1、 Site selection and planning: Choose a warm home for the chicken flock
Choose the appropriate location:
• Terrain: Choose flat, leeward, and sunny areas to avoid low-lying areas that are prone to water accumulation. This terrain not only ensures the dryness of the chicken coop, but also allows the flock to enjoy sufficient sunlight, promoting their healthy growth.
• Water source: Close to a clean water source, convenient for water supply. A clean water source is the key to the health of chicken flocks, ensuring that they have access to fresh water at all times.
• Transportation: Easy to transport feed and products, but keep away from major roads to reduce noise and pollution. A quiet environment helps the chickens rest and grow.
• Isolation: Stay away from other farms and residential areas to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Maintain a certain distance to create a safe and peaceful living space for the chicken flock.
Planning layout:
• Chicken coop area: Determine the chicken coop area based on the scale of breeding. Each square meter can carry around 10 large chickens, ensuring sufficient space for the flock to move and avoiding overcrowding.
• Sports field: There should be sufficient sports fields around the chicken coop for the chickens to move and forage. Free activities not only enhance the physical fitness of chickens, but also allow them to enjoy the pleasures of nature.
• Auxiliary facilities: Plan the location of auxiliary facilities such as feed warehouses, tool rooms, disinfection tanks, and roads. A reasonable layout can make your chicken farming work more efficient and reduce unnecessary troubles.
2、 Chicken coop construction: creating a comfortable home for the chicken flock
Simple shed:
• Materials: Use materials such as felt, canvas, thatch, etc. to build a pyramid shaped shed, with an open door on the south side and three sides on the ground or with walls.
•Structure: A "human" shaped frame is constructed using bamboo and wood, with drip eaves on both sides reaching a height of 1 meter. The roof is covered with thatch and surrounded by bamboo strips.
• Features: Flexible expansion, insulation and windproof, no leakage or accumulation of water. This simple greenhouse is suitable for small-scale farming, with low cost and easy construction.
Ordinary chicken coop:
• Structure: Built into a sloping roof with a south facing slope and a 2-meter-high wall to the north. Large windows are left on both sides, and nylon or wire mesh is used on the south side.
• Area: Approximately 16 square meters, well ventilated, fully utilizing sunlight.
• Features: Suitable for orchards or forests, chickens can eat pests and weeds, and fertilize orchards. This kind of chicken coop is not only practical, but also can coexist harmoniously with the natural environment.
Plastic greenhouse chicken coop:
• Structure: Three sides are walls, and the front slope is made of bamboo strips, wooden poles, or steel bars to form a curved arch frame, covered with plastic film.
• Size: Rear wall height 1.2-1.5 meters, ridge height 2.2-2.5 meters, span 6 meters, vertical distance from ridge to rear wall 4 meters.
• Features: Good insulation performance, suitable for use in cold seasons, can reduce heat consumption. This kind of chicken coop can provide a warm haven for the chicken flock, especially during the cool season in the Philippines.
Open online flat chicken coop without aisle:
• Structure: The chicken coop spans 6-8 meters, with windows on the north and south walls. The south window is 1.5 meters high and 1.6 meters wide; The north window is 1.5 meters high and 1 meter wide.
• Features: Suitable for raising chicks and breeding adult chickens and chicks, with good ventilation and easy feeding operation. This kind of chicken coop is scientifically designed and can effectively improve breeding efficiency.
Chicken coop renovated using old facilities:
• Materials: Utilize old facilities such as farmhouses and warehouses for renovation.
• Features: Low cost, ventilation and insulation performance need to be modified, such as increasing windows, improving drainage, etc. This kind of chicken coop not only saves costs, but also gives new life to old buildings.
3、 Construction standard for chicken coop: Care for the health of the chicken flock with details
Ground treatment:
• Padding: When the ground is leveled, use wood chips, straw, etc. as padding, with a thickness of 30-40 centimeters. Soft padding not only keeps the chickens warm, but also makes them feel comfortable.
• Drainage: Set up drainage ditches to prevent water accumulation and keep the ground dry. A dry environment helps reduce the occurrence of diseases.
