3 Ways to Produce Quality Kampung Chicken Day-Old Chicks

Broilers and layers aren't the only chickens being farmed; kampung chicken, Indonesia's free-range native chicken, is widely raised too. Demand for kampung chicken keeps growing, since many dishes are made with its meat, such as bakmi jawa (Javanese-style noodles), ayam goreng kremes (fried chicken with crispy crumbs) and many more. Many people believe kampung chicken is healthier than commercial meat chicken, and it's also easier to raise than other types of chicken. Its savory flavor and tender texture keep kampung chicken in steady demand. For your kampung chicken farm to succeed, you have to start with healthy, high-quality day-old chicks (DOC). Here are several ways to produce quality kampung chicken DOC:

Also read 4 Tips for Cutting Up a Whole Chicken Carcass Easily

Change the Litter Often

The first thing you can do to get quality kampung chicken eggs is to change the litter regularly. You also need to clean the litter diligently, because it directly affects the chickens' health. When litter is rarely changed, chickens end up drinking water mixed with their own droppings, and litter that is never changed becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mosquitoes. Chickens get sick easily if the litter is never replaced. Remember that quality DOC only come from quality breeders, so make sure every kampung chicken breeder hen is in prime condition and consistently healthy.

Collect the Eggs

Once the hen has laid eggs that are ready to hatch, collect them right away. This keeps the eggs from getting dirty and from being stepped on by other chickens. If an egg cracks or breaks, its quality drops. All the eggs intended for hatching into DOC should be gathered together and then fumigated, which can be done with certain substances. This must be done as quickly as possible so the hatching eggs don't go bad.

Select the Eggs

The next thing to keep in mind is that not every egg ready for hatching will become a quality kampung chicken chick. Perhaps only some will hatch and turn out to be top quality. To find out which eggs will produce quality DOC, you can select them as follows:

Also read 7 Effective and Efficient Ways to Raise Broiler Chickens

Weight

The first thing to select for is egg weight. To pick eggs that will produce quality DOC, choose eggs that are heavier than the rest. Heavy eggs produce heavy chicks. That's why breeder hens that lay large eggs are considered prime-quality breeders.

Egg Shape

After checking the weight, the next step is to look at the egg's shape. The shape tells you a lot about the egg's quality. To hatch quality DOC, choose eggs that are elongated or oval. Avoid perfectly round eggs, because that shape doesn't hatch as well.

Eggshell

To produce quality DOC, choose eggs whose shells are neither too thick nor too thin; pick a normal shell. Run your fingers over the shell: if it feels smooth and has no cracks, the egg is a good candidate for a quality chick.

Also read How to Raise Meat Chickens: 6 Tips for Maximum Results

You don't have to buy quality DOC from someone else's chicken farm. You can produce them on your own farm. Follow the steps above to get quality kampung chicken DOC.