Mambo ya Kujiuliza Kabla ya Kuanza Ufugaji wa Kuku/ Questions to Answer Before Keeping Chicken

Kabla ya kufanya uamuzi wa kuwa mfugaji wa kuku, jiulize kwanza maswali haya.
Before deciding to keep chicken, ask yourself the following questions.

• Kuna vikwazo vyovyote kwa ufugaji wa kuku/Are there any restrictions on keeping chicken

 

 Hakuna vikwazo vyovyote vya kisheria nchini Tanzania juu ya ufugaji wa kuku lakini tu ni vyema mfugaji akafatilia kama eneo analotaka kufugia linaruhusiwa kisheria kufanyika shughuli hiyo hasa kwa wafugaji wakubwa, na kwa wadogo wanapaswa kuangalia kama mazingira yanayowazunguka hayana vikwazo vitakavyokwamisha ufugaji.

There are no legal restrictions in Tanzania on keeping chicken but one should better finds out whether the area they want to use has no legal restrictions towards that kind of activity/business and whether the surrounding environment is conducive.

• Ninao muda wa kutosha kuwahudumia kuku/ Do I have enough time to keep chicken

Ufugaji wa kuku unahitaji muda wa kufanya vitu kama kuwapa kuku chakula, maji, dawa na chanjo, na hata kusafisha mabanda kwahiyo ni vema mfugaji akajiuliza kama atakuwa na muda wa kutosha kuhakikisha huduma zote ambazo ndege hawa watahitaji zitapatikana na hata kama ataamua kuwa na msaidizi ni vema msaidizi huyu akawa na uzoefu wa ufugaji wa kuku na akafuatiliwa kwa ukaribu kuepusha hasara.

Chicken need care so one would have to spend time to perform tasks like feeding, watering, vaccinating and cleaning the shade which is why it is better to ask yourself whether you will have time for all that before getting into the business. Even when you opt to look for help, get a helper that has experience on the field and follow up from time to time to avoid loss.

• Nini kifanyike nisipokuwepo/ What will happen when I am not around

Mfugaji anapaswa kujiuliza kabla hajaanza ufugaji atafanya nini ikitokea yeye mwenyewe hayupo kuhakikisha kuku wanapata huduma stahiki, kwahiyo ni vema kuwa na msaidizi au mwangalizi wa muda pale anapokuwa mbali.

You better think ahead and have a plan on what to do when you are away. It is good to have a helper whom you can give responsibilities when you are away.

• Gharama za ufugaji ni zipi/How much will it cost

 

Kuku wanahitaji banda imara litakalowalinda kutokana na wanyama wakali na hali ya hewa. Mara nyingi banda ndo huwa lina gharama kubwa zaidi kwenye ufugaji wa kuku. Liwe la mfugaji mwenyewe au la kukodisha. Mbali na banda kuna chakula, dawa, chanjo na vifaa vya kufugia kama vyombo vya vyakula na maji. Kwahiyo mfugaji inabidi afahamu gharama za mambo yote haya kabla ya kuanza kufuga.

You need a good and strong chicken shade which will protect them from animals and the whether. This is normally the most expensive part of keeping chicken. Other expenses may be due to food, medicine, vaccines, feeder and drinker. So you should know how much all this will cost before starting to keep chicken.

• Nina nafasi ya kutosha kujenga mabanda/ Do I have enough space for the coop

Mfugaji anaweza kujenga au kukodisha mabanda ya kufugia. Ni vizuri kujiuliza kama mabanda unayopanga kufugia yanatosha idadi ya kuku unaotaka kufuga. fanya uchunguzi kwa kusoma vitabu au mtandaoni, kuuliza wazoefu.

It is good to ask yourself whether you have enough space for the number of chicken you want to keep. You can either build your own shade or rent one. To know the amount of space you need just do some research by reading books or online articles, asking experienced people.

• Nataka nini kutoka kwa kuku/ What do I want from chicken

Ni vema kujiuliza kama unataka nyama, mayai au vyote kutoka kwa kuku. Hii itakusaidia kuamua nia aina gani ya kuku ufuge kwani kuna kuku wazuri katika kutaga na kuna kuku wenye maumbo makubwa wazuri kwa nyama.

The question what do I want from chicken will help you decide which kind of chicken you should keep. If you want eggs then you will go for breeds that are good at laying eggs and if you want meat then you will go for breeds with big bodies.

• Kuna wanyama wakali/Will predators be a risk

Wanyama kama mbwa, mbwa mwitu, vicheche huwashambulia sana kuku. Kwahiyo mfugaji inabidi ayasome mazingira yake ili kujua kama kuna wanyama wowote wanaoweza kuhatarisha maisha ya kuku na kutafuta njia ya kuwazuia kwa mfano kwa kujenga uzio.

Animals like dogs and foxes pose a threat to chicken. They like their meat. So you should know whether the area you want to use to keep chicken has such animals and find ways to protect the chicken say by fencing the area they will be growing up.

• Nimefanya uchunguzi wa kutosha/Have I done enough research

 

Kufanya uchunguzi wa kina mapema kutakusaidia kuwa tayari pale unapoanza ufugaji. Vitabu, mtandao ni vifaa vya kukusaidia kwenye uchunguzi lakini ni vea zaidi kuongea na wataalamu wao watakuongoza vizuri.

The more research you can do the better prepared you will be when you start keeping chicken. Books and the internet are good sources of information but it is best to also seek advice from proffessionals.