Is raising free-range chickens profitable? Analysis of the free-range chicken farming prospects in 2018

Free-range chickens, also known as grass chickens or stupid chickens, have never undergone any crossbreeding or optimized breeding and have long been raised by natural foraging or combined with coarse feed. They have strong wild foraging and survival abilities. Because their meat is delicious, nutritious, and free from pollution, and their meat and eggs are green food, they are quite favored by people, and prices continue to climb. Let's take a look below at whether raising free-range chickens is profitable in 2018!

How much does it cost to raise free-range chickens?

1. Chick cost: Generally, the market price of a chick is about 3 yuan. If the farmer self-breeds and self-raises, the price of a chick is about 1.5 to 2.0 yuan lower than the market price. Calculated at market price, it is about 900 yuan.

2. Vaccine cost: The cost of chicken vaccines depends on the scale of the chicken farmer. One dose of vaccine costs 20 yuan and can be injected into 1000 to 2000 chickens. Generally, vaccines are given 3 to 4 times, and the vaccine cost per chicken is below 2 mao, totaling 60 yuan for 300 chickens.

3. Feeding cost: Free-range chickens are mainly raised by free-range methods. They can be marketed after 110 days, with a weight of 2.5 to 3.0 jin at market. The feed cost for raising one chicken is about 15 yuan. The total feed cost for raising 300 free-range chickens is 15 yuan * 300 chickens = 4500 yuan.

Can raising free-range chickens make money?

1. Selling price: Free-range chickens are currently selling well on the market, and the market price is good. Calculated at 15 yuan/jin, a 2.5-jin free-range chicken can sell for about 38 yuan, and 300 chickens can sell for a total of 11400 yuan.

2. Farming profit: The farming cost for 300 free-range chickens is 4500 yuan + 900 yuan + 60 yuan = 5460 yuan. 11400 yuan - 5460 yuan = 5940 yuan. The average profit per chicken is about 20 yuan.

3. Profit analysis: The net profit from raising free-range chickens ranges from 18 to 20 yuan. If the farmer self-breeds and self-raises, the profit will be higher. Of course, these are theoretical costs. In reality, costs have recently been 1.5 yuan higher, and veterinary drugs and feed will also be a bit more expensive.

What risks are there in raising free-range chickens?

1. Disease risk: Free-range chickens actually do not have the high disease resistance that is claimed. For example, many diseases such as Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis are threats to free-range chicken farming. If you want to make a profit from free-range chicken farming, you must do a good job in the prevention and treatment of free-range chicken diseases.

2. Market risk: The price of free-range chickens fluctuates, and for farmers there are both profits and losses, so they must learn to fight price wars. In addition, the most important thing is sales channels. Sales channels are the intuitive factor restricting whether farmers can develop. Without sales channels, there is no profit to speak of.

Free-range chicken farming techniques

1. Site selection: For free-range chicken farming, it is advisable to choose a place that is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, convenient for water access, far from villages, and with convenient transportation. Never densely arrange chicken farms along rivers. The distance between farms should be no less than 200 m. Taking advantage of natural barriers in mountainous areas, it is advocated to have one farm per hill.

2. Site disinfection: For a new farm, the brooding room should be spray-disinfected with 5 to 10% limewater, or 1:600 Baidusha, or 1:1200 Xiaoduiwei, or 2% caustic soda, etc. For an old farm, it should also be sealed and fumigated with 14 g/sq m potassium permanganate plus 28 ml/sq m formaldehyde for 1 to 2 days, then ventilated for 1 to 2 days.

3. Temperature requirements: Temperature is key to successful brooding. Half a day before the chicks arrive, the temperature should be adjusted in advance. Generally, the brooding house temperature is controlled at 32 to 33°C for 0 to 1 week of age, then lowered by 1 to 2°C each week until heating can be stopped after 4 weeks.

4. Selecting chicks: The quality of chicks plays a decisive role in whether chicken farming succeeds. Generally, high-quality chicks have lively flocks, strong calls, large heads, protruding and bright eyes, strong struggling, clean bodies, uniform individuals, and consistent feather color.

5. Provide water as early as possible: After the chicks arrive, send them into the brooding room as soon as possible (especially necessary in winter) and let them drink freely. For chicks that have undergone long-distance transport or in hot weather, add 0.9% glucose saline and quick supplements to the drinking water; for short-distance transport, add 0.01 to 0.02% potassium permanganate to the drinking water.

6. Start feeding at the right time: The feeding time for chicks should be appropriately delayed. The most suitable time should be 24 to 36 hours after hatching. It can also be determined according to the chicks' health condition and the external temperature. Generally, it is best when 85% of the chicks have an appetite.

7. Stocking density: The stocking density of free-range chickens can be slightly higher than that of fast-growing chickens. Generally, within one week of age, keep it at 35 chickens/sq m, then lower it by about 5 chickens each week until free-range release is allowed after 4 weeks of age when heating is stopped.

8. Immunization work: The raising period of free-range chickens is relatively long, and their immunization should differ from that of fast-growing chickens raised indoors. The main points are to choose high-quality vaccines, use sufficient vaccine doses, have a reasonable immunization program, and use correct immunization methods.

9. Later-stage management: In the later stage, the feed for free-range chickens can gradually transition from compound feed to corn, rice, etc. If conditions are good, use pellet feed. If abnormalities in spirit, appetite, or feces are found, handle them early, remove sick and dead chickens in time, and prevent harm from rats, eagles, snakes, weasels, etc.