**(I) Infrastructure Construction**
1. Living and brooding rooms are constructed using a brick and wood framework, with a height of 3.5 meters. The floors and walls are made of smooth cement, making them easy to clean and disinfect. For thermal insulation, sand is used in the roof and ceilings. The size of the space is determined based on the orchard's size and labor availability. Brooding rooms are designed with cages at 40 to 50 per square meter, while the rearing area is set at 25 to 35 per square meter for planning purposes. If conditions allow, a feed workshop can be built. A bamboo shed can be erected in the resting area for laying hens. It is advisable to build these structures at the edge of a cliff, facing south and sheltered from the wind. The ceiling can be made of fiberglass tiles or oil felt with straw, depending on local materials. The central part of the shed is higher, with two sides lower, typically 4 to 6 meters wide, 2.5 to 3 meters high in the middle, and 1.2 to 1.5 meters on the sides. Good drainage ditches should also be dug.
2. Essential facilities such as lighting, water supply, and thermal insulation must be in place. Power should be available to ensure proper insulation during brooding. If power is not available or if the location is far from the village, a stove or coal briquette furnace can be used for heating. Battery-powered lights are recommended, but care must be taken to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Water sources can include mountain spring water or underground water, depending on the orchard’s location. Drinking fountains made of plastic can be installed in the sheds. In the orchard, large bamboo poles over 12 cm in diameter, with a length of 2 meters, can be used as drinking stations. Bamboo flutes placed in the middle and three crosspieces of 20 cm fixed to prevent tipping are effective. These areas need regular cleaning and disinfection.
**(B) Feed Management Technology**
1. Choosing the right breed is crucial. For dual-purpose chickens that lay 130 to 200 eggs annually, native breeds like Xianju, Jiangshan flatbread, Taoyuan, Zhuanghe, Gushi, and others are ideal due to their hardiness, strong foraging ability, disease resistance, and superior meat quality. If raising for meat, larger improved breeds such as Sanhuang or other local types are more suitable.
2. Stocking density should be around 40 to 50 chickens per 0.067 hectares, with 80 to 100 day-old chicks per hectare. This is typically done between March and May. After 4 to 5 months, roosters and replacement hens can be sold, as this period coincides with abundant natural feed in the orchard, including insects and leftover by-products.
3. Feeding practices should include full-grain pellets and gravel during the brooding stage. No feed should be given during the day after stocking. At night, when broilers return to the shed, they should be fed mainly with corn, wheat, soybean meal, or fish meal. During egg-laying, shell powder should be added. Trace elements and vitamins should be included throughout the process. The feed amount should be supplemented by 60% of the housing feed. Avoid feeding full-priced egg-laying feed, as it increases costs, reduces egg quality, and diminishes the chickens’ foraging ability, which defeats the purpose of free-range farming.
4. Disease prevention involves a vaccination schedule: Newcastle disease (Lasota) at 5-7 days, infectious bronchitis (H120) at 9 days, infectious bursal disease at 21 days, and further vaccinations for Newcastle and infectious bronchitis at 28-35 days. Avian flu vaccines should be administered twice a year.
**(III) Precautions**
1. Early feather cutting (at 6-7 days) helps prevent anal fistula, a common chicken disease. Cutting 1/2 or 1/3 of the feathers, and adding vitamin K3 to the drinking water for the first three days, can reduce bleeding and stress.
2. Regular weighing and grouping help maintain consistency. Adjust feed amounts based on weight and sex ratios. Weak or underdeveloped chickens should be separated from roosters to prevent unwanted egg-laying.
3. Light management is important for dual-purpose chickens. From 15 weeks of age, gradually increase light duration to 15.5-16.5 hours per day, with an intensity of 10 lux. Light color should remain consistent.
4. To prevent hens from brooding, change the environment, provide more green feed, encourage exercise, and use methods like hanging red flags. Administer 0.5 grams of Baowo AnNao twice daily for three days.
5. Protect against predators such as rats, weasels, and snakes, especially during the early stages of stocking.
6. Chickens may damage fruit trees by pecking leaves and fruits. Install bamboo fences or fish nets around the base of trees and use fruit bagging techniques. When spraying pesticides, choose low-toxicity options or limit chicken exposure to avoid poisoning.
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