4 Factors to Consider Before Raising Your Chickens

1. Poultry

Running your own business, big or small, can be a lot of fun and very rewarding. For some, the path has led them to poultry farming. Owning a poultry farm can be a lot of hard work, but it can also be very satisfying. Poultry farming has proven already that it can be very lucrative. If you have the appropriate space and the knowledge, starting a small poultry farm could be a great source of income for your family. Poultry farming is a broad term that basically means you raise different types of domestic birds for the purpose of selling the meat commercially. As a poultry farmer, you may also sell the eggs and feathers the birds produce. For those who are new to poultry farming, there is a lot to know and learn about raising chickens. Chickens are popular poultry farming birds because they offer a good source of animal protein beyond pork, beef and fish. Chickens are already integral to human life.

2. Breed

If you plan to start or have started raising chickens for egg production, you need to understand flock production capabilities. You need to know how to gauge the number of eggs your flock can produce and be aware of the variables that affect egg production. You should be able to identify which hens are laying and determine why your hens are not laying. By having a firm grasp of these factors, you will help ensure the success of your flock. 

3. Raising baby chicks

Baby chicks need appropriate warmth, shelter and diet if they are not with a hen who can protect them and show them the ropes. You’ll get fewer eggs as your hens get older. A hen’s ability to lay peaks at the end of her second year. After age two, she’ll lay fewer eggs per week. Chickens can live to be as many as 10 years old, so consider this in your plans. Are these birds pets who will give you eggs steadily for a few years? Or are they egg-laying machines that will be turned into soup when their laying slows down?

4. Predator proof

Raising backyard chickens is relatively low maintenance, but it does require some responsibility and a time commitment. You'll typically spend about 10 to 20 minutes per day, and an hour or two on the weekends taking care of your flock.