Rabbits and Chickens Management
Primary 4 · Science and Elementary Technology
Rabbits and Chickens Management
Lesson 3 of 5
20 min
Let's begin
Every evening, the chickens of Niyonzima's grandmother fly up into the avocado tree to sleep. One night a wild cat takes a hen. The next day a kite snatches a chick. "That's it," says Grandmother. "We are building a proper chicken house!"
A female chicken is a hen. A male is a cock (or rooster). A baby is a chick. A young hen is a pullet, and a young cock is a cockerel.
| Type | Kept for | Good points | Weak points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local chickens | eggs and meat | strong; resist many diseases; find much of their own food; good mothers that sit on their eggs | lay few, small eggs; grow slowly |
| Layers | eggs | can lay almost one egg a day | need good feed (layer mash) and care |
| Broilers | meat | grow very fast; ready to sell in about 6 to 8 weeks | need a lot of good feed |
| Dual-purpose chickens, such as the Rhode Island Red | eggs and meat | lay more eggs than local hens and grow bigger | need more care than local chickens |
Tip
A good chicken house is DRY, SAFE, AIRY and CLEAN, and never crowded
Layers lay, broilers grow.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
Why are the windows of a chicken house covered with wire mesh?
Answer: To let in fresh air and light while keeping out predators such as kites and wild cats.
What is litter, and why is it spread on the floor?
Answer: Dry wood shavings, dry grass or rice husks. It soaks up the droppings and keeps the floor dry.
Mugisha wants to sell many eggs. Which type of chicken should he keep?
Answer: Layers.
Why do many village families keep local chickens?
Answer: They are strong, resist many diseases, find much of their own food and hatch their own chicks.
Why are drinkers raised to the height of the chickens' backs?
Answer: So that litter and droppings do not fall into the water.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The exercises (Try it yourself and the practice questions) are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Match each chicken word to its meaning.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
