tailieunhanh - Introduction to Pasture-Raised Poultry: Getting Started

The brooding period of Khaki Campbell ducklings is 3 to 4 weeks. For meat type ducklings such as Pekin, brooding for 2 to 3 weeks is sufficient. Provide hover space of 90 to 100 . per ducklings under the brooder. A temperature of 29 to 32o C (85 to 90o C) is maintained during the first week. It is reduced by about 3oC per week till it reaches 24o C (75o F) during the fourth week. Ducklings may be brooded in wire floor, litter or batteries. A wire floor space of (1/2 sq, ft.) per bird or solid floor space of. | AN232 ftp UNIVERSITY of Ur FLORIDA IFAS Extension Introduction to Pasture-Raised Poultry Getting Started1 B. Burbaugh E. Toro and A. Gernat2 Introduction There are several important points for small and medium scale poultry producers to consider when thinking about producing pasture-raised poultry as an alternative to traditional production. This document provides information that will help identify the characteristics of alternative poultry production explain the opportunities and challenges associated with pasture based production systems provide an overview of breed selection for egg-type laying hens and meat-type birds as well as discussing to the equipment and practices that facilitate getting birds off to a good start. Alternative Poultry Production Using the word alternative in this context is a misnomer. Many types of poultry have been raised on pasture for hundreds of years. Pastured poultry production is used to describe a variety of production systems in which birds have access to pasture on a regular basis. Production systems vary widely from stationary houses with permanent yards to portable houses that are moved frequently to a new pasture Fanatico 2007 . Additionally birds may be allowed to free range in the pasture Figure 1 most commonly seen in laying flocks or be confined to a portable house that is rotated throughout the pastures Figure 2 . There are no parameters for stocking rates on pastured poultry in the . Figure 1. Free range laying flock. Photo by Wanda Laughlin UF IFAS 1. This document is AN232 one of a series titled Introduction to Pasture-Raised Poultry of the Animal Sciences Department Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida. Original publication date January 2010. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http . 2. Brad Burbaugh extension agent I Duval County Extension Elena Toro extension agent I Suwannee County Extension and Abel Gernat chair and professor Zamorano