Since ancient times, almost the entire rural population has been breeding poultry. Initially, chickens were kept exclusively for themselves and their family, but over time, people began to realize that a home farm in the village can become a source of stable income. After all, eggs and poultry are widely used for cooking various dishes.
Home chicken farm as a business: where to start a business?
First of all, you need to accurately determine the purpose of breeding birds. Today, in addition to the traditional production of meat and eggs, breeding of chickens is widely practiced with the aim of the subsequent sale of young expensive breeds. But the most win-win option is a home farm, oriented to breeding layers. The success of this business is due to the lack of such high competition as in the field of meat breeding. The comparatively quick return on investment made plays an important role in organizing an egg-breeding enterprise. In addition, a home farm such as business does not require the presence of seed capital and substantial financial costs.
It is clear that a small family-owned enterprise will not be able to really compete with large factories. However, in recent years there has been a tendency to increase consumer demand for environmentally friendly home products. Therefore, the product will certainly find its buyer in that part of the population that is ready to pay for natural eggs and meat, which does not contain chemicals.
List of initial expenses
The first step towards starting a business should be a home farm business plan that includes all possible risks. A properly prepared plan will not only allow you to clearly understand where you need to start developing a business, but it will also make it possible to determine approximate payback periods for the enterprise. Those who plan to seriously engage in this business can be advised to register an official farm in order to simplify the procedure for obtaining the necessary certificates for their products. In the meantime, documentation will be drawn up, you can decide how the poultry will be bred. To date, two main methods are known:
The calculation of priority investments is made taking into account the chosen method of housekeeping. Home farm in which chickens are kept in cages, it will cost much more. This is due to the cost of purchasing the necessary equipment and animal feed. To reduce the cost of poultry, you can independently arrange feeders and drinking bowls for laying hens. In addition, the list of expenses should indicate the payment for the services of a veterinarian and the salary of employees.
Arrangement of a chicken coop
Home farm differs from large factories in the scale and number of livestock. In any case, for keeping and breeding birds you will need a spacious and well-insulated chicken coop. You can build it yourself. It is important to pay special attention to the quality of the building materials used. For the construction of the chicken coop, you can use cinder blocks, lumber and ordinary slate. As a heater, straw and sawdust diluted in lime are recommended. To provide ventilation in the room, a small window is closed, covered with a solid mesh.
The height of the house should not exceed two meters, and its area is calculated on the basis that there should be no more than two layers per square meter. As nests, you can use ordinary wooden boxes placed in the secluded corners of the chicken coop.
The acquisition of chickens
Those who clearly decided that a home farm will be focused on laying hens; it is necessary to purchase young egg breeds. Such birds are small in size, and therefore do not bring a lot of meat. Due to the accelerated achievement of puberty, profits from them will begin to come much earlier than from birds of meat breeds. The most popular among laying hens are the Hamburg, Andalusian, Italian, Spanish breeds and minor. All of them are not too different from each other, so when choosing it is recommended to focus on your own taste.
The best time to acquire young animals is spring. It is advisable to buy poultry from trusted farmers with a good reputation. Before purchasing, you must carefully examine the chicks. They should actively move and squeak. Particular attention should be paid to the limbs 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 house should be maintained at a level of 20-27 degrees. It is this range that is necessary for the chickens to rush well. To make it easier for birds to clean their feathers and get rid of parasites, there should be a container with sand and ash in the chicken coop. At least once every three months it is recommended to disinfect the house with an aqueous solution of lime.
Particular attention should be paid to feeding chickens. Chicks need to be given specially selected compound feed with the addition of carrots, goat cheese and nettles. Two-month-old chickens can be fed root crops and food waste. In general, care must be taken to ensure that chickens receive corn, bone meal, millet and grass daily. In their diet, there must be eggshell and chalk.
Seasonality of business
The most favorable and profitable time for a farm oriented to laying hens is considered to be the period from early April to early July. Then, before the start of autumn, a slight lull occurs. To increase the egg production of chickens, a comfortable temperature should be maintained in the house, and high-quality certified feed should be included in the diet of laying hens.