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Chicken Coop
We have been mulling over just what inputs would most improve the food production and income generation of our health builders. In June, a nutritionist did a survey of the rural area served by the health builders of the iZulu Orphan Project in Zululand. One of her conclusions was that the people are lacking high quality protein and that eggs would be the best source.
We have seen a large variety in the gardening skills of health builders, the state of their gardens, fencing, and poultry rearing. In all gardens, there was a lack of good fencing, and evidence of significant damage to vegetable crops from poultry, goats or cattle.
On one extreme, the family of a health builder named Sandile has sold about 200 chickens in the last year. Each one sells for about $6.70 for a live adult chicken. In her household, there are 7 people - 2 adults and 5 children. The chickens produce 15-20 eggs per week, which the family consumes. They have a chicken coop as well as a rearing pen where there were 30 chicks with a heat lamp. The family purchases chicks and commercial crumble feed for them. Twenty-two pounds of this feed costs about as much as a live, fully grown chicken.
On the other extreme, were a few health builders that had no gardens or animals at all. None of the health builders used mulch. Most had access to water and all have land in this rural area.
After seeking the input of health builders and consulting with the director of gardening of the Community Works Project in the area, we have formulated a plan. In a step-wise fashion, we will introduce sunflowers and corn grown in grass mulch for feed, improve the fencing with chicken-wire, build chicken coops which include nesting areas and finally introduce chickens.
We have seen a large variety in the gardening skills of health builders, the state of their gardens, fencing, and poultry rearing. In all gardens, there was a lack of good fencing, and evidence of significant damage to vegetable crops from poultry, goats or cattle.
On one extreme, the family of a health builder named Sandile has sold about 200 chickens in the last year. Each one sells for about $6.70 for a live adult chicken. In her household, there are 7 people - 2 adults and 5 children. The chickens produce 15-20 eggs per week, which the family consumes. They have a chicken coop as well as a rearing pen where there were 30 chicks with a heat lamp. The family purchases chicks and commercial crumble feed for them. Twenty-two pounds of this feed costs about as much as a live, fully grown chicken.
On the other extreme, were a few health builders that had no gardens or animals at all. None of the health builders used mulch. Most had access to water and all have land in this rural area.
After seeking the input of health builders and consulting with the director of gardening of the Community Works Project in the area, we have formulated a plan. In a step-wise fashion, we will introduce sunflowers and corn grown in grass mulch for feed, improve the fencing with chicken-wire, build chicken coops which include nesting areas and finally introduce chickens.
· Please pray for this project which could be used by health builders in rural areas as well as peri-urban informal settlements.