(I) Infrastructure Construction
1. Living rooms and brooding rooms are constructed using a brick and wood structure, with a height of 3.5 meters. The floors and walls are smooth and made of cement, making them easy to clean and disinfect. For thermal insulation, sand is used in the roof and ceilings. The size of the area is determined based on the orchard size and labor availability. Brooding rooms are equipped with cages at a density of 40–50 per square meter, while raised areas are designed for 25–35 per square meter. When possible, a feed workshop can be established, and bamboo sheds can be built for laying hens. These structures are ideally placed at the edge of cliffs, facing south and sheltered from the wind. Ceilings can be covered with fiber-reinforced plastic tiles or oil felt with straw, depending on local resources. The shed has a high center, about 2.5–3 meters, with lower sides at 1.2–1.5 meters, and a width of 4–6 meters. A proper drainage ditch should also be dug.
2. Essential facilities such as lighting, drinking water systems, and thermal insulation must be available. If power is not accessible, alternative heating methods like sawdust stoves or coal briquette furnaces can be used for brooding. Battery-powered lights are recommended, but care must be taken to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Water supply can be sourced from mountain springs or underground wells. In the sheds, plastic drinking fountains can be used for brooders and drinkers. In orchards, large bamboo poles (over 12 cm in diameter) can be used as drinking stations, with crosspieces of 20 cm length to prevent tipping. Regular cleaning and disinfection of these stations are essential.
(B) Feed Management Technology
1. Choosing the right breed is crucial. For dual-purpose chickens that produce both meat and eggs, native breeds like Xianju, Jiangshan flatbread, Taoyuan, Zhuanghe, and Gushi chickens are ideal due to their hardiness, good egg production (130–200 eggs annually), and superior taste. For meat-focused production, larger improved local breeds such as Sanhuang or other similar types are more suitable.
2. Stocking density should be around 40–50 chickens per 0.067 hectares, with 80–100 chicks per 0.067 hectares, regardless of gender. This is typically done between March and May. After 4–5 months, roosters and replacement hens can be sold, as this period coincides with abundant forage, insects, and orchard by-products, which help reduce feeding costs and improve chicken health.
3. Feeding practices include using full-grain pellets and gravel during brooding. No feed should be given during the day after stocking, and night returns should be supplemented with corn, wheat, soybean meal, or fishmeal. During egg-laying, shell powder should be added. Trace elements and multi-vitamins should be included throughout the growth cycle. Feed amounts should be adjusted, with 60% of the total feed allocated for housing. Avoid using full-price layer feeds, as they increase costs and reduce egg quality, and may weaken the chickens’ foraging ability, defeating the purpose of free-range rearing.
4. Disease prevention includes vaccination schedules: Newcastle disease (Lasota) at 5–7 days, infectious bronchitis (H120) at 7 days, infectious bursal disease at 9 days, and further vaccinations at 21, 28–35, and 60 days. Avian influenza vaccines should be administered twice a year.
(III) Precautions
1. Beak trimming is important to prevent pecking and cannibalism. It should be done at 6–7 days of age, cutting 1/2 or 1/3 of the beak. Vitamin K3 should be added to drinking water for the first three days to prevent bleeding and stress.
2. Regular weighing and grouping help manage the flock effectively. Adjust feed rations based on weight and sex, and separate weak or underdeveloped birds. Roosters should be paired with hens that are not laying eggs to avoid overbreeding.
3. Light management is key for dual-purpose chickens. From 15 weeks of age, gradually increase light exposure to 15.5–16.5 hours daily, with an intensity of 10 lux. Avoid changing light color abruptly.
4. To prevent hens from brooding, change the environment, provide more green feed, encourage exercise, and use visual deterrents like red flags. Administer 0.5 grams of Baowo AnNao twice daily for three days if needed.
5. Protect chickens from predators like rats, weasels, and snakes. Secure nests and keep the area clean.
6. Chickens can damage fruit trees by eating leaves and fruits. Install bamboo fences or fish nets around tree trunks and use fruit bagging. Avoid spraying pesticides when chickens are free-ranging, or limit their access during pesticide application periods.
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