What are the key points for raising free-range chickens in spring?
China was the first country in the world to raise free-range chickens. Free-range chicken meat is very firm and chewy, and using it to make soup is extremely beneficial to the body. Free-range chicken eggs are also a type of egg that commands a very good price on the market today, and raising free-range chickens requires different management methods in each season. Today, the editor brings you the aspects to pay attention to when raising free-range chickens in spring. Let's take a look below!
1. Disinfection
Spring is the beginning of the year and also the season when all things revive, which of course includes pathogens and parasites, and it is also a period of high disease incidence, so disinfection must be taken seriously in spring. Although in early spring, when temperatures are still relatively low, pathogens are not very active, the free-range chickens' own disease resistance is also not strong, so pathogens still have a large space to invade. Disinfection must be taken seriously, otherwise disease outbreaks are very likely.
2. Keeping warm
Although spring has arrived and the temperature is no longer as cold as in winter, in early spring the temperature difference between day and night is still relatively large, and the weather is also changeable. Free-range chickens are very sensitive to temperature changes, especially low-temperature weather. Free-range chickens kept in a low-temperature environment for a long time are very likely to catch colds, so keeping warm must be taken seriously. Ensure the healthy growth of the free-range chickens.
3. Ventilation
Ventilation is the most important thing for free-range chickens. It may conflict somewhat with keeping warm, but it is indispensable for raising free-range chickens. On the premise of ensuring warmth, the ventilation of the chicken coop must also be ensured. If ventilation is poor, the air inside the coop will become stale, breeding large numbers of pathogens, making the free-range chickens highly susceptible to respiratory and digestive tract diseases.
4. Nutrition
As mentioned earlier, the changeable weather in spring leads to a decline in the disease resistance of free-range chickens, so their nutrition must be supplemented in a timely manner to improve their disease resistance. However, different chickens need different nutrient supplements. For example, chicks need an appropriate amount of protein, while middle-aged chickens need vitamins and some trace elements, etc.
5. Light
Many friends encounter the same problem when raising free-range chickens: during the laying period, the egg production is extremely low. In fact, the reason for insufficient laying rate is the lack of light in spring. An adult free-range chicken needs 14-17h of light per day. Light can promote the metabolism of free-range chickens and speed up their growth, so during the raising process, the light duration required by the free-range chickens must be met to increase their egg production.
Spring is the season when all living things start anew. Manage the free-range chickens carefully in spring and pay attention to every detail. What needs special attention is disease. Be sure to clean the chicken coop frequently and pay attention to the disinfection and hygiene of the coop. If sick chickens are found, they must be isolated and dealt with promptly to avoid large-scale infection. Secondly, supplement the light duration sufficiently to ensure egg production.