What are the farming methods for free-range chickens in rural areas?

Free-range chickens in rural areas not only have good meat quality, but the chicken is also especially fragrant. If taken to the city to sell, they can certainly fetch a high price. So, how do you raise free-range chickens in rural areas? Below we introduce the farming methods for free-range chickens in rural areas.

1. Build a chicken coop

Choose a place with relatively flat terrain, shelter from the wind and facing the sun, normal drainage and irrigation, no water accumulation, good vegetation, good isolation conditions and convenient transportation to build the chicken coop. The chicken coop should have a well-planned rest area and exercise yard, and then water troughs, feed troughs and temperature control facilities should be prepared.

2. Breed selection

The chicken breeds for free-range farming in rural areas are generally mainly native chickens, such as Partridge chickens, Sanhuang chickens, Silkie chickens, green-shell laying hens, etc., because native chickens are in high market demand, have strong growth capacity and have strong disease resistance.

3. Feed

Free-range chickens in rural areas grow relatively slowly and do not have very high feed requirements. Feeding mixed feed is better; if the same kind of feed is fed, it will cause malnutrition. If there is corn, pumpkin, sweet potato, rice, cassava, etc. at home, they can be combined and fed together. Corn and rice can be ground into powder, and pumpkin and sweet potato can be cooked.

4. Daily management

For managing chicks, attention should be paid to temperature and humidity; in short, they must be carefully cared for, otherwise they are not easy to keep alive. For managing young chickens, males and females should be raised separately, and the daily amount in the water trough and feed basin should be kept appropriate, not too much. For managing adult chickens, meet the feed nutritional requirements of laying hens, and increase the feed nutritional content for overwintering chickens.

5. Disease prevention and control

Free-range chickens have strong disease resistance and few cases of illness, but they have many opportunities to come into contact with pathogens, so hygiene, disinfection and epidemic prevention work should be done well. Common chicken diseases include colibacillosis, trichomoniasis, etc. If an epidemic occurs, treat it promptly to avoid affecting farming returns. Chicken manure should be removed regularly every day, the chicken coop should be disinfected regularly, spoiled feed and drinking water should not be fed, and farming density should be well controlled.

6. Sell at the right time

Chickens should be sold at the right time to maximize profits. If the raising period is too short, it will lead to poor meat quality and less fresh taste; if the raising period is too long, it will lead to tougher meat and increased raising costs, which is not cost-effective.