Pros and cons of rearing chicken on a free range or in confinement

Rearing chicken is the kind of business anyone can undertake. What matters most is the farmer’s capability when it comes to the systems and bird types to rear.
Dr John Baptist Kasule, a veterinary doctor, says that poultry birds can either be farmed on free range or confined. These can either be reared on a commercial or domestic basis.

Extra feeds
He describes free range as system where birds are set free to look for extra feeds. Here, birds on this system eat a lot more than the provided food, however, they should be provided with a shade to rest during the day apart from the shelter where they sleep at night and lay eggs.

Dr Kasule says that free range not only applies to local breeds as it is commonly thought but it also applies to other types. He points out the two types of free range system being the traditional and chain link system.
With the traditional system, the veterinary doctor notes, it is mostly local breeds that are reared and are mostly owned by low-income earners.

The birds are normally few in numbers, have no specific shelter and feed on their own. In this case, they take long to grow and are not easily monitored.

“There is less capital and time invested but there are many risks. Because the birds move to different places, they can easily be poisoned, eaten by wild animals and get or spread diseases. However, the birds are good for ceremonies like introduction, among others,” he notes.

With chain link systems, the veterinarian affirms that birds can be let free but in a specified area, which is easily monitored.
These can be local or exotic breeds like Kuroilers. Chain link is mostly practiced for both domestic and commercial purposes.
Just as any business, chicken reared on a free range system has its own advantages and disadvantages that one has to bear in mind before going in for it as Kasule points out.

Expect to earn
With confinement system, they are normally layers or broilers of exotic breeds, which are reared and are specifically meant for commercial purposes.
From commercial birds, as they are commonly called, the farmers expect to earn.
Besides the many pros with the system, there are different challenges that a farmer willing to undertake it needs to consider.
Rehema Mutyaba has been in the poultry business for 30 years; she collects 25 to 30 trays of eggs every day from the 1,000 birds on her farm.

Faster and healthier
She says that rearing chicken on free range would be a good option since the costs are less and it is fairly manageable. On the other hand, it is costly when the birds get poisoned, get sick or even get eaten by rodents or wild animals.

“The advantage of rearing chicken in confinement is that birds grow faster, are easily monitored and it is easy to detect sickness which might be hard with the free range type,” she notes.
Ms Mutyaba asserts that confined birds only need extra care if a farmer is to earn much, be it for meat or eggs.
“Since they are locked in one place, one needs to supply them with clean water and foods that contain nutrients like calcium, fats, and vitamins to help them grow health and faster,” she emphasises.

ckatende@ug.nation,edia.com