Construction Methods and Technical Key Points for a Common Moorhen Breeding Base

The common moorhen is a bird of the rail family (Rallidae), generally living in shrubs, cattail grass, reed beds and places with water. It mainly feeds on aquatic plants, small fish, small shrimp and aquatic insects, is widely distributed worldwide, and is a species with no survival crisis. In recent years, the artificial breeding of common moorhens has been very popular, so to breed common moorhens you first need to build a breeding farm, and how should a common moorhen breeding farm be built? Let us take a look below.

1. Site Selection for the Breeding Base

Before building a common moorhen breeding base, we first need to choose a site suitable for breeding common moorhens. So we need to have a general understanding of the common moorhen's living habits, and only then can we make an accurate choice. Generally, we will choose a relatively remote and quiet area. Next, this area must have a river, or abundant and pollution-free water resources, and the nearby land resources must be abundant, with vast grasslands. Of course, another issue to consider is that the breeding farm must have convenient transportation and electricity, otherwise it is very difficult to ensure the normal operation of the breeding.

2. Planning of the Breeding Base

The general planning of the breeding base should be decided according to the number of common moorhens being bred. If you are just starting to breed, the scale of the breeding base does not need to be particularly large; it is about enough as long as it is just right, and after operation becomes normal you can slowly expand the scale. The overall planning of the breeding base is divided into a rest area, an activity area, a free-range area and a hatching area. In terms of orientation, it is best to face south from a north-facing position, so that the breeding farm is warm in winter and cool in summer, and management will also be relatively simpler.

3. Internal Layout of the Base

The internal layout of the breeding base needs to be planned carefully. First, we need to consider the issue of the chicken houses; the chicken houses are generally divided into pens at about one hundred birds per pen, and each pen needs to be separated by a wall or wooden fencing, iron fencing, enclosures, etc. Next, the positions of market birds, breeding birds and chicks should be allocated reasonably. Ventilation openings should be set up in the breeding farm, or doors and windows should be opened well, but the doors and windows all need to be enclosed with fencing to prevent the common moorhens from escaping. Also, a walkway about 1.5 meters wide should be set between the chicken pens. Then, the pool in the breeding base should be equipped with a water inlet and a water outlet for convenient water changing; of course, we can also set up a sand bath, which can deworm the common moorhens. The last thing to note is that fencing should be set up all around the breeding farm as anti-escape preparation, and if conditions permit, it is best to also set up overhead netting.

4. Configuration of Breeding Equipment

The equipment of the breeding base is actually very simple; there is not much. First, we consider the issue of chick rearing, so temperature control equipment is needed; second, considering the ventilation issue, so a ventilator also becomes a necessity; then, when carrying out feeding, feeding troughs or feed containers, drinking waterers, etc. are needed; also needed are egg-laying equipment and hatching equipment; and finally, for disease prevention, preparations of vaccine injection agents and equipment should be well equipped.

The main issue in the construction of a common moorhen breeding base is actually the pool, because it cannot do without water and cannot be raised dry like other organisms; if water is lacking, common moorhens are very difficult to keep alive.