away .
Dog , cat General destruction Try to catch them . Cats can control rats but wild cats and dogs are a problem .
Fox , jackal
Will bite off the feathers over the back and between wings , eat the entrails and breast , and carry the bird to the den .
Roam in the early morning to kill for their young . Trapping is the best control .
To protect the birds from theft , lock the building and pens securely whenever no one is at home . Have neighbors watch for visitors while everyone is away . Some people actually have burglar alarms in their bird coops . A protective dog kept near the coop usually works well to discourage predators and unwanted visitors .
Build poultry houses to prevent possible injury to the birds . Any loose or ragged wire , nails , or other sharp-edged objects should be removed from the coop . Eliminate all areas other than perches where the birds could perch more than 4 feet above the floor . Remove perching areas such as window sills , nest box tops , or electric cords whenever possible . These extra measures could eliminate any injury to the farmer or his or her birds and may prevent damage to the coop , as well .
� Light : Duration and intensity : A well-lit house is essential . A dark house leads to lethargic , inactive , unproductive birds . Light is important for feeding , as poultry identify food by sight . This is especially important for intensively managed day-old chicks , which need very bright 24- hour lighting for their first week of life . Light is also an important factor in sexual maturity . An increasing light proportion in the day , as naturally occurs from mid-rainy season to mid-dry season , will accelerate sexual maturity in growing pullets , bringing them to lay sooner . If hens are already laying , the increasing light proportion will increase egg production . The opposite effect is also true : as the light proportion of the day decreases ( as naturally occurs from mid-summer to mid-rainy ), then sexual maturity is slowed in growing stock , and egg production is reduced in
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