Raising a Free-Range Sunshine Chicken
January 5, 2008 by Leo 17,754 Views
The reason free-range chicken tastes so good is they are raised outside on pasture rather than in crowded poultry houses. They have constant access to a natural diet and enjoy plenty of fresh air and sunshine. It does not use artificial growth promotants; does not feed meat or bone meal; and does not use antibiotics.
Alternative poultry production involves specialty systems such as a cagefree environment or other access to the outdoors as alternatives to conventional poultry housing and cages. Alternative poultry production may be large-scale but is often small-scale and integrated into a diversified farm. Alternative poultry production is an important part of sustainable agriculture to boost farm income while protecting the environment and addressing consumer concerns.
Outdoor access is an important feature of most alternative poultry production and allows the birds to express natural behaviors such as foraging and dustbathing. It allows “extensive” production in which the birds have access to ample space, sunlight, and fresh air – a healthy environment that reduces stress. The birds have access to comfortable indoor housing as well as the outdoors and can choose an environment, to maximize welfare. “Extensive production” is in contrast to “intensive production,” where birds are permanently housed at a high stocking density.
Free-Range Systems
Free-range systems vary widely, from large fixed houses with yards to small portable houses that are moved regularly. The main free-range production systems are:
- Fixed houses
- Portable houses
- Pasture pens
- Integrated systems
Fixed Houses
Advantages to a fixed house include the relative ease to provide electricity to power automated equipment. The house can also be large in size because it is not moved. Fixed houses open to yards to provide outdoor access, and birds are usually closed in the house at night. This type of production is done by most large free-range poultry companies in the U.S. and is sometimes called “semi-intensive.” On a small scale, it is the familiar chicken coop and yard.
A major disadvantage of this system is that unless the birds are rotated from one yard to another, access to the same ground is continual. When birds stay on the same ground, they damage the vegetation and turn the yard into dirt or mud. Turf damage may be especially bad right around the house, and birds may track mud into the house and dirty the eggs. Excessive pathogens and nutrients can build up in the yard, contributing to disease and pollution.
Pasture Pens
Pasture pens are small floorless pens that are moved daily, usually by hand, to fresh pasture. These inexpensive shelters are set in a pasture, on a lawn, or in a garden. They are a favorite of small-scale producers due to their low cost and flexibility.
Other sources
- For full article with photos and illustrations, visit this site.
- If you want to interact and ask questions with raisers and suppliers, visit this active forum.
- For sunshine chicks supply, materials and advice, check this site.
2009 · All Rights Reversed ·
magkano po ba ang halaga sa sisiw ng shunshine chicken?san po b ako pwede bumile na mas malapit?dito po ako nakatira sa baliug bulacan,tnx and more power.
Nabasa nyo na po ba ang blog namin? Andun po lahat ng details…presyo and locations po namin. Salamat po
kelan po ba kayu ulit makaka punta d2 sa bacolod? at mag conduct ng semenar tungkol sa pag alaga ng sunshine chicken?
tnx
more power and God bless!!!
We hope to schedule in August :)
Hi! please tell everybody that in case they need huge chickens instead of turkeys serve on large gatherings, we are now starting to get the market here locally in Iloilo.Pls help me advertize our product chickens ranging 4 to 6 kilos per head. I think this could be a great start. Thanks.
good day!
d2 ako sa quezon province meron ba kayong outlet d2 na makakabili ako ng day old chick.
thanks…
Depending on the order, we may send to you if there is no dealer near you. For dealer listing, pls visit our blog. Salamat
We will be in Iloilo/Bacolod/Silay on May 4,5 and 6 for seminars on Raising Sunshine Chicken.
Pls visit http://solraya.blogspot.com for details. Thank you :)
@ Ador, Very hard to claim organic for livestock production. We ourselves say grass fed, free ranged and naturally grown.
Where are you from? We try to visit as much growers as possible :)
If the goal of the grower is to have “lasang native” na manok, then the may use commercial feeds. But, if the focus of the grower is to cut costs on farm inputs and/or raise clean chickens, then they themselves see to it that the Sunshines are fed cleanly.
Even if you feed commercial feeds (although there is a commercial brand who is certified free from antibiotics nor hormones), you take out a lot of the evil already by shying away from antibiotics and ranging them on open areas to forage.
Hard to claim. Better to raise cleanly as possible and be truthful to your buyers :)
Thank you…hope you visit our website too.
Growers of solraya chiken in my area are feeding the chiken with commercial feeds from day 1 to harvest. Is this the proper way of raising organic chiken? please advise.
@ antonio bermejo III, pls visit our blog for guides :) We hope to be in Iloilo soon
pls give me in details how to raise sunshine chicken. bought it yesterday from solraya distributor here in iloilo city and want to do serious business. pls give me idea on where is the proper market and price range after 2 and after 3 months of raising. thanks and God bless.