Temperature control:
• Thermal insulation materials: Walls can be built with sandwich layers and filled with insulation materials such as rice husks. Thermal insulation materials can effectively reduce heat loss and keep the chicken coop warm.
• Heating equipment: In cold seasons, heating equipment can be installed to ensure a suitable temperature in the chicken coop. A warm environment can make the chicken flock feel comfortable and reduce stress reactions.
Ventilation and lighting:
• Windows: Large windows are installed on the north and south walls to ensure good ventilation and sufficient lighting. Adequate sunlight not only promotes the health of chickens, but also brings warmth to them.
• Ventilation openings: Install ventilation openings at the top or side of the chicken coop to ensure air circulation. Good ventilation can reduce the accumulation of ammonia and carbon dioxide, creating a fresh environment for the chicken flock.Temperature control:
• Thermal insulation materials: Walls can be built with sandwich layers and filled with insulation materials such as rice husks. Thermal insulation materials can effectively reduce heat loss and keep the chicken coop warm.
• Heating equipment: In cold seasons, heating equipment can be installed to ensure a suitable temperature in the chicken coop. A warm environment can make the chicken flock feel comfortable and reduce stress reactions.
Hygiene and Epidemic Prevention:
• Disinfection pool: Set up a disinfection pool at the entrance of the chicken coop to disinfect vehicles and personnel when they enter. Disinfection pools can effectively reduce the spread of pathogens and protect the health of chicken flocks.
• Cleaning facilities: Regularly clean the chicken coop, maintain cleanliness and hygiene, and reduce the spread of diseases. A clean environment not only reduces the occurrence of diseases, but also makes the chicken flock feel comfortable and happy.
4. Auxiliary facility construction: creating a complete home for the chicken flock
Water supply system:
• Water wells: The site should have operational and backup wells, and a water pump room and water tower should be constructed. A clean water source is the key to the health of chicken flocks, ensuring that they have access to fresh water at all times.
• Pipeline: Lay buried pipelines to ensure clean drinking water supply. Underground pipelines can not only reduce water pollution, but also ensure the stability of water supply.
Drainage system:
• Underground pipeline: Production and domestic wastewater is discharged through underground pipelines. A reasonable drainage system can effectively reduce the accumulation of sewage and maintain environmental cleanliness.
• Rainwater drainage: Design drainage routes based on the terrain inside the site to ensure smooth drainage of rainwater. A good drainage system can reduce the accumulation of rainwater and prevent the chicken coop from being flooded.
Circuit design:
• Voltage: Use 220V/380V voltage and select the nearest power source. A stable power supply can ensure the normal operation of equipment in the chicken coop Backup power supply: Equipped with a backup generator to ensure stable power supply. The backup power supply can provide emergency power in the event of a power outage, ensuring the safety of the chicken flock.
Road design:
• Clean and dirty channels: Clean channels are used for transporting feed, chicken flocks, and eggs, while dirty channels are used for transporting feces, dead chickens, and sick chickens. The two must not intersect. Reasonable road design can reduce cross pollution and ensure the health of chicken flocks.
• Road materials: It is recommended to use concrete structures with a thickness of 15-18 centimeters and a strength of C20 or above. A sturdy road not only reduces maintenance costs, but also improves transportation efficiency.
5.Daily management of free range chicken coop: caring for the growth of the chicken flock with love
Regular cleaning:
•Chicken coop: Regularly clean the feces and bedding inside the coop to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. A clean environment not only reduces the occurrence of diseases, but also makes the chicken flock feel comfortable.
•Sports field: Regularly clean the sports field to prevent the accumulation of weeds and garbage. A clean sports field allows chickens to move freely and enjoy the fun of nature.
Disease prevention:
•Disinfection: Regularly disinfect the chicken coop and sports field to reduce the spread of diseases. Disinfection can not only reduce the spread of pathogens, but also make the chicken flock feel safe.
•Vaccination: Vaccinate the chickens on time to ensure their health. Vaccination is an important means of preventing diseases and can effectively enhance the immunity of chicken flocks.
