How to choose fencing for raising free-range chickens in the mountains? What is the price?

Because free-range chickens are loved by many people, livestock farmers saw a business opportunity and began renting mountain land to raise free-range chickens, which is what we often call mountain free-range chickens. And when raising chickens in the mountains, fencing becomes the issue farmers worry about most, because fencing really plays a big role: it can not only stop the chickens from running all over the place, but also prevent theft by others.

Selection and prices of fencing for raising free-range chickens in the mountains

1. Welded wire mesh: The advantage is that it is sturdy and not easy to rot. The disadvantage is that it rusts easily and is not very suitable for the rainy regions of the south.

2. Fishing net: It is not easily broken by the chickens' usual fighting and pecking, but the price is somewhat high, the cost is too high, and it needs frequent repairs, and the repair costs are not low either, so using fishing net to raise chickens is not suitable.

3. Thread net: Economical and affordable, suitable for raising chickens, but it is easily pecked through. Farmers with smaller investments are advised to choose thread net to enclose the chicken yard.

4. Iron wire mesh: The cost is moderate, but installation is rather troublesome, and it also rusts easily. If the budget is limited, this is also a best choice.

5. Plastic-coated iron wire mesh: Also called plastic-coated iron wire. If bought directly from the factory, the price is about 6 yuan per square meter, while the local retail price is about 10 yuan per square meter. The price is slightly high, but its practicality is quite good.

Breeding net, wall net, and protective net are all types of iron wire mesh fencing, used in different sites, all for protection. Everyone can choose according to their own scale and cost budget.

Features of iron wire mesh fencing for raising chickens

1. Attractive and practical appearance.

2. Suitable for long-distance isolation where height requirements are not high.

3. The use of horizontal coiled ring-shaped reinforcing ribs improves strength and aesthetics, with a slight increase in cost.

Techniques for raising free-range chickens in the mountains

In hilly, shallow-mountain, and grassy slope areas with good ecological conditions, local chickens are developed mainly by grazing, supplemented by feed supplementation. This method requires little investment, commands a high selling price, and meets green food requirements, so it is deeply favored by consumers and is a practical green farming technique worth vigorously promoting.

1. Mountain site selection.

The mountain land must be far from residential areas, mining and industrial areas, and main roads. Choose a quiet and peaceful environment with clean air, preferably places with shrub forests, thorn forests, or broadleaf forests. The slope should not be too steep; hilly mountain land is more suitable. There should be clean water sources nearby such as unpolluted streams and ponds.

2. Building sheds.

In the grazing area, find a flat, wind-sheltered, sunny spot and use felt, canvas, moso bamboo, etc. to build a simple chicken coop facing south with its back to the north by making use of the terrain. A plastic greenhouse can also be built. The shed only needs to keep warm, block wind, keep out rain, and not accumulate water.

3. Grazing scale and season.

The scale is best at about 1,800 birds per flock. Too large a scale is inconvenient to manage, while too small a scale yields low returns. The grazing density is best at about 200 birds per mu of mountain land, using an “all-in, all-out system.” The suitable season for grazing is from late spring to mid-autumn. At other times, because temperatures are low and insects and grass decrease, grazing should stop.

4. Grazing methods.

For free-range chicken breeds, local improved breeds should be chosen. Before 3 to 4 weeks of age, artificial brooding is carried out the same as for ordinary chicks, choosing a room with good insulation for artificial brooding, and after the chicks are off heat, they are moved to the mountain for grazing. To get the chicks into the habit of going up the mountain to forage as early as possible, starting from when they are moved to the mountain after coming off heat, guide them up the mountain for training every morning. Generally 2 people cooperate: 1 person walks in front blowing a whistle to clear the way and scattering pellet feed to let the chickens follow and scramble for it, while the other person drives them from behind with a bamboo pole until all have gone up the mountain.

To strengthen the effect, at noon each day a whistle can be blown on the mountain to supplement feed once. At the same time, the keeper should persist in promptly driving away chickens that return to the shed early, and control the range of activity of the flock, until in the evening the same method is used for training them to return to the shed. After about a week of such training, the flock establishes a “whistle-feed” conditioned reflex, and afterward they can simply be summoned by blowing the whistle.

