In the best case scenario mixed flock poultry farming should be the norm, instead of layers or broilers only flock farming. Particularly from an animal welfare perspective this makes more sense, and we think there is a good chance mixed flocking will be a niche in the future.
Typically in poultry farming, especially commercial poultry farming, chicken are raised as single purpose. That is either layers for eggs, or broilers for meat production. Traditionally, it would be hard to find a commercial farm with a dual purpose flock.
This is the case because the current layers and broiler breeds are optimised for the production of eggs and meat respectively.
Mixed flock poultry farming
There are 3 types of flocks you can keep in poultry farming. First, is layers which includes egg producing chicken only. Secondly, is broilers which are kept only for meat production. Finally is a mixed flock which you keep both for the production of meat and eggs.
Typically, mixed flocks are of heritage breeds. That is, of breed types or variants that are not optimised for single purpose. Notably, that being the case, mixed flocks engage in a wider variety of poultry behaviours including mating.
Because of their gene or breed optimisation for production, most if not all single purpose hybrid chicken do not engage in mating behaviours.
If at all possible, it is best to select a breed with a calm temperament for mixed flock farming. Some breeds that have aggressive temperament may not be unsuitable for the health and productivity of a mixed flock.
Heritage breeds hens will become broody every now and then. Naturally, this means that their egg production rate is significantly lower than that of their commercial and hybrid counterparts. The upside to this is that you can use the chicks to hatch new chicks.
In some cases, mixed flocks can consist of different poultry breeds.
Pros of mixed flock poultry farming
Higher animal welfare rating
Animal welfare advocates would definitely prefer that chicken are raised in a manner that they are able to engage with a wider gamut of natural poultry behaviours. In addition to mating, chicken have a complex social life, and their ability to engage in them, results to healthy and happy animals.
Fertilised eggs production
Another advantage to mixed flocking is that you can produce fertilised eggs either for your own incubation or for selling to other incubators. If you’re doing some sophisticated farming, you can choose between natural and artificial egg fertilisation.
This gives you the ability to hatch your own chicks. Therefore you do not have to worry about buying new chicks, particularly if you’re happy with your ‘parent’ flock performance and general temperament.
Meat and egg production
Of course, the first advantage of mixed flocking is that you can produce your own eggs and meat. Furthermore, you can keep a sizeable flock to match your egg and meat production needs.
Roosters usually tend to look out for and guard the flock. This is particularly important if you’re raising your flock either as free range or semi intensive. Since there are a number of animals that prey on chicken, having roosters is an important part of securing your flock. Additionally, we recommend securing your chicken run or range especially if there is actual risk of predation.
Niche produce
As we have already suggested, we think mixed flock poultry products will become a niche market if not mainstream. Given increasing consumer awareness and interest in animal products raised conditions that enable engagement in natural behaviours as much as possible, you are likely to always find demand for your mixed flock products.
Furthermore, since most mixed flocks tend to be of heritage breeds, this creates another niche market in itself. Some consumers prefer heritage poultry products over hybrid, commercial, single purpose breeds.
Fuller chickenhood
Interestingly too, if you use your hens to hatch new chicks, it gives them the opportunity to become mothers and therefore to experience their chickenhood deeply. As a farmer, this will give some satisfaction.
Cons of mixed flock poultry farming
Inbreeding
One drawback of mixed flock is that you have to watch out for in breeding, which can result to unhealthy offspring. The easiest way to address this is to exchange your roosters with another farmer.
Rooster in-fighting
Additionally, mixed flocking requires a balancing of the number of roosters to the number of hens in a flock. Since roosters have a pecking order, an imbalance of their number to those of hens will result to too much in-fighting among them.
Such in-fighting among roosters can result to outright bullying of some roosters. Additionally, this will result to constant disturbances in the flock, which will stress the hens and likely undermine their health and productivity.
Rooster to hen ratio
In our case, we balance a flock once it becomes of age, either by selling off some roosters or harvesting them. To determine a good balance requires keen observation of your flock. When there are too many roosters, there is lots of in-fighting. On the contrary too few roosters might mean fewer successful egg fertilisation.
More space
Because of their elaborate politics – yes, chicken are political animals with their pecking order being just one of their practices – mixed flocks will typically require more space than single purpose flocks. Moreover, some poultry systems such as conventional cages might be unsuitable for mixed flocking.
In case you intend to raise a huge mixed flock, it might be worth to consider partitioning your coops into small units so that you can achieve an optimal balance in your flock.
Brooding hens
Lastly but not least, you need to keep a close eye on the broodiness of your hens. This is necessary so that you can afford them incubation appropriately.
Still, in case you do not want them to hatch brood, you need to break their broodiness so that they can resume egg production as soon as possible.
See a general guide by Hobby farms, if you’re looking to get started in mixed flock poultry farming,
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