Our free range egg layer chickens are given free range under the canopy of our banana plantation. The principle is simple- the bananas give the chickens an environment similar to where the chicken evolved in the jungles of south-east Asia. There, chickens eat insects, grains, fruits and herbs to satisfy their diet while being protected from ground predators at night by perching high up in the trees and protected from eagles during the day by the forest canopy. We concentrate our chickens more than they would be found in the wild so we do feed them, but we make a feed saving of between 5 and 20 percent by letting them on range. Their droppings, which are high in nitrogen supply all of the fertility needs of our bananas. We are still working on a cheap fencing solution, but the system works very well and the chickens and bananas are happy.
Like all our livestock, we give our layers a choice feeding diet. This helps to utilise what the chickens find on range. With an already mixed feed they cannot compensate for what they find on range. For example if the chicken in question finds a cluster of termites(high protein) and ets some grass(high protein) she can balance this at feeding time (once a day at 1600hrs) with less high protein feed and more carbohydrates. We are also developing a system of breeding worms and fly larvea (maggots) on chicken manure for feeding as a protein supplement.
Pullets having a great time.
We keep a cock with our hens to deter predators.
Organic bananas.
Our moveable chicken house with nesting boxes (to the rear of the house) and automatic waterers(foreground).
Our layer chicks at day old. No heat source is used at brooding, only an insulated box made of particle board.