5. Grazing management.

In the first few days of grazing, to prevent stress, a certain amount of vitamin C or multivitamins can be added to the feed or drinking water. The supplementary feed should not contain industrial raw materials or feed additives, and no antibiotics or deworming drugs should be used in the 3 months before release.

Feed selection for raising free-range chickens in the mountains

High-quality free-range chickens grow relatively slowly. Although their requirements for feed nutrition levels are not high, they should not be fed only a single feed. High-quality complete pelleted feed or mixed feed for the free-range chicken series should be chosen, so as to avoid nutritional deficiencies that affect growth and development and reduce the survival rate. Miscellaneous grains such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and cassava grown in the mountains can be used to replace part of the mixed feed.

Feeding and management of mountain chicks

The growth and development characteristics of chicks are poor thermoregulation, incomplete digestive function, poor disease resistance, fast growth, strong sensitivity, fondness for living in groups, and timidity. Therefore, the following points should be handled well in feeding and management:

1. Drinking water and first feeding

After the chicks enter the brooding room, they can be given water after resting for half an hour to 1 hour. Generally, water is given before feed. The water temperature should be about 32 degrees; cold water must not be given. In the first 2 days, a dilute potassium permanganate solution can be given for drinking, which helps reduce inflammation, sterilize, and prevent pullorum disease in chicks. After chicks drink water, they can quickly pass meconium and this stimulates appetite. Generally, feeding can begin after the first drink. Sprinkle the starter feed on a light-colored plastic sheet spread over the litter and let the chicks eat freely. Chicks have poor digestive ability, so they must be fed feed that is easy to digest and nutritionally complete. Two days after hatching, chicks have a strong appetite. Feeding should be regular and quantitative, generally about 80 percent full is appropriate. Overfeeding causes indigestion; underfeeding affects the growth and development of chicks and may even cause feather-pecking vices. Each feeding amount is best finished within 15-20 minutes.

2. Environmental temperature

The key to brooding is giving chicks a suitable temperature. Taking the temperature under the brooder as an example: at 1-2 days of age it is 34-35 degrees; at 3-7 days of age it is 32-34 degrees; the 2nd week is 30-28 degrees; the 3rd week is 28-26 degrees. During brooding in winter and spring, lower it by 2 degrees each week; in summer and autumn, lower it slightly by 3 degrees each week, until it reaches 21 degrees.

3. Humidity

For chicks' humidity requirements, in the 1st week the relative humidity is 70-75%, in the 2nd week it drops to 60%, and after the 3rd week it should be kept at as much as possible the level of 55-60%. Too much humidity favors the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and easily induces coccidiosis. Too little humidity and dryness will make chicks breathe faster, and a large amount of water in the body will be lost with breathing, the remaining yolk in the abdomen will be poorly absorbed, affecting chick development.

4. Strengthen inspection and pay attention to grouping

Strong and weak chicks and sick chicks should be raised in separate groups. It is best to check weak chicks at the first feeding in the morning, when weak chicks are easily pushed out. Chicks that are more severely ill should be culled immediately.

The significance of frequently inspecting the flock

① Through observation, understand the palatability of the feed and the feeding amount;

② Promptly discover and diagnose and treat diseases from the chicks' diet, activity, and droppings;

③ Promptly discover unexpected situations, handle them in time, and reduce losses.

Selection of shed sites for raising free-range chickens in the mountains

The site selection for free-range chickens should follow the following principles:

1. It should be conducive to epidemic prevention and also conveniently accessible by transportation.

2. The site should be chosen in a high, dry, and well-drained place.

3. There should be shade equipment in the site to prevent heatstroke from exposure or catching a cold from rain.

4. The site should have water and power sources and be well enclosed, to prevent loss and the introduction of pathogens. Choose a grassy slope that is wind-sheltered and sunny, with relatively flat terrain and no water accumulation. It is best if there are trees, so that the chickens can cool off under them.

Although free-range chickens can be raised in the mountains on a large scale over a large area, there are also quite a few technical points to master, and whether it is the selection of fencing or the learning of breeding methods, a certain amount of time is needed to master them well. Therefore, when farmers decide to raise free-range chickens in the mountains, they should carefully review knowledge in this area, otherwise they will be in a rush when the time comes.