The study conducted in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir reveals that the poultry farmers had varying degrees of knowledge regarding the important practices of poultry farming. It was found that they possessed excellent degrees of knowledge regarding reasons for gentle and quick unloading of day old chicks from the boxes. However they had poor knowledge regarding optimum weight of day old chicks to be reared. Likewise they were found to have excellent knowledge about the proportion of dextrose and water to be offered to the chicks, effect of dry litter on birds, temperature of poultry house during the first week of age of birds, ratio of poultry concentrate and grinded maize, precautions while serving water to the chicks, floor per bird required during first week of age, common symptoms of Ranikhet, age for vaccination against Ranikhet and proper cleaning the shed before starting a lot. Further the respondents were found to possess low level of knowledge regarding the practices concept, preparation and removal time of chick guard; percentage of moisture to be maintained in the litter, height on the wall from the floor at which the thermometer is to be placed, percentage of nutrients in poultry feed, feeder space per bird required during the different ages, symptoms and management of Marek and fowl pox diseases and spreading the layer of lime or foot pad soaked in phenyl at the door of the shed.

Keyword: Poultry farming, Vaccination