Precautions for Free-Range Chicken Farming and Methods to Prevent Weasels from Stealing Chickens

Many people raise free-range chickens in rural areas, but when raising chickens, weasels often steal chickens, which brings huge losses to farmers. How to prevent weasels from stealing chickens? What precautions are there for free-range chicken farming?

1. How to prevent weasels from stealing chickens?

1. Weasel traps

There are generally tools for catching weasels on the market. For example, you can buy some rat traps and place them at the entrance and exit of the chicken coop. As long as a weasel comes to steal chickens, it will definitely step on the trap and be unable to move. Moreover, the trap is not lethal, but it is enough to scare the weasel away. In addition to traps, you can also try using hidden devices such as glue traps. After doing this a few times, the weasel will not dare to come again.

2. Raise geese

Some people may be confused when they see the words "raise geese." What does this have to do with raising geese? That is right. If we raise a few geese among the chickens, it is very helpful for preventing weasels, because as soon as a goose sees a weasel, it will immediately cry out. Not only does it cry, it will also call the others to join in and drive the weasel away. Therefore, raising a few geese among the chickens is very effective.

2. What precautions are there for free-range chicken farming?

1. Control the body temperature and humidity of chicks

Chicks have relatively poor body temperature regulation ability. The body temperature of chicks is closely related to their drinking water, digestion and absorption, and the ambient temperature. If the temperature is too low, once the chicks feel cold, they will huddle together to raise their temperature. This will affect normal activities such as movement and eating, and it is very easy for chicks to freeze to death or be crushed to death. Huddling together also makes respiratory diseases more likely. Therefore, the ambient temperature should be adjusted well. Generally, the indoor temperature should be kept above 32 degrees and below 35 degrees. This temperature is the most suitable.

2. Cleaning of chicks

After newly hatched chicks break out of their shells, they should be given clean water or cooled boiled water to drink, and their bodies should be cleaned. They should drink water first and then eat feed, and the feed should be the best quality feed.

3. Reasonable lighting

Sufficient lighting conditions are more conducive to chicks' movement, eating, and drinking, and have a direct impact on their health. Ensure that daily lighting reaches 22-23h. At the same time, 24h lighting can also be used, but the lighting time should be reduced as time goes on. When the chicks are truly ready for market, normal lighting can be used again. In the brooding room for chicks, 40-50w incandescent lamps can be installed, which can make the chicken coop look more attractive.

4. Immunization work

For free-range chicken farming, there is no specific immunization program, but there are still many diseases in free-range chickens. For example, most die from pullorum disease in chicks, so corresponding drugs can be used for prevention. At the same time, air is also a way for pathogens to spread, so attention should also be paid to indoor air circulation, and the chicken coop should be cleaned regularly to prevent the breeding of pathogens.

Free-range chicken farming is still relatively simple. Many rural areas raise some chickens. I hope everyone can effectively prevent weasels and let the chickens grow healthier.