Keeping Backyard Chickens For Profit - Critical Guidelines

Keeping backyard chickens for profit or for
personal consumption is not as easy as you might
think. You must be responsible enough to provide
care and attention to your chooks especially the
young. Careful planning should be made regarding
your intended use for your chicken whether for
personal use or mainly for organic chicken meat
production or organic egg production for profit.

This will be the basis of what kind of holding
places that you will construct for your chicken.
If you want an organic, free-range chicken for
example, you should set up a secured chicken run
or holding pen. Keeping backyard chickens for egg
production would require a different approach
altogether. You could make a closed and
carefully constructed chicken coop for laying
hens, the size of which depends on the number of
chicken it will accommodate.

Whether you live in a city or town, keeping
backyard chickens could be a troublesome affair
if you fail to recognize laws and ordinances
that govern you particular locality. Here are
some legal obligations that you should be aware
of regarding raising chickens:

The Animal Welfare Act of 2002 Proper food,
water, and protection should be duly provided
for all animals. Proper treatment should be
provided for sick animals or should be humanely
killed and properly disposed when the need
arises.

Marketing of Eggs Act of 1945 A licensing system
governs the commercial egg production industry.
If you have 50 or more hens for laying eggs, you
need to secure a license. If you have less than
50, you should register with the Golden Egg
Farms. Also, all eggs sold should be duly
stamped.

Raising backyard chickens safe from predators
should be a primary concern if you want a
successful and productive poultry enterprise
right in your own back gardens. If you live in
areas where there is a constant threat from
roaming predators such as foxes, wild cats, you
should make your holding pen secure enough o
prevent intrusion by these predators and high
enough (at least 1.8 m.) to prevent the chickens
from flying over and expose themselves to danger.
Chicken coops should be made fox-proof.

The chickens should be locked up at night and if
you do not have any provisions for solid
flooring, the sides should be planted at least
50 cm. deep into the soil with an outward screen
mesh underneath to prevent foxes from digging
them up. You should consider totally enclosing
your holding pen with a screen or net if there
are aerial threats from hawks or eagles.

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Find out everything you need to know and how easy
it is to raise your own chicken. Looking for more
tips on keeping backyard chickens? Separate
yourself from the usual chicken owners and avoid
costly mistakes. Go to:
http://www.howtoraisechicken.com

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