Key Technical Points and Detailed Methods for Free-Range Chicken Farming

The free-range chicken is a type of poultry. It is different from caged broiler chickens. Among them, “free-range chickens raised on hillsides” are the best. Let's take a look at the techniques for raising free-range chickens below.

1. Choosing a suitable site:

For free-range chicken farming, it is advisable to choose a place that is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, with flat terrain, high and dry ground, convenient water access, far from villages, convenient transportation, smaller tree crowns, and sparse fruit trees. Never densely pack chicken farms along rivers; the distance between farms should be no less than 200 m. Taking advantage of the natural barriers of mountainous areas, it is recommended to have one farm per hill.

2. Site disinfection:

For a new site, disinfect the brooding room by spray disinfection of the site with 5-10% limewater or 1:600 Baidusha, 1:1200 Xiaoduwei, 2% caustic soda, etc.; for an old site, sweep and rinse the ground. On the basis of the above methods, for more exciting content, please follow Fumu Network, use 14 g potassium permanganate per sq m plus 28 ml formaldehyde per sq m for sealed fumigation disinfection for 1-2 days (place drinkers, feed buckets and other utensils inside together for disinfection), then open for ventilation for 1-2 days.

3. Temperature requirements:

Temperature is the key to successful brooding. Before the chicks arrive, the temperature should be adjusted half a day in advance. Generally, the temperature in the brooding house should be controlled at: 32-33°C for 0-1 week of age, then decrease by 1-2°C each week, and only after 4 weeks of age can heating be stopped. There are two ways to observe whether the temperature is suitable: one is to look at the thermometer, and the other is to look at the condition of the flock. When the flock huddles together, stays close to the heat source, and keeps chirping, it indicates the temperature is too low; when the flock stays away from the heat source, spreads around, and keeps opening their mouths to breathe, it indicates the temperature is too high; when the flock is evenly distributed, moves freely, and is relatively quiet, it indicates the temperature is more suitable.

4. Choosing high-quality chicks:

The quality of the chicks plays a decisive role in whether chicken farming succeeds. At present, small and medium-sized slow-growing and fast-growing breeds such as Jiangcun Yellow, Sanhuang chicken, Guangxi Partridge chicken, Zheda Yellow, Gushi chicken, Xianju chicken, and Fujian Green chicken, with their characteristics of low environmental requirements, wide adaptability, strong disease resistance, large activity level, and superior meat quality, are relatively suitable for field farming in our city. Choose chicks with relatively pure breed and robust physique. Generally, chicks with a lively flock, strong calls, large heads, prominent and bright eyes, strong struggling, clean bodies, uniform size, and consistent feather color are high-quality chicks.

5. Drinking water as early as possible:

The first time chicks drink water is called opening water. After the chicks arrive, send them into the brooding room as soon as possible (especially necessary in winter) and let them drink freely. For chicks that have been transported over long distances or when the weather is hot, add 0.9% glucose saline and quick supplements to the drinking water; for short-distance transport, add 0.01-0.02% potassium permanganate to the drinking water. Opening water should be early, and more than 80% of the chicks should drink their first water at the same time; for those that respond slowly and squat without moving, manually train them, or stimulate them with clapping sounds to encourage drinking. Water should be supplied around the clock.

6. Feeding at the right time:

The first time feed is given to chicks is called opening feed. The opening feed time should be appropriately delayed, and the most suitable time should be 24-36 hours after the chicks hatch. It can also be determined according to the chicks' health status and external temperature conditions. Generally, it is best when 85% of the chicks have appetite. If feed is opened too early, it is easy to cause poor absorption of the yolk sac in chicks and turn them into stunted chickens, leading to the drawbacks of reduced brooding rate and poor uniformity. When opening feed, it is best to choose compound feed with small particle size and easy digestion. The feed should be scattered on nylon cloth or shallow baskets so that the chicks can easily eat it, and it should be done with small amounts and frequent additions as much as possible, to stimulate the chicks' appetite and reduce feed waste.

