Farmers in Zimbabwe are increasingly raising indigenous chickens, commonly referred to as ‘roadrunner’ chickens. These birds produce high yields of meat and eggs with minimal capital investment requirements and are resistant to climatic extremes.
Farmers have their pick of breeds, such as Boschveld, Rhode Island Red, Black Australorp, Koekoeks and Sasso.
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Feeding
Road runner chickens eat a variety of foods, preferring insects but also foraging for fruit and seeds.
Monogamous birds, roadrunners are committed to their partner for life. After hatching, baby roadrunners remain with their parents for 30-40 days until they are old enough to scavenge on their own.
At this stage, adults provide them with soft insects or partially digested food. They may also bring freshly killed prey for them to consume.
Once the babies are old enough to hunt for themselves, they scavenge for food and leave the nest. Additionally, this is when their eggs are laid.
Road runner chickens are considered healthier alternatives to broiler chickens, though they must be cooked properly and take a considerable amount of time to prepare.
Health
Road runner chickens’ health can be significantly enhanced when allowed to roam free and forage for food on their own. This encourages them to develop stronger muscles and produce firmer meat.
Additionally, providing your poultry with a nutritionally dense diet is essential to keep them healthy and strong. This can be accomplished using commercial feeds from local poultry feed manufacturers.
One can provide their drinking water with beneficial ingredients for chickens, such as aloe vera and chilies. These natural herbs keep the birds healthy and prevent diseases like coccidiosis, Newcastle disease and bird flu from spreading.
Road runner chickens have become increasingly popular in Zimbabwe, particularly urban areas. Restaurants typically serve them with millet, maize, sorghum pap (referred to as sadza in Shona) or rice mixed with peanut butter.
Breeding
Road runner chickens are native to Zimbabwe and can be raised for meat or eggs. There are a number of breeds suitable for this purpose, such as Boschveld, Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn, Australop and New Hampshire.
When selecting a breed for farming purposes, the type of animal they select will ultimately determine the success or failure of their venture. Some breeds have smaller bodies and require less food while others boast larger frames that produce more eggs or meat.
Commercial road runner production can benefit from many hybrid breeds, such as Boschveld, Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn.
Care of the birds is paramount in this business, and farmers must guarantee proper temperatures, vaccination and clean water are available. Supplemental heat may even be needed during winter for chicks and full-grown birds as this helps achieve desired results with lower mortality rates than broilers do.
Housing
Free range poultry require housing for several reasons. This includes protection from the rain, during night time hours and from predators.
They require access to fresh air and water, light, darkness and a thermal environment. The ideal housing for a free range system is an accommodating overnight shelter that offers plenty of room to move around in.
Housing must also be secure from predators such as snakes, kites and rats. It should feature a full-width vent along the back wall for hot weather comfort.
Chickens must have access to perches at night that are at least 15-20 cm long and spaced 30-40 cm apart depending on the size of the flock.
These perches should be set parallel to the rear wall and horizontally. At their bottom, include a drop down platform called a ‘droppings board’ for manure collection.
