Update on Poultry Project progress October 2017-Uganda

From the last time we went to Soroti in February 2017 to see to the finishing of the roof after saving for a whole year,  we also saved again for 7 months so we could go back and see if we could actually start this project. We've used some of the money over the 7 months to plaster the store room and the largest room. We found it looking very nice and got our worker to thoroughly clean and disinfect to prepare for bringing chicks. 

We spent our first day there shopping for items we knew we would need like feeder trays and water cones and other supplies. In the village there is no piped water so we bought a water drum and some 5 gal cans so they can bring water from a near by water borehole at the school. Like this:  

Also, we repaired 2 bicycles that were around so they can carry the cans full of water. We hope yet to add gutters to the building and buy another water drum and collect rainwater so they can use it for cleaning. The chicks water is pure and fresh. Even people can drink water from a borehole without boiling it. It's quite delicious in fact! I've drank it and am  fine. 

The next day we hired a car and brought all the items we bought to the village. ​We bought gloves, gum boots, and jumpers for the workers, basins for cleaning and for stepping in disinfectant before entering the chick room, Papyrus mats and so much more.

The water drum was full of supplies

Then we held our Vet training:

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Our Vet is a young man named Peter who just graduated from University with a full Veterinary degree. He has not found work yet so he decided to stay on daily and help us with the chicks. He has been invaluable to us and is only asking the same wage as the farm worker. 

​Peter the Vet

After the training, the next day,we went back to town and shopped for all the things we had no idea we needed but found out from Peter. LOTS of things. 

We had to have two brooding rings made from wire and thin wood to accommodate chicks up to 3 weeks old. We bought a LOT of charcoal and charcoal pots to keep them warm. We had purchased the biggest Solar we could afford but it isn't big enough to keep 60 watt lightbulbs over the chicks for warmth.It can only light reg, 7 w bulbs and we had to add two per room so the chicks could see at night to eat. .

Brooder ring in the making

We purchased a 50 watt panel. We bought a battery and a breaker box but still need an Inverter which will allow the staff to charge their phones at least. 

Solar panel on roof-50 watts

 ​We planted Maize behind the poultry house to hopefully use to mix with chicken feed when the chicks get bigger. The first two times we bought seeds and planted the drought dried all of it up. This crop is short but there is some corn there. We will see.....it can help save money on the feed costs. 

This area next to the biggest room where chicks are is where we will put up an outdoor enclosure. We don't have enough money for a wire fence so we are using Papyrus mats and poles to make it for now. Soon they will be able to peck around outside. We have a small enclosure there now even to get them out for a bit during the day and allow the farm worker to clean inside and put down new litter. We really want a permanent fenced in area coming from each room eventually. God willing.

Area next to house that will be fenced soon

We had to hang heavy curtains in the room to keep it so hot for the one day old chicks and even up til now. We hope to have wood shutters made in the future so that they can open and close as needed. They tell us that when it rains they have to move the chicks brooding rings to the side of the room so they don't get wet. We still need to plaster the outside of the building someday and even build some rooms off the backside and double the amount of chicks. 

First chicks are in the far right room now

Back side of poultry house which we want to make more rooms.

On the last day, October 5th we had to go back to Mityana. Later in the day the chicks arrived and the farm workers were ready. Sadly the company that transfers the one day chicks from far (about a 6 hour drive) made a mistake and they were loaded under the boot of the bus in their boxes and 90 died. (They should have been carried in the passenger area).Of the 310 we ordered we got 224 live one-day-old chicks. They gave us some for free they had at the store which is located about 2 hours from Soroti in Mbale Uganda. The company is reimbursing us the 90 chicks when we re-order again next time.

Of the 224, that night 2 died. Then a week later 2 more but they tell us they just weren't right from the start. Since then up til now, 220 chicks are there and have done VERY WELL! We thank our vet and farm workers for such a great job done!

 They are 3 weeks old now this Wed. They tell us they are jumping outside of their brooder and eating five cups of feed each day.

They are thriving and growing. The first 70 kg bag of starters mash chick feed is just about over. We bought 3 bags and it looks like we will use 1.5 bags which leaves 1.5 for the next batch of chicks. Today we bought their next feed which is called growers mash and is mixed with maize. 

We will hire a photographer and get more clear photos. 

Vaccinations have been costly too but necessary. They are refrigerated and there is no fridge around in the village so the exact day they need vaccinated someone rides a bike 9 km to town with a thermos and fills it with ice, buys the vaccine and brings it right back so they can inject the chicks. We hope one day to buy a motorcycle and have a large enough solar to buy a small fridge and run it. 

We had a donation from someone in U.S. so we decided to plaster the room to the left of the big room so we will get a photo of that too when we send a photographer to the village. 

In mid-November we would love to re-order those 90 chicks and add 110 to make 200 and start again. These birds take 3-4 months to grow to full weight for sales.  It could be 420 chickens x approx. 30,000 UGX each. 

The Many Mansions of Christ Intl. Poultry project is not fully self-sustainable yet but after 4 years of sacrificing and building and it is nice to see chicks there! Our donors have helped us immensely. 

We didn't come this far to just come this far. If anyone wishes to help us in these next few months until the sale of these chicks and even after we would be so thankful! We want to build another poultry house in Bugiri, Uganda.

 In Jesus' name! Amen!