love chicken dishes like “Chicken Adobo” (a popular filipino dish), chicken curry, grilled chicken and more!

These chicken dishes are perfect to match up with some Ilocos yummy delicacies like chichacorn and Bibingka (rice cakes).

I will share it all in my next post.

12 thoughts on “Raising Poultry

  • October 20, 2009 at 12:51 pm
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    you know, we once had a chicken and the chicken was cooked and served for lunch. nobody ate the chicken.

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  • October 21, 2009 at 1:31 am
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    Hi Blue,
    It's so nice to see you having an interest in raising poultry and you were able to visit your uncle's poultry farm. Raising poultry is not that easy since the laying variety (like leghorns) are very sensitive and are susceptible to various pestilence. That's why professional breeders are very fussy about hygiene in the laying area. Local chicken are more resistant to pestilence and they are easier to breed since you just let them roam around. Feeding is also not a problem since they eat almost anything even cockroaches. Thanks for the post. God bless you always.

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  • October 21, 2009 at 3:46 pm
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    I studied in a public school and agriculture was in the curriculum. I had a chance to grow chicks and the nastiest part of taking care of chickens is cleaning the chicken coop! The smell seems to stick with you for days.

    Nice to see you learning about real farming. Most people these days enjoy mere online farming games.

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  • October 21, 2009 at 9:29 pm
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    We used to raise chickens and ducks at home organically for family consumption. The night thieves also feasted along during dark times so they were blessed by our blessings too.

    Ah now, you mentioned bibingka. If only you can ask the folks there if I can have the recipe. We used to cook them at home too. But I prefer cooking them in a conventional method not in the oven. I miss so much those days.

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  • October 22, 2009 at 11:51 am
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    Pag-uwi ko balak ko din maghahayupan mukhang magandang sideline kac heheheh….hey buddy just visiting you straight from Japan…

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  • October 23, 2009 at 9:39 am
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    I love Chicken Adobo and Chicken Curry too 😀

    The picture reminds me of our pet chickie 😛 (sisiw)

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  • October 23, 2009 at 3:32 pm
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    Ooh! That hen/chicken looks so fat! : )

    Chicken Adobo? Have heard of it – probably from one of your blogposts. LOL! But have never eaten it before! Hope can get the chance to try this chicken adobo one day! : )

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  • October 24, 2009 at 4:15 pm
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    hi BLUE.. i miss you^^

    nice naman DOTCOM na! ka-inggit:p

    hhhmmm.. mahilig ako sa chiken pero ayoko nung galing sa sabong..hahah
    tito ko lagi nag-uuwi nun, kadirdir..heheh

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  • November 6, 2009 at 5:41 pm
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    When I was young, I like to play with chicken. Sometimes, I was very playful attempting to take the eggs , I could see the hen was very angry.
    Thanks for your post bring me the wonderful memory.
    Happy blogging.

    Reply

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