Native chicken farming: a backyard guide for Cebu
Give each native chicken at least 2 m² of grassy range and 1–2 m² of house, feed it twice a day so it comes home, and vaccinate against Newcastle disease — it can kill about 90% of an unprotected flock. Rather buy than raise? See our native chicken for sale in Ronda, Cebu.
Backyard flock at a glance
| Item | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Free-range areaGrassy | 2 m²+ per bird |
| HouseGrowing and breeding birds | 1–2 m² per bird |
| Brooder2 × 3 × 1 ft box, up to 3–4 weeks | 20–30 chicks |
| FeedCommercial starter, then corn, rice bran, copra meal, leftovers | switch at ≈1.5 mo |
| RoostersReplace yearly | 1 : 7–10 hens |
| Newcastle vaccineLa Sota B1 eye or nose drop, then La Sota in water | 7–10 d · 28–35 d |
| First eggsUp to 18–20 eggs per clutch | 20–22 weeks |
Sources: PCAARRD, 6 Feb 2017 (range), DA-RFO 3, 2016 (house, brooder, feed), WESVARRDEC guide (Business Diary, 2022) (roosters, vaccine, clutch), PCAARRD (first eggs). Doses and brands: ask your municipal agriculture office or vet.
Feed and forage
Feed twice a day
Morning and afternoon, so the birds learn to come home (PCAARRD).
Forage plants
Malunggay, gabi, azolla, centrosema and guinea grass on the range.
Farm leftovers
Ground corn, rice bran, copra meal and kitchen scraps after the starter stage.
What most backyard raisers get wrong
In a survey of native chicken growers in Western Visayas, 86.4% did not vaccinate and the average flock had one rooster for every four hens; birds of 500–1,000 g sold best (PIDS, 2015). Newcastle disease kills about 90% of an infected native flock (PCAARRD).
Bird flu: BAI’s 7 Aug 2026 update listed ongoing cases in Pangasinan and Kalinga and none in Central Visayas (BAI); H5N1 was later confirmed in San Quintin and Bolinao, Pangasinan (BusinessMirror, 21 Sep 2026). Keep wild birds and ducks away from your flock and report sudden deaths to your municipal vet.
Choosing a strain? Compare Darag, Boholano and others in Philippine native chicken breeds. Keeping hens for eggs? See what a tray sells for in egg price per tray, or reserve native eggs from us.
Gepanaga’s Farm in Ronda opens in 2027. Reserve free-range native chicken: a vet health certificate with every batch, NMIS slaughter on request, a 30% deposit for seasonal reservations. Delivery in Ronda and southwest Cebu; Cebu City by arrangement.
Questions
How much space do native chickens need?
At least 2 m² of grassy range per bird (PCAARRD) and 1–2 m² of house per bird (DA-RFO 3).
How many hens per rooster?
1 rooster for 7–10 hens, replaced yearly (WESVARRDEC guide, Business Diary, 2022).
When do you vaccinate chicks for Newcastle?
La Sota B1 eye or nose drop at 7–10 days and La Sota in drinking water at 28–35 days (WESVARRDEC guide, Business Diary, 2022). Ask your vet.
What do native chickens eat?
Range forage plus corn, rice bran, copra meal and kitchen leftovers; commercial starter for the first 1.5 months.
When do native hens start laying?
At about 20–22 weeks (DOST-PCAARRD).
