Chickens

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A small flock of orange, black, and white chickens in the grass.

Chickens are a good “starter” livestock. They can be raised for meat (“broilers”) or for eggs (“layers”). Study the many breeds for the best one for you. Consider where they’ll live and what feed they’ll need. A chicken coop can be mobile (sometimes called a “chicken tractor”) or stationary, but if it’s stationary, plan to set up portable electric net fence so it can be rotated 360 degrees around the coop. Chickens also need grit and calcium in their diet. Learn what processing is legal and available before purchasing chicks. Farmers can make a return on broilers in as few as 8 weeks. Laying hens take roughly 4 months to start getting returns. Be ready to protect your chickens from predators high and low.

Initial Costs

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Considerations:
  • Wildlife protection
  • Daily attention
Cream of the Crop Resources: