Chicken Farming Tips

Choosing the breed

• Chicken breeds are organized according to whether the birds are large chickens or bantam (miniature) chickens, and each group is divided by class. Large chickens are classified according to place of origin; bantams are classified according to characteristics such as whether they have feathers on their legs.
  When selecting a breed, decide if you want to raise chickens for eggs or meat. Consider factors such as rate of weight gain for meat chickens or temperament for egg layers. When selecting a breed, also consider the strain of that breed-a strain consists of related chickens that have been selectively bred for emphasis on specific traits.

Buying chickens

• After settling on a breed, variety and strain, decide whether to purchase newly hatched chicks or grown chickens. Starting with chicks is less expensive than buying the same number of mature birds, and the chicks will grow up knowing their home territory. Some breeds and hybrids are sold sexed, meaning you know when you buy them how many are cockerels (young roosters) and how many are pullets (young hens). Most chicks are sold straight-run, meaning as-hatched; in this case, about half are usually cockerels and half are pullets. Sexed chicks are more expensive than straight-run chicks.

Handling Chickens

• Flocks of calm chickens are enjoyable to be around; however, chickens that squawk and fly every time you come near them are not much fun. Part of flighty behavior is genetic-some breeds are more easily frightened than others-but most chickens can be taught to be calm. You must be calm when you are around them.
  Whenever you approach your chickens, whistle or sing so they can hear you coming and not be startled. Spend at least five minutes a day with your flock. The more time you spend, the less frightened and the friendlier the chickens should become. Walk slowly among them, talking or singing softly. Carefully pick up and pet your chickens as long as they are accepting-do not force them to be held. (Ref.1).

Housing Chickens

• Chickens are territorial. They rarely roam far during the day, and they come back at night to roost in a familiar place. Chickens need housing that keeps out predators and protects them from inclement weather.
  The type of housing you provide can be determined by whether you have suitable existing facilities and available space, and the amount of time you can devote to maintenance. Portable housing is popular for chickens because they can be moved around to new ground. An alternative is to divide the area around a stationary building into several separate yards and rotate the chickens among the yards to give vegetation a chance to regrow.
  In order to satisfy the roosting instinct, proper housing needs a perch. A perch should be about two inches in diameter for large breeds, one inch for bantams. Allow eight inches of perching space for each chicken. Do not use plastic or metal pipes, they are too smooth for chickens to grip securely.

Feeding Chickens

• Feeding chicken feed or poultry ration purchased at a farm store is the typical way to ensure chickens are fed properly. Mature chickens should be fed a lay ration containing 16 percent protein plus the other nutrients they need. Lay ration comes in crumbled or pelleted form. Less feed is generally wasted with pellets.
  A chicken typically eats about two pounds of ration per week. Dual-purpose hens eat a bit more, bantams a bit less. All chickens eat less in summer than in winter, when they need extra energy to stay warm. It is a good idea to purchase as much as your flock consumes within 2 or 3 weeks. (Reference 1)