Northern Free-Range Chicken Farming Techniques and Free-Range Management Methods

    In northern free-range chicken farming, is there anything different from free-range chicken farming techniques in other places?

    (1) Chick release: At about 1 month after hatching, when they weigh 0.25——0.3 kg, and when the weather is warm in late April, the chicks can be moved to the hills for free-range rearing in batches according to their physical strength. The grazing locations should go from far to near, and the grazing time should be gradually extended. In the first few days of grazing, an appropriate amount of vitamin C or multivitamins can be added to the supplementary feed or drinking water to prevent stress.

    (2) Immunization before release: Newcastle disease intranasal immunization is carried out at 7——10 days of age, and the second dose is given at 30 days of age.

    (3) Supplementary feeding and drinking water: Pay attention to observing the flock, and determine the number of supplementary feedings according to different seasons and the chickens' foraging conditions. Generally, supplement 1——2 times per day and provide drinking water 2——3 times. In bad weather or in winter when they cannot go out to forage, house feeding should be carried out. The daily ration for house feeding can refer to the following formula (%): corn 68, soybean cake 18, fish meal 8.5, rice bran 4, shell powder 0.75, bone meal 0.5, salt 0.25, with each chicken fed 100 grams per day.

    (4) Training method: During training, a person walks in front and uses feed to guide the chickens up the hill, blowing a whistle so that the chickens gradually form a conditioned reflex to the whistle and develop the habit of going up the hill to feed; in the evening, the whistle is also used to bring the chickens back to the coop for supplementary feeding and drinking water.

    (5) Preventing animal damage: Pay attention to guarding against attacks by wild animals, rats, weasels and snakes, and eliminate rats promptly.

    (6) Pay attention to listening to and watching weather forecasts: When the weather is bad, do not let them exercise; during heavy rain or hail, drive the chickens back into the coop promptly to prevent accidents.