Chicken feeds

Free-ranging is a great way for breeders to raise their chickens without spending too much money! 

However, certain rules and feeding standards should be done in order to produce quality organic eggs and chicken meat if you are planning to sell them at the market, especially during these days when most stores that sell organic chicken feed are either closed or have shut down. 

Here’s how free-ranging can solve your chickens’ food problem.

All you really need are a good mix of rice, corn bran, or hammered corn, and some copra meal and you are all set. But you can always do better by adding some dried ipil-ipil or malunggay leaves if you have some from your backyard, and by boiling gabi for your hens to snack on during the afternoon.

How do all of these help your free-range chickens grow? Here’s a simple breakdown of nutritional facts:

• Kanin – nagtataglay ng iba’t ibang vitamins at minerals tulad ng calcium, potassium, niacin na mabuti para sa resistensya laban sa sakit ng mga manok.

• Mais – madali matunaw sa katawan ng manok at may mababang fiber. Maganda rin itong panghalo sa iba pang chicken feed pang dagdag protina at ng enzyme na “phytase” na nakakatulong sa maayos na digestion ng mga manok.

• Copra – magandang source ng protina at energy para sa manok at nakakapag-papababa ng taba. 

• Ipil-ipil – mabisang pang-tanggal ng mga bulate at iba pang parasites na pwedeng magdulot ng sakit sa manok.

• Malunggay – ginagamit bilang dietary supplement para sa mga manok para sa mas magandang produksyon ng mga itlog.

• Gabi – isang multi-purpose na chicken feed na mayaman sa protina at “carotene” na nakabubuti sa mismong manok at karne ng mga ito.   

If you also happen to have some available fruits around your free-range area like banana or coconut, you can add them as a supplement to your chicken feed mix. Half-year old chickens can also be served ready-made poultry feed that can be bought from the market for maintenance, but only if you think that’s a better way to cut down on costs and labor.

Tip:

Laging tandaan na importanteng nasa eksaktong oras ang pagpapakain ng manok tatlong beses isang araw, upang mapanatili silang malusog at maayos ang pangingitlog.

Water

Your chickens will need water and plenty of it so better make platforms or hanging waterers available for them at all times. Hens need one to two cups of water daily and anything less will affect their health, eating habits, and egg-laying. 

For a better immune system, mix in some Mayana or Turmeric extracts, and malunggay leaves thrice a week. Remember, as we humans like it, chickens also prefer their water always clean and their containers well-maintained.

Tip: 

• Magdagdag ng konting asukal sa tubig ng manok para wag itong magkaroon ng stress.

• Maglagay ng dalawang patubigan para sa manok sa loob ng coop at sa free-range area na may taas hanggang balikat upang panatiliing malinis ito sa putik at dumi.

Protection

Make sure your free-range chickens get immunizations for Newcastle Disease every six months, and your chicks vaccinated to prevent them from being infected with Fowl Pox. These two are among the top global diseases your chickens can get sick from. 

How will you know if your chickens are sick? The most obvious sign is if your chicken gets a runny nose during a change in weather, by which you’ll have to quickly separate the sick chicken from the healthy ones and consult your nearest vet. 

Most of your free-range chickens can get sick from unsanitary surroundings due to E.coli bacteria and parasitic infections that can come from other farms or wild animals. Poultry farms that do not utilize free-range nets for their chickens usually fail to give their chickens a proper environment as a number of bacteria, insects, and mites can cause them great harm.

Tip:

Ang pinakamagandang paraan para maprotektahan ang iyong alagang manok sa sakit at iba pang galang hayop ay ang pag-gamit ng quality free-range nets. 

Growing and caring for your chicks

When your hens hatch, make sure the chicks are immediately hydrated with water then help them learn how to eat by scattering fine chick starter feeds around them. Allow hens to naturally take care of their chicks in pens for a month and give them some heat using a brooder for comfort during nighttime. You’ll know that they are warm enough if they stop spreading their wings frequently. Again, feed and give the chicks water at the exact time and schedule within the day so they will remain healthier.

Breeders usually give the chicks immunization for Newcastle Disease after a week from hatching then LaSota Strain after the 3rd week. Fowl Pox vaccines come in after two weeks and once you complete their protection shots and have been dewormed, you may let them roam in your free-range area after 30 days. Again it is important to use quality free-range nets so your chicks won’t get out.

Tip:

Pwedeng isama ang sisiw sa mas malalaking manok habang nasa free-range area hangga’t meron itong tamang lawak para sa bilang ng iyong mga manok, at may hustong range nets bilang bakod na hindi nila maliliparan o malulusutan.

Iba pang dapat tandaan sa pag-aalaga ng free-range na manok

• Malalamang dehydrated o may bulate ang isang manok kapag maputla ang mukha nito. Usisain ang katawan ng manok kung ito’y mainit o payat para malaman kung kailangan nito ng lunas.

• Ang dumi na kulay berde at maputlang mukha ay mga indikasyon na merong Avian Malaria o Fowl Cholera ang iyong manok na pwedeng ikamatay nito. Haluan ng Pyristat ang inumin ng manok na may Avian Malaria o di kaya ay T-Pox 48 sa loob ng limang araw para sa may Fowl Cholera para gumaling ang mga ito.

• Kapag may sipon ang manok at may amoy ito, ihiwalay agad ito dahil baka meron itong chronic respiratory disease na lubhang nakakahawa.

• Ang dumi ng manok na may dugo ay isang senyales na may Coccidiosis ito. Bigyan ito ng T-Pox 48 bilang panglunas.

• Laging siguruhing malinis ang patubig ng mga manok at lagi itong palitan ng malinis na tubig para wag magkaroon ng amag.

• Maaring maiwasan ang pagkakasakit ng mga manok sa tamang pag gamit ng free-range nets bilang bakuran upang mapanatiling malinis ang kapaligiran ng mga ito.

Bumili na ng quality free-range nets mula sa world-class at Filipino-made provider na  Philippine Ranging Nets upang maprotektahan at mabigyan ng lilim ang inyong mga free-range na manok! 
Alamin ang iba pa nilang produkto at magpadala ng email sa [email protected] o tumawag sa +63977 007 0228.

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Philippine Ranging Nets provide Filipino-made multi-purpose nets mainly used for free ranging chickens and other poultry. Trusted by top-breeders, PRN’s top quality affordable ranging nets are available nationwide.