Post on 17-Jul-2015
Free range chicken are those which are not closely confined and have free access to the outdoor area during the day pereod and are kept in sheds at night to keep them safe from predators.
For feeding they are fully or mostly depends on nature.
What is free range chicken ?
Organic chicken have also a free range to outdoor, but have to maintain some standard, such as avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals, including synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics.
In poultry production, organic farming also aims to provide a natural environment for birds and foster natural behaviors.
Free range Vs Organic chicken
Activities of a free range birdsActivity Time spent (%)
Eating 38
Laying eggs 9
Walking 8
Scratching 8
Resting 33
Drinking water 4
Social Behaviour Are gregarious birds and live together in
flocks. Eestablishing a pecking order, with
dominant individuals having priority for food access and nesting locations
Giving a low warning call when they think they see a predator approaching.
Free range birds mainly collect their feeds by scavenging.
They scavenge Weeds, Fruits, Vegetables, Insects, Fecal material, Grains etc.
They often scratch at the soil to search for seeds, insects and even larger animals such as lizrds.
Feeding behaviour
Choiching the partner, showing dominency is very common in free range birds
Male courtship displays are generally elaborate, involving vocalizations and noises, postures, spreading of the feathers to increase apparent size and emphasize plumage characteristics
Circle dance
SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
Try to lay in nests that already contain eggs Express a preference to lay in the same
location Most birds lay only until a clutch is complete (a full clutch is usually about 12 eggs) Clucking loudly after laying an egg, and also
to call their chicks.
Nesting and laying behaviour
Brooness is present in free range chicken The broody hen stop laying and focus on
the incubation of the eggs After hatching, the hen guards the chicks,
and will brood them when necessary to keep them warm
Caring them until they are several weeks old
Broodiness
conclutions Human being is the noble creature of god.
So it his duty to consider the animal welfare standard.
Rearnig the bird in free range condition helps to provide the natural environment to the birds.