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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaving an interest in chickens is definitely going to be helpful if you\u2019re considering starting your own chicken farm. They are fascinating creatures, all with their own traits and personalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever your reasons are, a specific type of chicken farming will likely suit you best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are various types of chicken farming, including those specializing in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Egg production \u2013 Organic, free-range, barn, or battery<\/li>
- Meat production (broilers) \u2013 Organic, free-range, barn, caged<\/li>
- Breeding (hatcheries)<\/li>
- Rare breeds (specialist hatcheries)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The advantages and disadvantages of these various different types will no doubt play a big part in which you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EGG PRODUCTION<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you want to sell eggs, there are a range of things that need to be taken into account:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Size of your operation<\/strong> \u2013 Do you have lots of land, barns, and processing space, or do you just have a large backyard? <\/li>
- Market<\/strong> \u2013 How will you sell your eggs? At farmer’s markets, in local stores, or on a broader scale?<\/li>
- Type of Chicken<\/strong> – Depending on the kind of enterprise you wish to operate, you\u2019ll need to select the best types of chickens<\/a> for your purposes. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Rhode Island Reds are popular for laying many large brown eggs and are good to use as free-range birds. While commercial White Leghorns lay many large white eggs and are often used in barns or for caged laying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heritage breeds are easy to keep, and while not laying as many eggs as the most popular commercial breeds, can still produce a large number per year. There are many amazing varieties, but some of my favorites are Australorps, Plymouth Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, Copper Marans, and Sussex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are, of course, many other breeds, and if you wanted to sell specialty eggs, you might choose the Ameraucana or Easter Egger to lay blue and green ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A new blue egg breed is being developed by the University of Arkansas. It\u2019s called, not too surprisingly, the Arkansas Blue and is a cross between a Leghorn and Araucana. Their egg-laying ability is higher than either the Ameraucana or Easter Egger at 200 to 300 eggs per year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
BROILER CHICKENS \u2013 MEAT PRODUCTION<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As with egg production, raising chickens for meat will also require you to make some decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To compete with the big commercial meat producers supplying large chain grocery stores, you\u2019ll need a vast enterprise. Niche markets, such as raising specialty organic, pasture-raised birds, are probably a better bet for small concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best breeds of chicken for meat production will depend on which market you\u2019re serving, but popular ones are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- White Cornish Crosses<\/strong> \u2013 these are a mix of a Cornish rooster with a White Plymouth Rock hen. They are referred to as \u2018Meat Kings\u2019<\/em> due to their efficiency in converting the food they eat into muscle.<\/li>
- Bresse<\/strong> \u2013 for tasty, tender chickens, the Bresse breed is often stated as being the best.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Here is our selection of knives for butchering<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HATCHERIES<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re more interested in breeding chickens and fancy helping save one or more of the many endangered varieties, then running a hatchery might be your ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hatcheries can focus on producing just a few chicken breeds or many. Some are small and mainly service the backyard market, while others supply large egg or broiler farms with new stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The different varieties of heritage chicken breeds are often adorable birds that enjoy human interaction. If you\u2019re an animal lover, raising these birds is not merely a job but often a passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some breeders focus on improving various types of chicken using careful selection. This can be beneficial for enhancing the popularity of rarer breeds and helping secure their future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hatcheries have several different income stream options. They can sell hatching eggs for buyers to hatch themselves, chicks, that can either be sexed or unsexed, Pullets, which are young hens coming into lay and laying hens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you sell rare breeds, the cost per egg\/chick\/bird will be higher than for more common types, but the likelihood is that demand may be smaller. When starting out, it would be advisable to offer both and see which works best in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do I Start a Chicken Farm?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOnce you\u2019ve decided what type of chicken enterprise you\u2019d like to have, you\u2019ll need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Draw up a sound business plan.<\/li>
- Find the required capital.<\/li>
- Purchase or rent a suitable property for your business idea.<\/li>
- Buy all the necessary equipment you\u2019ll need to run your chicken farm.<\/li>
- Get your starter flock.<\/li>
