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

Free-range chicken, 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 farming free-range chickens.

1. Choosing a suitable site:

For free-range chicken farming, it is best to choose a site 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 spacing 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 Xiaodowei, 2% caustic soda, etc.; for an old site, sweep and wash the ground, and on the basis of the above methods, for more exciting content, please follow Fumu Network, use 14 g/m² potassium permanganate plus 28 mL/m² formaldehyde 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 early. Generally, the brooding house temperature should be controlled at: 0-1 week of age 32-33°C, then decrease by 1-2°C each week, until after 4 weeks of age when heating can 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 its mouth 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 relatively suitable.

4. Choosing high-quality chicks:

The quality of chicks plays a decisive role in whether chicken farming succeeds. At present, small and medium-sized fast- and slow-growing breeds such as Jiangcun Yellow, Sanhuang Chicken, Guangxi Partridge Chicken, Zheda Yellow, Gushi Chicken, Xianju Chicken, and Fujian Green Chicken, with characteristics such as low environmental requirements, wide adaptability, strong disease resistance, large activity levels, and superior meat quality, are relatively suitable for field farming in our city. Choose chicks with relatively pure breed and robust constitution. Generally, chicks with a lively flock, strong calls, large heads, protruding 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 undergone long-distance transport or in hot weather, add 0.9% glucose saline and quick supplements to the drinking water; for short-distance ones, 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 sip of water at the same time; for those that react 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 condition and outside temperature. Generally, it is better when 85% of the chicks have appetite. If opening feed is too early, it is easy to cause poor yolk absorption in chicks and turn them into stunted chickens, leading to the disadvantages 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 winnowing baskets so that the chicks can easily eat it. Try to feed less but more frequently to stimulate the chicks' appetite and reduce feed waste.

7. Appropriate stocking density:

The stocking 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/m², then reduce by about 5 birds each week, until after 4 weeks of age when heating is stopped and they can be released for rearing.

8. Do a good job in immunization work:

The raising 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 raising 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. If bottles are broken, deliquescent, ineffective, or contain impurities, use is prohibited. It is better to purchase from stores designated by the agricultural department.

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

3. A reasonable immunization program. At 4-5 days of age, H120 vaccine; at 8-10 days of age, strain II or strain L 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 raising 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 each chick is immunized properly and the immunization effect is reliable, preventing the disadvantages of drinking more or less, or even not drinking at all, in drinking water immunization, which can cause 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. It is characterized by white feces sticking to the chick's vent. Use drugs such as enrofloxacin, fleroxacin, diaveridine, and oxytetracycline for prevention and treatment.

2. Aspergillosis. It tends to occur within half a month of age. It is characterized by difficulty breathing, body dehydration, and emaciation, and necropsy shows mold nodules in the air sacs of the lungs. For prevention and treatment, eliminate moldy feed, reduce humidity inside the house, and frequently replace litter. Nystatin can be used for treatment.

3. Coccidiosis. It is characterized by reduced appetite, increased drinking, visible bloody feces in the site, and a small number of chickens with bloody feces stuck around the vent. Necropsy shows the ceca and small intestine are thickened, containing bloody thin material, and bleeding points can be seen on the intestinal mucosa. Treat with penicillin, sulfonamides, and coccidiostats, together with reducing humidity inside the house and stocking density, and the results are fairly good.

10. Key points of later-stage feeding management

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