Alternative chicken farming

OTHER than intensive Broiler and Layer chicken farming where very expensive equipment, specialist housing, feeding and medicine and management are required, the ordinary farmer can consider alternative breeds which adapt easily to more extensive conditions.

With limited space and basically any type of feed, these chicken breeds can produce eggs and meat for own use or even if you expand a little to earn extra income by selling the surplus. Proper hygiene, secure housing and nesting as well as a little care are all you need to be a sucessfull farmer with these hardy chickens.

Low start-up costs and the possibility to begin with young chicks make it possible for virtually anybody anyware to farm with these chickens. In African countries like Kenya and Egypt small-scale farmers are higly successfull – not only in rural areas but even more so in towns and cities.

– “If you want to make your neighbours jealous, you keep Sussex chickens”

The Dual Purpose Sussex is a heavy bird and ideal laying breed as they produce a high yield of eggs, even during the winter months. A simple breed to upkeep due to their calm nature and their lack of agression even between roosters makes it possible to keep the entire flock together without any trouble at all.

– “When taken as a whole, this truly ranks as a very extraordinary chicken”

One hen laid a world record of 364 eggs while six hens set a world team record of 1857 eggs in a year without the aid of modren day lighting protocols! Also a hardy large meaty bird that just does the job without fanfare.

– “Hardy African dual purpose breed”

Very popular South African breed because off their egg and meat production as well as their ability to hatch their own offspring.

– “The breed for all occasions”

They are a true triple treat in the chicken world – huge and heavy, thick and meaty, with proper care producing up to 200 eggs per year.

– “Indigenous Namibian breed, tolerant to many diseases”

During 1975, a researcher at Irene Poultry Breeding Station visited Namibia and saw the Ovambo chicken breed. The researcher collected some of these chickens and brought them to Irene to establish a stock colony and prevent the breed from becoming extint. In my view the best free range chicken breed of them all.