- Commence your operation.<\/li>
- Market your product.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
BUSINESS PLAN<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Making a detailed business plan that includes an accurate budget is really essential. Being honest and precise with the costs right down to the fine detail will help ensure you are successful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortcuts here can lead to a financial disaster, so if necessary, get professional assistance and get it right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
CAPITAL<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Capital can be raised in several ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- You may be lucky enough to have a large nest egg (excuse the pun) you can use <\/li>
- Or perhaps you\u2019ve inherited some money you\u2019d like to put into a business venture<\/li>
- A bank may be willing to give you a loan, but beware! Ensure you think carefully and do your homework well before taking on any form of credit, as if things go wrong, you could lose everything!<\/li>
- Maybe the property you currently own can be sold to fund your chicken farm project<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
However, you raise your capital, always ensure you have more than you think you\u2019re going to need. Inevitably something you never even thought of will require money investing in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the main reasons new businesses fail is a lack of starting capital. Quite simply, they run out of money before they start turning a profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PROPERTY<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Matching your property to the type of farm you want to run is crucial. Things you\u2019ll need to consider are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Size<\/li>
- Buildings<\/li>
- Location<\/li>
- Access<\/li>
- Environment<\/li>
- Weather<\/li>
- Cost<\/li>
- Laws <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Be sure to check local, state, provincial, and federal laws. Many states have zoning laws specific to farming that prohibit the keeping of chickens in residential areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other rules may also be in force in your area. Some states require you to have a permit, while others will only allow a certain number of birds and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
EQUIPMENT<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve got your property, next, you\u2019ll need to equip it with housing, enclosures, fencing, and everything else you\u2019ll need to keep your birds. Precisely what will be required depends on the type of business you intend to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples of things you may need include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Housing<\/strong> \u2013 Coops or buildings that are easy to clean, well ventilated, and insulated. <\/li>
- Feeding equipment<\/strong> \u2013 Rodent-proof, easy clean.<\/li>
- Watering equipment<\/strong> \u2013 Automatic, nipple, or manual.<\/li>
- Outside enclosures<\/strong> \u2013 Chicken runs should be predator-proof and preferably movable.<\/li>
- Fencing<\/strong> \u2013 For free-range pasture birds, you can choose to use electric or mesh fencing around the perimeter.<\/li>
- Incubator\/brooder<\/strong> \u2013 Depending on how many chicks you want to hatch, various types of incubators are available. Large cupboard incubators also act as brooders to keep your young chicks safe and warm.<\/li>
- Brooder<\/strong> \u2013 If you\u2019re going to raise young chicks, you\u2019ll need a suitable brooder to put them in. Even if you hatch chicks under a broody hen, it is often safer to raise them away from their Mom. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
I have lost many chicks by letting Mom take care of them. If they get wet, they die; if they get lost, they die; if Mom accidentally stands on them, they die, it is both sad and frustrating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Heating<\/strong> \u2013 If you\u2019re going to barn raise your chickens, you may require heating during the year’s colder months.<\/li>
- Fans<\/strong> \u2013 As with heating, if you barn raise, then fans might be necessary to help with cooling, ventilation, and air movement.\u00a0<\/li>
- Pluckers<\/strong> \u2013 You will need a good plucker<\/a> that can cope with a large number of birds.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is just the tip of the iceberg, and every aspect of your chickens’ health and wellbeing needs to be taken into careful consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STARTER FLOCK<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve got everything you need, you\u2019re finally ready to get your first hens. YAY! It can be very tempting to jump to this part too quickly, but to do so is a mistake, so try to be patient and get everything ready first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do plenty of research on the breed or breeds of chicken you want to have. Things to think about include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Fans<\/strong> \u2013 As with heating, if you barn raise, then fans might be necessary to help with cooling, ventilation, and air movement.\u00a0<\/li>
- Feeding equipment<\/strong> \u2013 Rodent-proof, easy clean.<\/li>
- Housing<\/strong> \u2013 Coops or buildings that are easy to clean, well ventilated, and insulated. <\/li>
- Bresse<\/strong> \u2013 for tasty, tender chickens, the Bresse breed is often stated as being the best.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Market<\/strong> \u2013 How will you sell your eggs? At farmer’s markets, in local stores, or on a broader scale?<\/li>
- Size of your operation<\/strong> \u2013 Do you have lots of land, barns, and processing space, or do you just have a large backyard? <\/li>
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