Did you know chicken is the most consumed protein source around the world?
- 93 pounds of chicken is consumed annually per person in the US
- Americans consume 95 million dozen eggs in a year.
- The US is the second-largest exporter of poultry meat, amounting to nearly 18% of the country’s produce.
Well, as alluring as these facts could be, petting poultry birds isn’t as straightforward as it may seem.
There are many things that you would need to consider before setting up your poultry coop in your backyard.
Nonetheless, this article will help you get started, even if you don’t have any experience with the same.
Decide Your Product And Yield
Poultry flocks are not limited to chickens only, although chickens make up the most significant yield.
Typically, you can choose between three objectives for your homegrown poultry, namely – Broilers (chickens raised for meat), eggs, and Turkeys.
The prospects are too bright. However, depending upon what you wish to produce at your farm, the conditions and requirements would vary.
In other words, your additional expenses would vary depending upon what you breed.
Housing & Feeding The Poultry
One of the significant expenses associated with poultry petting is their accommodation and feed.
Although for businesses there are several legal obligations, for instance, the housing for poultry shouldn’t be too stuffed. Hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained regularly in the housing. There are no such decrees for homegrown poultry. But, it would still be beneficial if you take them into consideration.
Besides, the feed should be nutritious, and preferably FDA-approved. Perhaps, you may even need to consult with a nutritionist for the poultry.
The nutritionist’s job is to ensure that the poultry receives a diet according to their age and purpose. For instance, broilers may be fed worms. In contrast, snacks for chickens may be provided to the young ones in the flock. Also, the diet for your poultry may change as many as ten times over their life cycle.
In addition to this, the poultry birds also need proper medication and immunity boosters. For instance, antibiotics are a standard part of the poultry diet.
Selecting The Breed
Apart from legal compliance, accommodation, and feed, there’s another thing that you’ll need to consider – the breed.
Regardless of whether you pet turkeys, chickens, or broilers, you’d have hundreds of breeds to choose from. And please note that all breeds are not the same.
Some breeds are preferred for their meat, while others are chosen for brooding. And, to your surprise, some are even bred simply because they are exotic birds.
Depending upon what you wish to produce and the yield you desire, you can choose the breed. Besides, the choice of the species would also depend upon the climate or environment where you wish to pet them.
Not all breeds are comfortable with hot and humid climates and vice-versa.
So, choosing a wrong breed could add to your expenses in maintaining the proper environmental conditions for your flock.
On this note, we hope that you have a ballpark idea of where to begin. You can, of course, read more resources to get the gist of exactly which breeds are suitable for your region and purpose.
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