Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the training needs of indigenous chicken farmers in Bududa district. This was done by determining their knowledge, attitudes and practices in the areas of chicken housing, feeding and disease management Respondents (38)) were purposively selected and interviewed by using questionnaires. Females were more involved in the study.
Respondents (75%) were aged below 40 years of age. Only 8% of the respondents had never attained any formal education. More than 70% had never attained any poultry training. Respondents owned only the indigenous chicken. The flock sizes ranged from 1-50 chicken and the majority owned less than 15 birds. Generally, the respondents were knowledgeable about chicken housing, feeding and disease. management, Respondents (81%) had excellent knowledge on. chicken housing (6-8 points) and 79% had excellent knowledge, on feeding 11-15 points). Regarding disease management, respondents (75%) were more knowledgeable about factors helpful for disease management, followed by risk factors for' disease development (74%), and followed by ways in which diseases spread (72%), followed by identification of signs of disease (71%) and less knowledgeable about causes of disease (66%). The most mentioned signs of illness are cough and diarrhoea which are associated with Newcastle disease. Generally, respondents have good attitude towards chicken practices. 80%, 82% and 61% of the respondents have favourable attitude towards housing, feeding and disease management respectively. Generally, the farmers' practice of chicken activities is positive. Respondents (52%) have separate chicken houses, 81% clean chicken dwellings daily, 88% provide extra feed: to supplement scavenging, 56% have ever called a vet to treat the birds-and 74% have ever vaccinated their birds. From the findings, it is concluded that farmers have less training needs but despite this, they should be trained on the dangers of sharing houses with chicken, formulating feeds from locally available materials, using traditional medicines to manage diseases and trained on biosecurity. It is recommended that farmers should be trained and demonstrated on the advantages of cultivating indigenous plants and integrating medicinal plants into existing.
