AGRICULTURE REPORT - Raising Chickens

AGRICULTURE REPORT – October 8, 2002: Raising Chickens

By Gary Garriott

(Photo - Peace Corps)
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Raising chickens or other birds for the eggs and meat they produce is a popular family
and business activity almost everywhere in the world. The birds eat grain, seeds and
grasses. They also eat small pieces of food that people throw away. Many of these
materials would be wasted if the birds did not eat them. Chicken eggs and meat contain
high quality protein and other substances important in the human diet.

For many centuries, chickens were allowed to run free to find food by themselves. Then
people used fences to keep small groups of birds known as flocks² from running away.
After the chickens were kept inside a fence, people had to provide food for them.

Early in the last century, raising flocks of thousands of birds became a successful
business for many people. But the size of these flocks caused some serious problems, including pollution caused
by chicken waste.

Disease³ is one of the biggest problems in large flocks. The birds are kept close together all the time. So if one
bird becomes sick, the sickness spreads. All the chickens in a flock¹ can die from a serious disease. Diseases⁴ that
affect chickens are different in different areas of the world. So medicines that have been successful in treating
chickens in local areas should be used

People who raise chickens should try to prevent disease. Experts advise these steps: Feed the birds a balanced
diet. This will help them resist infections. Do not add adult birds to your flocks. If you must add adult birds, keep
them separate from the flock for five to fifteen days to make sure they are healthy.

Cover the floor of the buildings where the chickens are kept with material like straw, rice husks or sawdust.
Change this material often.

After you sell the chickens, completely empty the building where they were kept. Clean and wash the building.
Then leave it empty for four weeks before putting in new chickens.

Diseases affecting birds are not simple to understand and treat, so expert medical advice is important. You can
get more information about caring for chickens and other birds from the organization Volunteers in Technical
Assistance⁵. Computer users⁶ can reach VITA through the Internet at w-w-w dot v-i-t-a dot o-r-g. www.vita.org.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Gary Garriott.

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1 flock   

n.羊群，一群，大量；vi.群集，聚集，成群

参考例句：

• A flock of customers were waiting for the store to open.一群顾客在等候着商店开门。
• A few sheep have been lost from the flock.羊群里少了几只羊。

2 flocks   

n.畜群( flock的名词复数 )；鸟群；人群；同一教会团体的教徒v.群集，成群结队而行( flock的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Vistors came in flocks to see the new bridge. 参观者成群结队地来观看这座新桥。 来自《用法词典》
• They move with their flocks to upland pastures. 他们带着牲畜迁往高原上的牧场。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

4 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

5 assistance   

n.援助，帮助

参考例句：

• She called and called but no one came to her assistance.她叫了又叫，但没有人来帮。
• He will get the great possible assistance.他将获得尽可能大的帮助。

6 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。