Home farm for breeding chickens: where to start your business?

Since ancient times, almost all the rural population has been breeding poultry. Initially, the chickens were kept solely for themselves and their families, but over time people began to realize that a domestic farm in the village Can become a source of stable income. After all, eggs and poultry meat are widely used for cooking various dishes.

Home chicken farm as a business: where to start your business?

First of all, it is necessary to accurately determine the purpose of breeding a bird. To date, in addition to the traditional production of meat and eggs, selection of chickens is widely practiced with a view to the subsequent sale of young breeds of expensive breeds. But the most win-win option is a home farm, Oriented on breeding layers. The success of this case is due to the lack of such a high competition, as in the field of meat breeds. Not the least role in the organization of an enterprise for the production of egg-laying hens is played by the relatively quick payback of the investments made. In addition, such a domestic farm as a business Does not require the availability of seed capital and substantial financial costs.

It is clear that a small family enterprise will not be able to make a really serious competition to large factories. However, in recent years there has been a trend of increasing consumer demand for environmentally friendly home products. Therefore, the product will certainly find its buyer in the part of the population that is willing to pay for natural eggs and meat, where there are no chemicals.

List of initial expenses

The first step on the road to starting your business should be the business plan of the home farm, which includes all possible risks. A well-designed plan will not only allow you to clearly understand where to start developing a business, but it will also provide an opportunity to determine approximate payback periods for an enterprise. Those who plan to seriously engage in this business can be advised to register an official farm to simplify the procedure for obtaining the necessary certificates for their products. In the meantime, documentation will be made out, it is possible to decide how the poultry breeding will be carried out. To date, there are two main methods known:

• cellular;
• floor.

Calculation of priority investments is made taking into account the chosen method of farming. Home Farm, In which chickens are contained in cages, will cost much more. This is due to the costs of purchasing the necessary equipment and feed. To reduce the cost of poultry, you can independently arrange feeders and drinking bowls for layers. In addition, the list of costs should indicate the payment of veterinary services and salaries of employees.

Chicken coop arrangement

Home Farm Differs from large factories in the scale and number of livestock. In any case, a large and well-insulated chicken coop will be needed for keeping and breeding birds. You can build it yourself. It is important to pay special attention to the quality of the building materials used. For the construction of a hen house, it is possible to use slag blocks, lumber and ordinary slate. As a heater, straw and diluted sawdust are recommended. To ensure ventilation in the room is a small window, closed with a strong mesh.

The height of the house should not exceed two meters, and its area is calculated on the basis that there should not be more than two layers on one square meter. As nests, you can use the usual wooden boxes, located in the secluded corners of the coop.

Purchase of chickens

Those who clearly decided that the home farm Will focus on breeding layers, it is necessary to purchase young growth eggs. Such birds are small in size, and therefore do not bring much meat. Due to the accelerated achievement of puberty, profits from them will start to come much earlier than from the birds of meat breeds. The most popular among laying hens are the Hamburg, Andalusian, Italian, Spanish and Minorca. All of them are not too different from each other, so when choosing it is recommended to focus on your own taste.

Spring is the best time for the acquisition of young animals. Buy a bird is desirable from proven farmers with a good reputation. Before purchasing, you must carefully inspect the chicks. They must actively stir and squeak. Particular attention should be paid to the finiteness of the selected individuals. They must be of the correct shape and without visible damage.

What to feed and how to care for a bird?

The average temperature in the poultry house should be maintained at a level of 20-27 degrees. It is this range that is necessary for the chickens to go well. To make it easier for birds to clean feathers and get rid of parasites, there should be a container with sand and ash in the henhouse. At least once every three months, it is recommended to disinfect the poultry house with an aqueous solution of lime.

Particular attention should be paid to feeding chickens. Nestlings should be given a specially selected feed with the addition of carrots, goat cheese and nettles. Two-month-old chickens can be fed with root vegetables and food waste. In general, it is necessary to ensure that the chickens receive corn, bone meal, millet and grass daily. In their diet must be an egg shell and chalk.

Seasonality of business

The most favorable and profitable time for a farm, oriented to breeding layers, is the period from the beginning of April to the beginning of July. Then, before the beginning of autumn, there comes a small lull. To increase the egg laying of hens, a comfortable temperature should be maintained in the house, and in the diet of laying hens quality certified feed should be included.