How do i start raising chickens?

Question

im 16 and moved to the country recently and have money and want to make money, and i want to raise chickens... and sell eggs and butcher full grown chickens and sell the meat.

my question is what do i need to get started, and where will i be able to sell the chickens, and can i make a good ammount of money off this is I have alot of chickens?

tell me everything i need to know please i really want to do this.

i got $500 to start my chicken business XD

Answer 1

Lots of good replies posted!

You are 16?

One thing I tell 4-H and FFA kids 16 and under,  along with their parents.

When you turn 16, 17, 18 or 19...

You will be less interested in chickens

and more interested in your car, finding and being with your  "sweetheart" etc.

If you go elsewhere for college,  mom and dad might not want to take care of your chickens

Just some things to think about.

If all you want to do is make money, then you should do something else.  

Be a farmhand during the summer.

Are you good at anything else (e.g. fixing computers, auto detailing, tutoring etc.)?

The raising of animals is very labor, time intensive, and risky (diseases, preditors etc.).  Feed costs are rising.  The initial costs of materials  can be high e.g. feeders, waters, plywood, sheetmetal etc., lower if you buy used and salvaged materials.

If you do want to raise some.

Since you just moved and I assume never had chickens before.  Either way,  I suggest you start off small e.g. under 100 birds or even less.

The white fast growing broilers are a good choice.

5lbs in 7-8 weeks, wow!

RIRs take 5 months to get that big.

Problem with fast growth is some get leg injuries and need to be euthanized.  The really big ones get heart attacks and heat stroke easier.  They are slower thus other chicken breeds will cannabolize them.  In just a few hours three of my RIR hens pecked a baseball size hole in its backend and ripping out the intestines.

Thus keep them separate from other breeds.

Keep them off damp soil, they get diseases and die easier than the standard breeds.

Red and black broilers are a good alternative.

5 lbs. in 9-12 weeks, without the severe problems.

Butchering for people other than your family and selling them is illegal.  

You need a permit, USDA or state inspector etc.  

There are technicalities, loopholes etc.

But still more hassles than you want to deal with.

You might be O.K. just selling live at your farm assuming mom/dad don't mind people you know or don't know dropping by at various hours.

Better to sell to people you know, neighbors, locals.

Just don't let people into your pens (biosecurity).

Or thru your feedstore and farmers market (if live animals are permitted).

You might find a niche market by growing something nobody else grows. Thus no competitors, get a higher price etc.

e.g.:

Hierloom/endangered breeds.  (see ALBC, SPPA websites)

Unique breeds (e.g. americauna-green eggs or marans-chocolate color eggs).

Hope I helped!

Sincerely,

"ChickDoc"

Biologist

Answer 2

Ok this is what you do.  Look out your window and glance at the chicken farm across the street.  Late at night you steal their chickens and ship them off to be sold on eBay.  You'll makes millions.

I know what you're thinking, my neighbors will find out can I'll get arrested.  Well you're wrong because on your adventures in the wilderness, you're going to capture a family of manbearpigs to eat your neighbors and live in their house.  Trust me, no one will expect a thing.

Answer 3

Not sure where you live, but I would highly encourage you to consider calling your state or counties extension office (handles the 4-H clubs) or talk with an agriculture teacher at your school or drive to a nearby area to find an ag teacher that can help start you with some practical oversight.  If at all possible hold onto your money in a savings account and ask around if there are any farms that may have chickens or other livestock and see if you could work for them for a short period of time to learn the intracies of raising livestock.  There is so much to learn and it is less expensive and maybe make a small income by learning from someone else first.  Find some older farmers that may have retired and some of them will have raised chickens in there earlier years.  Call the Farm Bureau and ask who they know that would talk with you.  Again call the state universities and ask them for information and again people who may be in your area.  Just because you have the money does not mean you should spend it.  Gain as much knowledge as you can to start your plan.  Start small and learn from your mistakes.  Feed, vaccinations, manure handling, housing, etc.  there is a lot to learn with only $500 to start up.  You can do this, just prepare yourself.  Good luck.

Answer 4

Hi

Good luck with your venture! May I suggest that rather than going in for a total high intensity approach for ur near adult birds(i.e indoor shed) u consider that sunlight is cheaper than electric and allowing them a few hours out each day means u will be able to maintain feeders/drinkers/fans/heaters etc more easliy and that if u give ur birds more space u can market the eggs as barn/free range rather than battery and get a better price and less hassal from the animal rights people. Also for ur broilers also consider allowing them access to the outdoors-them u cn market ur meat as welfare friendly and get a better price:).(people are getting more interested in how their food is raised) I know that Where I live (uk) to sell eggs to ppl other than friends/family you need to register ur flock and then u get a number which goes with ur eggs. I have hens myself and have a min flock size of 50 but We use broodies (sitting hens) to rear the chicks which cuts out on transport and means we know where the eggs are from and what the have been exposed to. Its mainly a laying flock but sometimes people wish to buy rare breed trio's/small flocks etc. Good luck with this! I got my first hens when I was 6 and was hooked!dont forget to look into fencing etc to keep out dogs/foxs/rats etc and check ur local rules and regs incase there is stuff relating to the disposal of dead birds/manure/planning regs. I hope thats some use!

Answer 5

What u need first is a shelter to raise the chickens in. They need warmth, light and a dry place. Then look for a reliable source to supply your day old chicks( Broliers for meat and layers for eggs). Then you need a  reliable supply for your feedstocks, make sure you feed and give water to the chickens regurarly. Chickens require difeferent types of feedstocks in their growth stages just like us. From my memory of raising chickens we had starter mash, concentrate etc. Just find out what they have in your area. Within 6 wks you should be able to sell your broiler chickens. I am not sure how long it takes for the layers to start laying eggs.

