Grade 6 Agriculture Domestic Animals – Practices In Rearing Small Domestic Animals Notes
Practices in Rearing Small Domestic Animals
These are animals kept at home or on small farms for food, income or companionship. In Kenya common ones are: chickens, ducks, rabbits, goats and small pigs.
- Eggs, meat and milk for the family
- Sell to earn money
- Farmyard manure for crops
- Easy to keep even on small land
- Wash hands after handling animals
- Keep young children away from sick animals
- Keep animals fenced or in a house at night
Daily Care (Easy steps)
- Water: Give clean fresh water every day. Change it if dirty.
- Food: Give balanced feed — commercial feed, maize, kitchen vegetable scraps and clean greens. For goats add some hay or Napier grass.
- Clean house: Remove droppings and wet bedding each day. Put dry clean bedding (sisal, straw or sawdust).
- Check animals: Look for signs of illness — not eating, weak, coughing or swollen eyes.
Good Housing
A good house keeps animals warm, dry and safe from rain, cold and predators like dogs or hawks.
- Elevated off the ground to keep dry
- Ventilation so air can move but no cold drafts
- Nesting area for eggs
- Perches to sleep on
- Raised and dry floor
- Protected from rain and sun
- Enough space to hop
Feeding Tips (Kenyan context)
- Use local grains (maize) and balanced commercial feeds when possible.
- Kitchen vegetables and fruit peels are good for chickens and pigs (not spoiled).
- Goats like leaves (browses) and Napier grass. Do not feed poisonous plants (ask your teacher or extension officer).
- Always give clean water — during hot weather animals need more water.
Breeding and Young Animals
Keep only healthy parents. For chickens, use brooding (warm place for young chicks) for about 4 weeks. For rabbits and goats, provide quiet, clean space for mothers and young.
Health and Disease Control
- Vaccinate birds against common diseases (e.g., Newcastle disease) — check with your local vet or extension officer.
- Deworm goats and rabbits when advised by a vet.
- Isolate new or sick animals (quarantine) for some days to prevent spread of disease.
- Keep the house and feeding tools clean to reduce disease.
Manure and the Farm
Animal droppings are good for growing crops. You can compost manure to make fertilizer. Do not use fresh manure directly on young plants.
Record Keeping — Keep it simple
Use a notebook to write:
- Number of animals
- Births and deaths
- Feed costs and sales (eggs, meat)
- When animals were treated or vaccinated
How children can help (safe jobs)
- Refill waterers and feeders (with adult supervision)
- Collect eggs carefully
- Sweep the house and replace bedding when told by an adult
- Record egg numbers or animal count in the notebook
- Visit a small farm or ask a farmer how they feed chickens in your area.
- Draw your ideal chicken coop — show where feed and water go.
- Make a 1-week record of eggs collected or feed used.
When to call an expert
If many animals get sick at once, if an animal will not eat, or if there are strange spots or lots of coughing — tell your parent and call the local animal health worker or extension officer.
- Water is full and clean
- Feed is available
- All animals are in their houses
- Doors and fences locked to keep predators out