1. Chicken selection
Before you start raising chickens, you need to buy chickens suitable for breeding. The variety selection of chicks should be determined according to their own needs and feeding environment. Common chicken breeds are laying hens, broilers and ornamental chickens. Laying hens are suitable for growing eggs, broilers are suitable for growing meat, and ornamental chickens are loved by people because of their beautiful appearance.
When buying chickens, choose healthy and lively individuals. Chicken eyes should be bright, feathers should be clean and tidy, and there should be no abnormal symptoms such as swelling in the abdomen. In addition, we should pay attention to the selection of chicks of the same age and sex as our own breeding goals in order to better control the breeding process.
2. Establishment of feeding environment
The construction of feeding environment is an important step in raising chickens. First of all, we should choose a place suitable for raising chickens, away from residential areas and pollution sources, and ensure fresh air. Secondly, it is necessary to build a suitable henhouse, which has the functions of ventilation, heat preservation, isolation and theft prevention. The size of the henhouse depends on the scale of breeding and the variety of chickens. Generally, each chicken needs 1 square meter of space.
In the henhouse, suitable padding, such as straw and sawdust, should be laid to keep the henhouse dry and clean. In addition, it is necessary to set up suitable drinking fountains and feeders to facilitate the drinking and eating of chickens. The location of drinking fountains and feeders should be placed reasonably to facilitate the entry and exit of chickens.
3. Choice of feed
Feed is an important factor that can not be ignored in the process of raising chickens. Reasonable feed selection can improve the growth rate and laying rate of chickens, and also reduce the breeding cost. Common feeds include concentrated feed, complete feed and self-made feed.
Concentrate is a kind of feed with comprehensive nutrition and easy digestion, which is suitable for the growth and reproduction period of chickens. Complete feed is a mixture of various raw materials, with comprehensive nutrients, which is suitable for the whole life cycle of chickens. Self-made feed is prepared according to the needs of chickens and local resources, which can reduce the cost of feed, but it needs to master certain feed preparation skills.
4. Daily feeding management
Daily feeding management is a key link in the process of raising chickens. First of all, we should clean the henhouse regularly, remove the feces and weeds in the henhouse, and keep the henhouse clean and hygienic. Secondly, it is necessary to regularly check the health status of chickens, such as observing their mental state, appetite, excreta, etc., and take timely measures if any abnormality is found.
In addition, attention should be paid to the supply of feed and the management of drinking water. Feed should be supplied regularly and quantitatively to avoid surplus or shortage. The drinking fountain should be kept clean, and the water source should be changed regularly to ensure the drinking safety of chickens.
5. Disease prevention and control
Disease prevention is an important link in the process of raising chickens. Chickens should be vaccinated regularly to prevent common diseases such as bird flu and chicken plague. At the same time, we should pay attention to the disinfection and isolation measures of chicken houses to avoid the spread of diseases.
If the chicken is found to have abnormal symptoms, such as loss of appetite, fluffy feathers, diarrhea, etc. Professional veterinarians should be invited to make timely diagnosis and treatment to avoid the spread of disease and the death of chickens.