Vascodagama Online Journal

Useful Tips For Raising Backyard Chickens

 Breaking News
  • No posts were found

Useful Tips For Raising Backyard Chickens

October 05
02:33 2022

Raising chickens is one of the most preferred home-run businesses for families with large backyards. Raising chickens generates an income from eggs and meat, soon becoming a well-oiled machine that functions on its own. It is most definitely one of the top home based businesses to set up in 2022. If you are looking to begin a backyard poultry farm, here are six useful factors to keep in mind when kickstarting your farm.

Choose The Right Breed

Several factors determine the most optimal breed for your poultry farm. The breed of chickens has a big bearing on whether you are looking for large production of eggs alone, meat, or a mix of both. Also, some breeds are friendlier and easier to handle compared to others. The breed you choose should also be able to survive and thrive in the weather conditions of your region. Not all chickens can take extreme heat, harsh winters or humid conditions. It would be wise to check with a poultry farming consultant on the right breeds to meet your objectives and make overall farm logistics and daily functioning easy.

Check The Local Laws

Before you commit to the size of a coop and the number of chickens you wish to invest in it would be good to check on the local laws. Many towns and districts, especially urban areas have a law on the number of chickens you can have in a backyard poultry farm. There are also specific rules for hens, roosters and chickens which poultry farmers must make themselves aware of. What’s more, it would be wise to get written consent from the neighbours on a no-objection from their end regarding your backyard poultry farm. Run this background check and stay on the same page as the law to ensure longevity for your poultry farm.

 

Choose the Right Coop

One of the biggest mistakes newbie backyard poultry farmers make is not paying due attention to the features of a coop. A coop is where you house your chickens all through the day and night. It also has a huge impact on maintaining cleanliness, food/water management, insulation, ventilation and other overall health of your flock. Choose a coop that makes cleaning easy by offering easy human access. Also, a coop must have ample space for chickens to move around to ensure they are active and healthy. Removable food and water trays make it easy to offer fresh consumption for chickens always. Ample ventilation ensures lesser disease outbreaks and access to clean air for chickens. For all of these reasons and more, invest in a coop only after due thought and consideration. Head to my chicken coop for a variety of chicken coop designs to find just what you are looking for.

Start Small

Don’t bite into more than you can chew. Remember, chickens multiply quickly. Start small by investing in a few chickens. This also helps you ascertain whether you can cut out for backyard poultry farming. Many people buy day-old chicken because they come at a cheaper price, not realizing that these little chicks require a lot more care than the adult ones. You may also have to arrange a foster mother for them and wait a while before they can reproduce. This initial effort disheartens many newbie farmers who have made it doubly tough by choosing smaller chickens. Instead, choose only a few adult-size chickens who are largely self-sufficient and easier to manage. They also reproduce quickly, giving you time to start small and expand operations over the next few weeks once you get a grip on things.

Handle Eggs Well

Eggs are one of the major income sources in poultry farms. However, proper collection and handling of eggs are mandatory to make the best of the produce. Collect eggs regularly, and possibly every day if you have a large flock. Dispose of cracked eggs as the bacteria on the surface can easily seep inside and pose a risk to those who consume them. Refrigerate collected eggs immediately to increase longevity and delay the onset of bacteria. What’s more, summertime involves lesser egg production, so be prepared for a dip in the numbers when the temperatures rise. Once summer is gone, look for a steady rise in the number of eggs laid.

Stay Vigilant

A chicken coop requires constant vigilance either through a CCTV or in person. Chickens may get into situations of distress often and need immediate care. Often chickens break into a tussle or a fight that may require human intervention. Also, chickens physically show signs of sickness such as lethargy, loss of appetite of total lack of movement. Watch out for these signs and isolate the said chicken immediately so the disease does not spread to the rest of the flock.

Wrap Up

We hope the above tips come in handy when you begin your backyard poultry farm!

Media Contact
Company Name: Mychickencoop
Email: Send Email
Phone: 1300 899 511
Country: Australia
Website: https://mychickencoop.com.au/

Categories