Answer 6

If you have a big backyard, try to build a long concrete one storey building like this.....

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You build this kind of concrete structure for your chickens.  But of course you can buy 200chicks first.  Then you regularly feed them till they become big enough for marketing.  But, you need to make at least 8-10 inches by 12 inches compartments for every chicken with chicken wire floorings in a slant manner so that the chicken manure will not remain on the chicken floorings.  I mentioned "in a slanting manner" so that when it;s time for the chicken to produce eggs, the eggs will simply slid towards you and it will be easier for your to collect the eggs under the long feeding container. BTW, the 2 long horizontal  lines are the feeding structure. Then the posts under the cage should be at least 18 inches above the ground to prevent your chickens from any diseases especially during the rainy season. See to it that you mix some vitamins to the chicken feed for them to grow healthy.  If you will make money out of the chicken meat, be sure to replace them first, 3 weeks before you sell the chicken. So that you will not run out of chickens for sale.  

If you  will stay in a country with hurricane and snow, be sure to construct this concrete cages in concrete barn with heater so that the condition of your chickens will not be affected.  Also expect for mortality rate that might happen in the process and be sure to replace them, too.

Don't forget to dig at least 8 feet deep so that you can throw the chicken manure there.  But dig 5 meter away from your house and barn so that you and the chickens won't get any diseases out of those manure. You can dry those manure during summer to serve as fertilizers for the plants and trees around you.  Also, you can make a garden to grow some fruit bearing trees and vegetables which yuou can sell also.

Hope you have a nice day and I am looking forward to hear about the result of your such good plan. Good luck and GOD BLESS THE CHILD.

Sorry, I need to work on the structure tomorrow for it';s time for me to go home now. Take care.

Answer 7

Hey Caleb I got to say chickens are pretty easy all they really need is shelter, food, water, protection from predators and somewhere to strech there legs. If you are a reader you can find information on all these things in books like  "Raising Chickens For Profit" and others. Personaly I recomend raising egglayer's they are much better to start out with because 1. You don't have to worry about trancporting them to the butcher. 2.You don't have two worry about buying freazers to keep the dead chickens in. 3. Meat birds are much harder two bread and raise because they are meant too be eaten, not lay eggs so you will end up having two buy more chicken's every time you butcher the old ones. Plus the cost of feeding and compeating with the big companies out those figures aren't realy adding up to good. But with egg layers you can get yourself a couple of chickens,(either from a catelog or a local farmer) try selling the eggs, test out your market, see how they go. I know up were I live people can make a really good profit off of selling there organic farm fresh eggs! But it could be diferent in your area. If they don't turn out so good. Well at least you don't have to worry about buying eggs or chicken for awhile. Another thing DON"T worry about getting some huge shelter at first just as long as you have room two get in and they have enough nesting boxes, a few perches and a place for there food and water they'll be fine. Oh and if  you free range them you don't have two pay as much money for feed, just make sure they all get into the coop every night. And PLEASE READ UP ON THIS befor you get them! there are all kinds of books out there at you're disposal. One more thing for chicks you don't realy need any thing fancy we kept ours in a large dog kennel (our friends use an old wood box) with a heat lamp, some saw dust on the bottem, a plate with food on it and a little chicken waterer. Best of luck to you hope you are sucsessful :D

Answer 8

no you can't because there areany laws and regulations

you could raise them for yourself but would need quite some learning first go work on a chicken farm first buy some cows

or a ride on lawn mower and make money

Answer 9

www.Ovabid.com is a good site to buy & sell if you live in the usa....

Answer 10

I would start with 25 rock cornish cross fryers raised for meat and 25 laying hens. you will buy both as day old chicks so you will need brooder facilities for 3 to 4 weeks. you will need feed for the two. The meat birds and layers will require different kinds of feed. you will need land and housing. Again the meat birds and layers will need separate housing. the housing needs to keep predators out (raccoons, dogs, owls, weasles, fox, etc..) keep the birds warm and dry. you will need feeders and waterers. You will need either fencing (if you are pasturing) or cages. Eventually the layers will need egg cartons

It will take the layers around 14 to 16 weeks to start laying and they will not being laying full tilt for another 6 months.

It will take the meat birds 6 to 10 weeks to grow to table size. you will need to either find a slaughter house or do it yourself. if you do the killing/processing yourself you will drastically limit how and where you can sell the birds. Finding a state inspected or USDA inspected facility is ideal.

You can sell the meat and eggs direct to friends of your parents, teachers at the local farmers market.

Answer 11

Raising chickens for meat and eggs can be a lot of fun  and profitable as well.  $500 is plenty to get you started on a small scale.  With your first profits you can expand as much as you want to.  You can have fryers ready to sell in about 6 weeks.  Your layers won't start laying for about 6 months and won't come into good production for about 8 months.  You can have a good business going with your meat chickens before you have eggs for sale.  This site has some good information that will help you get started.  Using your County Extension Agent is a good ideal as well, if you are in the US.

Answer 12

First, I think I've heard something like that.

Maybe at Harvest Moon game, isn't it?

Well, if it's true, this is my answer:

Make sure you have already one chicken (or one egg, maybe), and grow it until become it adult and can lay eggs. After it, Don't sell the eggs, but grow it to be chickens. And after some weeks or months, they will lay very much eggs. Sell it! And you get the results.

Sorry if I false!

Answer 13

HI

If You really want to do this of course it's up to You

I would ask You to view this vid and see what happens when the well being of the chicken isn't considered

As it has already been pointed out to you sunshine is far cheaper than electricity

Peace of mind is priceless Too

Good Luck