7. Appropriate rearing density:

The rearing density of free-range chickens can be slightly higher than that of fast-growing chickens. Generally, within one week of age, keep it at 35 birds per sq m, then reduce by about 5 birds each week, and only after heating is stopped at 4 weeks of age can they be released for rearing.

8. Doing a good job in immunization:

The rearing period of free-range chickens is relatively long, so their immunization should differ from that of fast-growing chickens raised indoors. The main tasks are:

1. Choose high-quality vaccines. Because the rearing period of free-range chickens is long and the threat of disease is great, when purchasing vaccines, farmers must check the vaccine's validity period, batch, manufacturer, and production date, and refuse to use any with broken bottles, moisture absorption, failure, or impurities. It is best to buy from stores designated by the agricultural department.

2. Vaccines should be used in sufficient doses. In other aspects of free-range chicken farming, savings can be made, but vaccines alone must not be stinted and should be used in sufficient doses. The method is: in the early stage, if using drinking water immunization, the dose should be doubled (that is, for 1000 chickens, use 2000-dose vaccine); for drop immunization, use 1-1.5 times the dose; in the later stage, 1.5-2 times the dose is appropriate.

3. A reasonable immunization program. At 4-5 days of age, H120 vaccine; at 8-10 days of age, strain II or L strain vaccine; at 13-15 days of age, bursa of Fabricius vaccine and avian influenza vaccine; at 25-26 days of age, bursa of Fabricius vaccine; at 28-30 days of age, strain I vaccine and avian influenza vaccine; at 32-34 days of age, H52 vaccine. For rearing periods exceeding 100 days, it is recommended to inject strain I vaccine once at 60-65 days of age.

4. Adopt correct immunization methods. In the early stage, because the chickens are small and not very active, they are easy to catch, so it should be advocated to immunize each one by nasal drops, eye drops, or oral drops; in the later stage, use injection methods. This can ensure that every chick is immunized properly and the immunization effect is reliable, preventing the drawbacks of drinking water immunization such as drinking more or less, or even not drinking at all, which creates blind spots in immunization.

9. Prevention and control of major diseases in the brooding stage

1. Pullorum disease. This disease mainly occurs within 7 days of age, characterized by white feces sticking to the chick's vent. Use drugs such as enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, dijunnet, and oxytetracycline for prevention and control.

2. Aspergillosis. It mostly occurs within half a month of age, characterized by difficulty breathing, body dehydration, emaciation, and on necropsy, mold nodules visible inside the pulmonary air sacs. For prevention and control, eliminate moldy feed, reduce humidity in the house, frequently replace bedding, and nystatin can be used for treatment.

3. Coccidiosis. It is characterized by reduced appetite, increased water intake, bloody droppings visible in the site, and a small number of chickens with blood-stained droppings around the vent. On necropsy, the ceca and small intestine are thickened and contain bloody thin material, and bleeding points can be seen on the intestinal mucosa. Treat with penicillin, sulfonamides, and anticoccidial drugs, combined with reducing humidity in the house and rearing density, and the results are fairly good.

10. Key points of later-stage rearing management

In the later stage, the feed can gradually transition from compound feed to single corn (2318, -5.00, -0.22%) and paddy rice, and if conditions are good, pelleted feed can be used. Generally, feed after 10 a.m., feed once after 3 p.m., and add one more feeding before sleep. Do not stop water throughout the entire rearing period. Observe frequently, and if abnormalities in spirit, appetite, or droppings are found, take measures as early as possible. Remove sick and dead chickens in time, and prevent harm from rats, eagles, snakes, weasels, and other animal pests.

1. Appropriate rearing time. If the rearing period of free-range chickens is inappropriate, it directly affects the chicken's meat quality, flavor, and farming benefits. If the rearing period is too short, the meat is too tender,