of food. Eggs are laid outside in simple nests and are mainly used to maintain chicken numbers. In many cases, up to 75% of the eggs have to be hatched because the mortality rate among baby chicks is high. Few eggs remain for consumption and the chickens themselves do not give much meat. The advantages of this system are that little labour is needed and waste food can be used efficiently. Very low costs can offset low pro- duction levels so that keeping chickens around the house can be prof- itable if certain improvements are made. .
