A Detailed Explanation of Free-Range Chicken Farming Methods and Technical Key Points
Chickens are one of the main poultry species in China, and their meat and eggs have a very large market in the country. The chicken farming industry is also a major project in the development of China's livestock sector, and there are now many ways to raise chickens. Among them, free-range farming is a common method. The meat of free-range chickens is firm and chewy, making it very popular. So how should free-range chickens be raised? Below, the editor brings you the farming methods for free-range chickens. Let's take a look!
1. Breed Selection and Coop Construction
For free-range chickens, the breed is generally the native chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), because native chickens have high market demand, strong growth capacity and relatively strong disease resistance. After selecting the breed, we should do a good job of building the chicken coop. The coop should be built in a place with convenient transportation, shelter from the wind, sufficient sunlight and normal drainage and irrigation. Such a place is not only good for the chickens' growth, but also convenient for feeding work. The coop should have a well-planned rest area and exercise yard. Then prepare water troughs, feed troughs and temperature control facilities, and reasonably regulate the farming environment to promote the chickens' growth.
2. Chick Rearing
Within two months after hatching is the chick stage of the chicken, when the chickens are relatively fragile, and the survival rate in the first ten days is relatively low. Chicks have rather strict temperature requirements, so we must first control the temperature well. The temperature needs of chicks change as their age in days increases. In the first three days, the temperature should be controlled at around 35°C, then lowered by about 1°C every three days, until at around one month the temperature is stabilized at around 25°C. Then strengthen the management of the chicks, control the stocking density according to their age in days, and do a good job of light control. Within one month, keep light available day and night; after one month, the daily light duration can be appropriately reduced.
3. Raising Growing Chickens
The growing stage is when chickens grow the fastest; this period is within three months after the brooding period. Usually by 4 months their body size has gradually approached that of adult chickens. Growing chickens are generally fed feed inside the coop, and water and feed troughs should be prepared inside the coop, with the coop roof made sloped to prevent rain from leaking in. When feeding growing chickens, males and females should be raised separately to prevent dominance behavior. Control the daily feeding times according to their age in months; usually chickens at 2-3 months need to be fed about three times a day. Then after 3 months, one feeding can be reduced. If they are breeding chickens, then each feeding should not be too much, to avoid them eating too full, which would delay the laying period and affect egg production.
4. Disease Prevention and Control
Common diseases of free-range chickens include colibacillosis, trichomoniasis and so on. These diseases are extremely harmful to the chickens' growth, greatly increasing the mortality rate and affecting farming benefits. We should do a good job of coop hygiene, regularly remove chicken manure every day, strengthen management, regularly disinfect the coop, and do good ventilation work. Then note that spoiled feed and drinking water must not be fed, and control the stocking density well. Frequently observe the chickens' growth; when abnormalities are found, isolate them promptly, check the specific situation, and then treat them according to the symptoms.
The above is a brief introduction to free-range chicken farming methods. Free-range chicken farming is a method we have used for a relatively long time. It can effectively improve the egg production rate and meat quality of chickens and increase farming benefits. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can help everyone!