Azolla Farming | How to Grow Affordable Feeds for Chicken

Welcome to Afrifama,
In this video, I will offer a comprehensive guide on how to grow Azzola to provide your free-range chickens with a sustainable, protein-rich feed!
Through the tutorial, I will walk you through the step-by-step process of constructing an Azolla pond, a cost-effective and eco-friendly way to boost your poultry's nutrition.
Why Azolla for Chicken Feed?
Azolla is a highly nutritious aquatic fern that grows rapidly and provides an excellent source of protein for free-range chickens. By incorporating Azolla into your poultry farming practices, you can significantly reduce feed costs while enhancing the health and growth of your chickens.
What You'll Learn:
The benefits of using Azolla as an alternative protein source for chickens
Essential materials and tools needed for constructing an Azolla pond
Step-by-step instructions on setting up and maintaining the pond
Tips on harvesting and feeding Azolla to your chickens
Key Benefits:
Sustainable Agriculture: Reduce your environmental footprint by growing your own chicken feed.
Cost-Effective: Save money on commercial feeds by using Azolla.
Healthy Chickens: Improve the overall health and productivity of your free-range flock.
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#azolla #free-rangechickens #chicken chickenfeed #sustainablepoultryfarming #protein-richfeed #backyardfarming #DIYpondconstruction #poultrynutrition #eco-friendlyfarming

[@user-wf9lo5ss5l]

Interesting video, I didn't know there was another alternative way to feed chicken. Great insights Afrifama!

[@Afrifama]

Glad it was helpful! Ideally Azolla can provide alternative source of protein poultry.

[@user-wf9lo5ss5l]

@@Afrifama Appreciate it brother🙏🏾

[@Vethub11]

Nice work friend. The problem with spreading the manure into the water is that when you harvest the azola you pick with the chicken dropping floating on the surface of water. Next time put the manure into a porous sack then place them on the four corners, you can also put one in the middle. The manure will be sipping from the sack and mixing in the water, stir the water slowly for even spread. This mtd also prevent water from being too mucky. Stepping into the pond can also make holes in the lining leading to water loss, I used to tie a pole on the basin that I was using to collect the weeds, also after harvesting rinse the harvested weed with water and recycle the water I to the pond as it has manure.. I love your work sir

[@Vethub11]

Had frog problem when I tried mine. But I now have learnt of a sln from this video

[@Afrifama]

Hey Friend, Good to see you again, You have simply given me a free masterclass on Azolla production. For which I am eternally grateful. To be honest with you, I made all the rookie mistakes possible, I was just curious to see if I could produce. I think with the next pond, I will certainly follow your insights and will get better results. I think that the essence of sharing. I really appreciate your inputs.

[@Afrifama]

@@Vethub11 That's interesting, you had a pond before? How did it perform? also what was the production like? Then for frogs, I am curious, in the first and second production were absent but I have started to see some tiny frogs in the recent harvest. How do you control them?

[@Vethub11]

@@Afrifama fencing around with the net(around 75cm high) helped In my situation as frogs and toads can't leap that high. At the bottom cover the net with soil to prevent them from passing under. I don't see the essence of covering on top, was at diani where we experience same climate cdns to malindi.i never covered on top yet they don't even wither. Use the net to make a perimeter around instead.. production was very high, for my case I used dry cowdung as manure was harvesting after every three days

[@Afrifama]

@@Vethub11 Brilliant, I agree with you. Surprisingly I was thinking of the same idea just yesterday. Since we have the shade net in abundance I can certainly make more use of it.

[@AnnastaciaMKyalo]

Am happy watching this. And am so happy for you

[@Afrifama]

I am glad to hear that, Thankyou Annastacia for your positive feedback.

[@kaigaijames]

Amazing video, Happy chickens.. its Christmas for them 😅😅😅😅😅

[@Afrifama]

Thanks brother! Defintly they will be ready for Christmas! Don't be surprised if you get 4.5Kg per bird! With azolla serving as their part of diet.

[@sknazziwa60]

how do you prevent tadpoles from eating azolla

[@Afrifama]

Ideally, someone had suggested putting the net around the pound as a perimeter wall would certainly prevent them from occupying. Allow me to get back to you in future on the same.

[@JesusChristisLord6557]

Wont the water stink after sometime?

[@Afrifama]

Under normal conditions, an Azolla pond should not produce a strong or unpleasant odor. However, if certain issues arise, such as stagnant water, decaying organic matter, or nutrient imbalances, the pond water might start to smell. You can solve this by regularly remove decaying plant, Monitor nutrient levels, Use clean, non-chlorinated water etc.

[@dem2825]

Hello Brother, I want to buy the Azolla seeds from you inorder to start my Azolla Pond in The Gambia. I am from the Gambia(Inside Senegal in West Africa) I don't know whether you can sell and ship the Azolla to me and it will still be alive to reproduce and grow very well in my Azolla pond

[@Afrifama]

Hello, thank you for reaching out. Ideally, it's not feasible, my advice is to check for other farmers within your locality. It should be easy and cheaper to get from that other end. On our end, it's simply not viable. But thankyou for your inquiry.

[@FariraiMuchena-wj4nq]

I have aquired azolla unfortunately mine is getting brown and not multiplying

[@Intelinside-vo7wn]

add fresh manure & azolla should be exposed to sunlight 👍👍

[@Afrifama]

Ideally I would say there is lack of nutrients and as Farirai has advised, - Regularly add organic fertilizers such as cow dung slurry or compost to maintain nutrient levels. - You should also avoid much direct sunlight can cause the water temperature to rise and inhibit growth. With those two covered you will be well to go.