tailieunhanh - Small-scale chicken production - Part 2

3 Housing We distinguish three forms of chicken farming: ? extensive farming ? intensive farming ? semi-intensive farming. In this Agrodok, we mainly refer to the extensive and semi-intensive farming. Intensive farming with . battery cages will not be treated. When chickens are free to roam and scavenge, we talk about extensive | 3 Housing We distinguish three forms of chicken farming extensive farming intensive farming semi-intensive farming. In this Agrodok we mainly refer to the extensive and semi-intensive farming. Intensive farming with . battery cages will not be treated. When chickens are free to roam and scavenge we talk about extensive free-range chicken farms. The level of capital and labour investment is low. Housing is not important. Intensive systems developed for specialised breeds are estimated to be in use for about 30 of the poultry population in Africa. These are mainly found in and around urban areas with good markets for eggs and chicken meat. Intensive chicken farms require more investment of both capital and labour . special poultry houses with runs or roaming space. Flock sizes in intensive production are normally in the thousands. This has been made possible by research developments in artificial incubation nutritional requirements and disease control. In the semi-intensive production system also known as backyard production flocks range from 50 to 200 birds. A lot of techniques and expertise developed in intensive systems can be applied in semiintensive poultry raising systems adapted to the adequate scale. In both the semi-intensive and intensive production systems housing is very important for optimal production levels. See sections and . Housing 13 Free-range chickens In the free-range system chickens are free to roam the farm in search of food. Eggs are laid outside in simple nests and are mainly used to maintain chicken numbers. In many cases up to 75 of the eggs have to be hatched because the mortality rate among baby chicks is high. Few eggs remain for consumption and the chickens themselves do not give much meat. The advantages of this system are that little labour is needed and waste food can be used efficiently. Very low costs can offset low production levels so that keeping chickens around the house can be profitable if certain .