What Breeds Are Best for Ecological Chicken Farming? Stocking Density and Key Farming Techniques

Ecological chicken farming means raising local breeds or improved breeds of chickens in a natural grassland or forest ecological environment, combining housed rearing with woodland free-range rearing, mainly letting the chickens freely feed on insects and weeds (seeds) in the grassland and forest, supplemented by artificial feeding of compound feed, breathing the fresh air of the grassland and forest, and drinking unpolluted river water, well water and spring water, to produce green, natural, high-quality commercial chickens and commercial eggs. So, which breeds are better for ecological chicken farming? How many chickens per square meter? What are the farming techniques?

I. Which breeds are better for ecological chicken farming?

Choose the breeds you need according to production requirements. Local chicken breeds, after long-term natural crossbreeding and selection, have become dual-purpose meat-and-egg breeds and can be chosen for raising; for commercial egg-type breeds, it is best to choose Hy-Line White egg-laying chickens, Hy-Line Brown egg-laying chickens or Lohmann Brown egg-laying chickens as ecological layer breeds.

II. How many chickens per square meter?

For ecological chicken farming, choose grassland pasture, natural woodland, farm fields and similar sites for raising; it is required that within a 5 km radius around the chicken house there is no major pollution source, and that there are abundant forage grass and woodland, with a slope preferably not exceeding 25°, and the site should be sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, with sufficient water sources and convenient access to water; road transport and power supply should be guaranteed, making it convenient to transport and process feed and products. Design standards for the size of the chicken house and exercise yard: the chicken house is calculated at 10 chickens per square meter, with elevated perching required, and the exercise yard is calculated at 1 chicken per square meter; the exercise yard is best enclosed with fencing and plastic netting.

III. What are the farming techniques?

1. Do a good job of the brooding season

For ecological chicken raising, a suitable brooding season must be chosen to facilitate free-range raising of the ecological chickens. According to local climate characteristics, it is best to choose March to June for brooding. Because during this period the temperature gradually rises and there is sufficient light, which is favorable for chicken growth and development, the brooding survival rate is high. When the chickens can go outdoors, the climate is just warm and the environment suitable, and the time spent outside the house is long, so the chickens can get sufficient exercise, and thus have a strong physique, which is very beneficial for later natural grazing and feeding, resisting natural disasters and preventing natural enemies. It is required to feed 5 to 6 times a day and ensure clean drinking water.

2. Do a good job of training the young chicks

After the chicks have been raised indoors for 4 weeks and their body weight reaches about 200 grams, switch them to small-fenced free-range raising, and purposefully train their conditioned reflexes. After a certain period of training, the chicks will come back to eat and drink when they hear man-made sounds. During this period, seize the opportunity to train the chickens' ability to forage for feed and catch insects. After 4 to 6 weeks of training, once the chicks have formed conditioned reflexes, enhanced their foraging ability and increased their ability to guard against natural enemies, they are ready for free-range release.

3. Do a good job of feeding and management during the growing stage

The period from 8 to 20 weeks of age for ecological free-range laying hens is the growing stage. The task during the growing stage is to fully exercise the chickens' gastrointestinal digestive capacity and foraging ability, and strive for good flock uniformity, a high qualification rate and timely onset of laying. After the chickens' body weight reaches more than 500 grams, they meet the conditions for free-range raising. At this time, the chickens can be released to graze in the pasture, catching insects in the vast fields, foraging for grass seeds and tender grass, and moving freely. During this period, supplementary feeding can be gradually reduced to 2 to 3 times per day.

4. Choose good artificial supplementary feed

During the brooding and growing stages, be sure to follow the nutritional needs of the chickens at each growth stage and choose complete-price feed produced by reputable feed manufacturers, to ensure the feed supply and supplementation for chicks, growing chickens and adult chickens. The artificially supplemented feed must be produced in accordance with the standards for organic food. In the process of producing artificial feed, it is strictly forbidden to add various chemical drugs, so as to ensure the quality of the ecological chickens.