Pastured poultry is a technique used by farmers to keep chicken on the farm instead of locking them up in a house. It has several advantages such as the birds have stronger bones and their meat is more nutritious and delicious. The fertility of the land also increases. It is not only chicken which are raised this way. Other birds found in domestic places are also kept such as ducks.
Free range style of raising chicken was in use a couple of decades ago. Its popularity has been increasing in recent years. Birds are allowed to feed from open fields. At night they are kept in a house where they are protected from predators. Dogs are sometimes used to offer protection. This method prevents overcrowding and allows the animals to exercise which makes their bones strong.
Electric net fences are used to raise sheep and goats. They are also used to take care of poultry. The height should be forty two to forty eight inches so that chicken do not jump over them. Spaces in between the wires need to be small so chicken do not escape through them.
Such fences are made of wires that are supported by strings which are perpendicular to the ground. The wires are electrified. An energizer is used which receives its power from electricity, a battery or a solar panel. Vegetation should not contact the fencing as it reduces its voltage.
A chicken tractor is a good option when one is keeping a large flock. It is movable and thus the farmer can move it to a new piece of land once the patch on which it was previously lying on runs out of grass. It aids in keeping the birds at one location while allowing them to feed on vegetation and insects.
Coops can be used together with electric fences. This is helpful when the flock one keeps is too large to allow construction of a structure that can be easily moved. The fencing helps to expand the area where the birds can roam while the movable house provides shelter.
A chicken tractor can be made large so as to accommodate a lot of domestic birds. The roof can be partially covered so that the structure offers both shade and sunshine. The open part should have a mesh so as to keep these farm animals inside the shelter. When relocating, the unit is carried as one as opposed to when using a coop with a fence where both have to be moved. Its main disadvantage is that if offers little room for exercise.
Egg laying chicken can enjoy fresh air and vegetation and still lay their eggs while on the field if kept in egg mobiles. The structures can be moved and have boxes in them where eggs are laid. They are moved into fields where cattle have been grazing. These places have plenty of food such as larvae found in the cows' droppings. The birds scatter this manure as they feed and soil fertility is enhanced. This method also helps in reducing the fly population on the cows.
These are some of the methods used by farmers when raising pastured poultry. Some of them are cheap since the structures can be constructed at home by the owners. Other methods may require purchases and experienced people to install them such as the electric fence.
Free range style of raising chicken was in use a couple of decades ago. Its popularity has been increasing in recent years. Birds are allowed to feed from open fields. At night they are kept in a house where they are protected from predators. Dogs are sometimes used to offer protection. This method prevents overcrowding and allows the animals to exercise which makes their bones strong.
Electric net fences are used to raise sheep and goats. They are also used to take care of poultry. The height should be forty two to forty eight inches so that chicken do not jump over them. Spaces in between the wires need to be small so chicken do not escape through them.
Such fences are made of wires that are supported by strings which are perpendicular to the ground. The wires are electrified. An energizer is used which receives its power from electricity, a battery or a solar panel. Vegetation should not contact the fencing as it reduces its voltage.
A chicken tractor is a good option when one is keeping a large flock. It is movable and thus the farmer can move it to a new piece of land once the patch on which it was previously lying on runs out of grass. It aids in keeping the birds at one location while allowing them to feed on vegetation and insects.
Coops can be used together with electric fences. This is helpful when the flock one keeps is too large to allow construction of a structure that can be easily moved. The fencing helps to expand the area where the birds can roam while the movable house provides shelter.
A chicken tractor can be made large so as to accommodate a lot of domestic birds. The roof can be partially covered so that the structure offers both shade and sunshine. The open part should have a mesh so as to keep these farm animals inside the shelter. When relocating, the unit is carried as one as opposed to when using a coop with a fence where both have to be moved. Its main disadvantage is that if offers little room for exercise.
Egg laying chicken can enjoy fresh air and vegetation and still lay their eggs while on the field if kept in egg mobiles. The structures can be moved and have boxes in them where eggs are laid. They are moved into fields where cattle have been grazing. These places have plenty of food such as larvae found in the cows' droppings. The birds scatter this manure as they feed and soil fertility is enhanced. This method also helps in reducing the fly population on the cows.
These are some of the methods used by farmers when raising pastured poultry. Some of them are cheap since the structures can be constructed at home by the owners. Other methods may require purchases and experienced people to install them such as the electric fence.
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