Raising chickens leisurely by using rice husks as bedding

Mr. Nguyen Van Tung's family, village 2, Tao Son commune has been raising chickens on biological bedding for 3 years now. According to Mr. Tung, his family used toRaising chickens using traditional methods often causes the chickens to get sick and the stench from the waste affects the lives of people around. However, since applying this model, the stench and toxic gases from the barn have been reduced, creating a clean environment for the animals to grow well, and the chickens gain weight quickly.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tung's family, village 2, Tao Son commune, has been raising chickens on biological bedding for 3 years now. Photo: Thai Hien

During the process of implementing the model of raising broiler chickens on biological bedding, his family has reduced 25% of the cost of heating electricity for chicks, 40% of labor, and the survival rate reached 98%. Currently, his family farm has over 500 egg-laying chickens. During the peak laying season, he harvests 250-300 eggs per day, at a price of 40,000 VND/dozen. Each year, after deducting expenses, he earns nearly 100 million VND in eggs. Along with raising laying chickens, he also raises more than 200 crossbred fighting chickens per batch, 3 batches per year. His model brings in an annual income of 150-200 million VND.

Since 2017, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan's family has been selected by the Center for Application of Science and Technology Advances of Nghe An province to test raising 300 broiler chickens using biological litter. Photo: Thai Hien

The family of Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan, Block 5, Anh Son town is one of the households that has raised broiler chickens for many years. In 2017, her family was selected by the Center for Application of Science and Technology Advances of Nghe An province to test raising 300 broiler chickens using biological bedding. Her family took advantage of the barn on an area of ​​100m²Using biological bedding and arranging for the chickens to stay in the coop for the first month, from the second month onwards, the chickens stay at night and during the day the family lets them out into the garden. Thanks to this method, the chickens exercise regularly, so they gain weight quickly.

Ms. Xuan said that the process of making bedding is very simple and cheap. Before releasing the young animals into the barn, her family makes bedding by spreading rice husks over the entire surface of the barn with a thickness of 20cm, then fermenting biological yeast and rice bran with a ratio of 1kg of yeast/3kg of rice bran for 3 days, then spreading this mixture on the rice husks on the floor of the barn.During the entire raising process, there is no need to clean the manure or change the bedding like before, and the bad smell is gone. Every year, Ms. Xuan's family raises 3 batches of chickens with more than 1,000 chickens. Currently, her flock has more than 200 chickens that have been raised for more than 3 months, with an estimated average weight of 1.5 kg/chicken. With the current selling price of 90,000-100,000 VND/kg, the family earns nearly 30 million VND, after deducting expenses, the estimated profit is more than 10 million VND.

With its outstanding advantages, the model of raising chickens on biological litter is being widely used by farmers in Anh Son area. Photo: Thai Hien

Ms. Cao Thi Nguyen - President of the Farmers' Association of Anh Son town said: The chicken farming model using biological litter, implemented by the Center for Application of Science and Technology Advances of Nghe An province for nearly 70 households in Anh Son town, has shown remarkable effectiveness. Households participating in the model are supported with 100% of litter and probiotics. In addition, households are also trained by technical staff of the Center to transfer livestock farming techniques, directly participate in making litter, regularly participate in inspection and supervision to guide households to follow the correct technical process and maintain litter according to regulations. With the effective application of science and technology in farming, farmers in the town have confidently replicated the model, thereby helping them to improve their economy and reduce poverty.

Thai Hien