Chicken Flock Management to Improve Free Range Production

Effective flock management is essential for improving the productivity of free-range poultry systems. Here are key practices to enhance your free-range production:

1. Optimal Cock-to-Hen Ratio

• Cock-to-Hen Ratio: To produce fertile, hatchable eggs, maintain a ratio of one cock for every 8-10 hens. This ensures sufficient fertilization of eggs while preventing overcrowding and competition for resources.

2. Managing Surplus Cocks

• Sell or Cull Surplus Cocks: When cocks reach a marketable size, they should be sold, slaughtered, or given away. Keeping surplus cocks can lead to wasted feed resources, increased fighting, and stress among hens, which can negatively affect egg production.
• Identifying Young Cocks: Young cocks can be identified by their longer tail feathers, prominent comb, and more aggressive behavior compared to hens. Recognizing and managing these birds early can help in maintaining a balanced flock.

3. Removing Unproductive Birds

• Cull Weak and Unproductive Hens: Regularly assess your flock and remove weak or unproductive hens. These birds consume resources without contributing to production, so it's more efficient to sell them.

4. Matching Flock Size to Resources

• Right-Size the Flock: Ensure that your flock size matches the capacity of your housing, the availability of feed, and the environmental resources. Overcrowding can lead to competition for food and water, which may reduce overall productivity.
• Feed and Water Availability: Make sure that each bird has enough space, feed, and water to thrive. In free-range systems, supplementing the scavenging feed resource base with additional feed can help maintain bird health and productivity.

For High Quality Improved Kienyeji chicks that can thrive under free-range system, Contact Engoho Kuku Farmer on +254727474045 or +254716566544