How to raise ecological free-range chickens? Master these 6 key breeding points

1. Choosing a site: Generally, choose woodland, tea gardens, orchards and hillside land. For woodland, natural forest is the best, and artificial economic forest is second only to natural forest. Hillside land requires a gentle slope, shelter from the wind and facing the sun, and a sufficient water source. @#@230@#@ The surroundings of the farm must have no major pollution sources, and must be more than 1 km away from residential areas, hospitals and slaughterhouses.

2. Selecting good breeds: Dual-purpose chicken breeds for both eggs and meat, male chicks of layer breeds, and rural free-range chickens can all be used as ecological chicken breeds.

3. Preparing feed: The feed for raising ecological chickens must be organic feed and is required to have comprehensive nutritional content. Natural feed mainly includes various insects, mature seeds and natural forage grass, etc.

4. Brooding time: Brooding can be done in all four seasons, but brooding from March to May is best. At this time, the temperature gradually rises and there is plenty of sunlight, so the brooding survival rate is high. At the same time, spring chicks reach sexual maturity early and grow quickly.

5. Key brooding points: Brooding is mainly done on flat ground and net beds, with specialized and large-scale centralized brooding. Focus on the following points: First, the brooding density should be appropriate, preferably 80-100 birds per sq m. Second, appropriate temperature and humidity: within 1 week of age, keep the temperature at 30-32°C; at 2 weeks of age, keep the temperature at 28-30°C; afterward, lower it by 2°C each week, and keep the relative humidity at 60-70%. Third, reasonable lighting: during the brooding period, keep 23 hours of light per day for the first 5 days, keep 16 hours of light per day after 5 days, and then gradually reduce the lighting time and light intensity. Fourth, provide feed and water at the right time.

6. Fenced free-range raising: Raise the chicks in the brooding house for 21-30 days, and when they reach a body weight of more than 150 grams, switch to free-range raising outside the house, and train the flock at the right time to eat in response to sound. In rainy or snowy weather, delay the release time or do not release the flock outside.

7. Vaccination: Ecological free-range chickens have a relatively long growth period, generally requiring more than 4 months, and they also have extensive contact with the outside world. Therefore, vaccination work should be carried out in a planned way according to the actual situation.