Detailed Explanation of Key Points for Mixed-Culture Technology of Que Mountain Chickens in Orchards

    In Heshan, farmers raise Que Mountain chickens under the local fruit trees. In May and June, they mainly range them under plum trees. When the plums ripen, the Que Mountain chickens are moved to range under apricot trees, and by September and October, the Que Mountain chickens are driven into the tea gardens. Que Mountain chickens can fly well and run fast, and can remove insects for the fruit trees and tea plants, so the orchards and tea gardens do not need to be sprayed with pesticides at all, thus ensuring the quality of the fruit trees and tea leaves; while the orchards and tea gardens provide the Que Mountain chickens with a good growing environment, which is open and can provide shade and shelter from rain, as well as abundant natural food. Now, the plums, apricots and other fruits produced through the mixed-raising model are much better in quality than before, and their prices are also much higher than before, while Que Mountain chickens are also exported to large and medium-sized cities such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai, with the market price of eggs at more than 1 yuan each, while meat chickens can sell for nearly 50 yuan per kilogram. Now, forestland ranging of Que Mountain chickens in Songyang County has gradually taken shape, with a stock of nearly one million birds, benefiting over a thousand farming households, each increasing income by more than 10,000 yuan per year.