Feed management:
• Regular feeding: Feed the chickens at regular intervals every day to ensure that they receive sufficient nutrition. Timed feeding not only helps chickens establish regular eating habits, but also reduces waste.
•Fresh feed: Choose high-quality feed to ensure that the chicken flock receives balanced nutrition. Fresh feed not only promotes the health of chicken flocks, but also enhances their immunity.
• Diversified diet: In addition to regular feed, vegetables, fruits, and insects can also be added appropriately to provide a diverse diet for the chicken flock. A diverse diet not only meets the nutritional needs of chickens, but also allows them to enjoy the pleasure of foraging.
Clean drinking water:
•Clean water source: Provide clean drinking water to ensure that the chicken flock can always drink fresh water. A clean water source is the key to the health of chickens and can effectively prevent diseases.
• Regular replacement: Replace the water in the water dispenser daily to maintain clean water quality. Regularly replacing the water dispenser not only reduces bacterial growth, but also allows the chicken flock to drink fresh water.
• Water dispenser maintenance: Regularly inspect the water dispenser to ensure its proper functioning. A good water dispenser not only facilitates drinking water for chickens, but also reduces water resources
7、 Disease Prevention: Protecting the Health of Chickens
Regular inspection:
• Health observation: Observe the health status of the chicken flock every day and promptly detect any abnormalities. Pay attention to the mental state, appetite, feces, etc. of the chicken flock, and promptly detect signs of disease.
• Timely handling: Once a sick chicken is found, isolate and treat it immediately to prevent the spread of the disease.
Vaccination:
• Timely vaccination: Vaccinate the chicken flock on time to prevent common diseases. Common vaccines include Newcastle disease, avian influenza, Marek's disease, etc.
• Record management: Establish vaccination records to ensure that every chicken is vaccinated on time.
Disinfection measures:
• Regular disinfection: Disinfect chicken coops and sports fields regularly to reduce the spread of pathogens. Spray disinfectant inside and outside the chicken coop, especially at the entrance, feed trough, and water dispenser.
• Cleaning tools: Regularly clean and disinfect feeding tools such as shovels, feed troughs, and water dispensers to prevent cross contamination.
8、 Security protection: providing a safe home for chicken flocks
Anti escape facilities:
• Strong fence: Ensure that the fence of the chicken coop and sports field is strong to prevent the chicken flock from escaping. Use wire mesh or bamboo fence to ensure that the fence height is sufficient to prevent chicken flocks from flying out.
• Regular inspection: Regularly inspect the fence, promptly repair damaged parts, and ensure the safety of the chicken flock.
Bird prevention facilities:
• Bird proof net: Set up bird proof nets around the chicken coop to prevent wild birds from entering. Wild birds may carry diseases, and bird nets can effectively reduce the spread of diseases.
Rat proof facilities:
• Clean environment: Regularly clean the weeds and garbage around the chicken coop to prevent the breeding of mice. Mice not only damage chicken coop facilities, but also spread diseases.
• Mouse catching measures: Use mouse traps or cats to control the number of mice and ensure the safety of the chicken coop environment.
9、 Humanized management: making the chicken flock feel love and care
Gentle treatment:
• Reduce stress: In daily management, treat the chicken flock gently and reduce their stress response. Avoid loud noises or sudden movements to make the flock feel safe and comfortable.
Interactive communication:
• Building trust: Interact and communicate with your flock of chickens to make them feel your care. Regularly interact with the chicken flock, establish trust relationships, and make them closer to you.
• Enrich the environment: Set up some toys and obstacles in the chicken coop and sports field to increase the fun of chicken activities. A rich environment can not only increase the activity level of chicken flocks, but also reduce their boredom and anxiety.
Rich environment:
• Natural foraging: Encourage chicken flocks to forage naturally, providing sufficient space and resources. Sprinkle some grains or insects in the sports field to let the chickens enjoy the pleasure of foraging.
• Social interaction: Ensure that the chicken flock has sufficient social interaction to avoid loneliness and stress. The interaction between chicken flocks not only enhances their social skills, but also increases their sense of happiness.