A Detailed Explanation of Partridge Farming Techniques and Management Points
The partridge, also known as the Chinese francolin, is similar in body shape to a chicken but smaller. It is a wild fowl commonly eaten in southern regions. Its meat is rich in protein, multiple amino acids and various trace elements needed by the human body, and has the effects of tonifying the kidney and strengthening yang and building up the body, making it an excellent tonic. Market demand for it is growing day by day, but wild birds simply cannot meet the demand, so artificial farming has arisen. Let us take a look below at partridge farming techniques.
1. Rearing Site
There are two partridge rearing modes: floor rearing and cage rearing. Floor rearing requires overhead netting, generally 50-60 cm high, and 15-20 partridges can be raised per sq m; cage rearing uses stacked cages, choosing cages 1 m long, 30 cm high and 60 cm deep, with about 10 partridges per cage. Generally, floor rearing suits breeding partridges, bringing them up to breeding requirements, while cage rearing suits meat partridges, achieving the goal of rapid fattening.
2. Rearing During the Brooding Period
From hatching to within 9 weeks, the whole time is the chick period of the partridge and also the most important period of partridge farming. What must be done then is keeping warm and starting to feed. Within the first week after hatching, the brooding room must be kept at 35-37 degrees, then lowered by 1 degree each week until its feathers have fully grown and it can adapt to outside temperatures. Before the partridges start feeding, they should first be fed a low-concentration oxytetracycline solution,
to let their digestive tracts adapt. Start feeding within 24 hours after hatching; when starting to feed, mix corn with cooked eggs, scatter it on wooden boards and lure them to peck freely. On the second day they can be fed mixed feed. During brooding, air humidity should be controlled at 60%, which benefits feather and bone growth, and all-day lighting should be maintained; after one week, only 15-16 hours need be maintained.
3. Rearing During the Growing Period
From 10-27 weeks the partridge is in the growing period. Rearing at this time is relatively simple; this is a time of rapid growth for the partridge, with large food intake, so sufficient feed and drinking water must be maintained. During rearing, some live bait such as mosquitoes and insects can be fed, and they also need a certain amount of exercise to promote digestion and let them grow quickly.
4. Rearing During the Adult Partridge Period
When the partridge grows to 28 weeks it is in the adult partridge period, and rearing at this time is extremely critical. Feeding is mainly based on feed, and chicken feed can be used. When choosing the purpose of the partridges, whether for breeding or for meat, those for breeding should be selected for robust growth and good libido, grouped and raised separately at a male-to-female ratio of 1:3, with laying boxes set up in relatively dark places in the rearing site. During the laying period, about 18 hours of lighting must be maintained so they lay more eggs; those for meat can be sold after one to two weeks of fattening.
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