Breeding birds in the free-range system can cause problems, but there are reasonable solutions to solve them.
Before you start growing birds outdoors, you need to consider a few things. A lot of free-range birds are not recommended if you have many neighbors in the immediate vicinity of the farm.
The birds will not recognize the limitations of the property and we cannot expect the neighbors to fence their land to keep our birds away.
Benefits of Raising Chickens In Your Own Backyard
The fact that the birds always have access to the pasture and thus constantly seek food, diminishes the cost of their food and care. For example, in the summer, half of the feed can be covered while the hens patrol the yard and the surrounding area.
Chickens raised in the “free-range system eliminate ticks, mosquitoes and other crop pests such as shrimps and locusts. Insects are enjoyed by birds. Also, the fact that it grows more and more through dirt helps prevent the hatching of parasitic eggs, by detecting them and causing them to dry in the sun or wind.
Snakes are not like chickens, which is why our winged friends will often warn us when a snake is nearby.
DISADVANTAGES
1. They reach where they should not go
Obviously, breeding birds outdoors, as I said in the introduction, can also cause problems. The chickens will destroy the young plants in the garden. They will skip the tomatoes, they will break the vines, they can destroy the cucumbers.
The solution is to surround the garden with wire mesh, even if initially the cost can be peppered. However, this solution will keep away from the garden and rabbits, dogs or other smaller animals.
2. The danger of predators is higher
Hens raised outdoors become much easier to target predators. Mice, ferrets, foxes, snakes or predatory birds are with their eyes on chickens, and for this reason, it is important to know how to protect them from predators.
First of all, in order to prevent four-legged predators, it is advisable to have a guard dog in the house. He will be the master of the court and the surrounding area.
3. Loss of eggs
On the list of problems is also the diminution of the volume of eggs we collect. Chickens growing outdoors will not normally use nests. They prefer hard-to-reach places for us to lay eggs.
The solution is to keep them in the shelter until noon, to force them to lay their eggs where we want. However, it is good to inspect the surroundings to find the improvised nests of winged friends.
4. Chickens dig after danger
It is important to know that any harmful elements, such as pesticides, should not be close to birds. Chickens will feed on things that other animals don’t even dream about, so be vigilant. Do not allow the birds to dig into the trash.
A lot of birds scrolling around the house is one of the representative images for life in the country. The problems that arise in the case of birds raised in the free-range system can be managed, so we can enjoy the benefits of less expensive birds and fewer insects nearby.
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