CHAPTER 1

Poultry Farming is the commercial raising of chickens, fowl, turkeys, geese, and ducks for their meat and eggs. The birds are kept intensively in a confined area where they are fed and managed carefully. Their economic significance varies considerably around the world. Poultry farming m Nigeria is a very economically and commercially viable business due to the fact that poultry birds do not jusl serve as meat, but also produce eggs for human consumption and other purposes. Al most 8 of every 10 Nigerians are involved in agriculture and about I 0% of the Nigerian populations are engaged in poultry production, mostly on subsistence, small, or medium-sized farms. In Nigeria, the production of food has not increased at the rate that can meet the need of our increasing population. B esides Nigeria's agricultural sector not being able to meet the food requirements of the country's constantly increasing population, its greatest problem is the inadequate animal protein in the diet of a large portion of the population especially the rural areas which make up 60% of the Nigerian population It has been reported that the average Nigerian takes in less than 20% the average amount of animal protein required. This animal protein is found in most poultry products. (Titilola 1990) Eggs are very profitable for the poult1y farmers. They are very nutritious and serve as a high source of animal protein Eggs are more easily affordable by the common man tha11 other sources of animal protein. All average boiled egg costs N20, hence boiled eggs are easily attainable.