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C H U C K S C H U S T E R
U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y L A N D E X T E N S I O N
C E N T R A L M A R Y L A N D C L U S T E R
C F S @ U M D . E D U
Production BasicsHow Do I Raise Poultry for
Eggs and Meats?
Getting Started
Checkthelawsandzoningregulationswhereyoulive.
Notallincorporatedtownswillallowpoultryproduction.
Makefriendswithyourneighbors,letthemknowyourplansbeforeyoustart.
WhyRaiseChickens?
EggsMeatProductionTohavesomechickens…lifestyle.
Selecting the Right Variety
Ahenwillproduceeggswithorwithoutarooster.
Eggscaneitherbeeatenoriffertile,incubatedtoproduceabirdtoberaisedformeatproductionorreplacementlayers.
Selecting the Right Variety
Notallbreedsarethesame.Thebestlayersdonotmakethebestmeatbirds.Otherspeakerstodaywilldiscussthebreedcharacteristics.
Purpose
Egg Production?Thesearegenerallylighterbreedsselectivelybredfortheirabilitytoproduceahighnumbersofeggsovertheirlifetime.Rememberthatlayinghensrarelystartlayinguntiltheyarearound6monthsold.Planyourproductioncyclearoundthispoint.
Purpose
•MeatBirds?• Doyouplanonraisingchickensjustlongenoughtogetthemtobutcheringsizeandthennothavetoworryaboutfeedandhousingfortherestoftheyear?
–
Purpose ?
•MeatBirds?• Meatbreedstendtobeheavierthaneggproducingbreeds.Theygenerallygrowbiggerandfaster,andtendtoconvertfeedintomuscle(meat)moreefficiently.
• Somemeatvarietiescanreachslaughtersizeinaslittleas8weeks.
Purpose?
• ACombinationofBoth?– Areyoulookingtohaveaflockofallpurposeeggandmeatproducers?
– Therearemanyvarietiesofchickensthathavebeenbredtodoboth.
– Dualpurposebreedsproduceareasonableamountofeggs,whileutilizingfeedtoproducemeatwellenoughtoproduceagoodmeatbird.
Purpose?
• ACombinationofBoth?–Dualpurposebreedsmayrequirealittlemoretimetogettoreachbutcheringsize(12‐16weeks),butforindividualswhowantstoraisebirdsfortheirownuse‐ thesebreedsaremakeagoodchoice.
Purpose?
ALifestyleFlock?Areyoulookingforjustafewnicelookingbirdssoyoucansayyouhavechickensthatarereallyjustpets?(eatStinkBugs)(there'snothingwrongwiththat...).
Therearemanybreedsofchickensthathavebeendevelopedsimplybecauseoftheirappearance,size,(bantams)andpersonality.
Therearemanybeautifulvarieties.
ProductionBasics
Willyouletyourchickensroamyourfields,orwillyoukeepthemconfinedinacoopand/orrun?Acombinationofbothisoftenusedinsmallflocks.
Production Basics
Yourspacelimitationsmaydeterminetheanswertothisquestion.Ifyouliveinanurbanorsuburbansetting,youprobablywanttokeepthebirdsconfined‐ withafencedrunoutsidetheircoopforfreshairandsunshine.
Housing
Housingforchickenscanbeextremelysimple.
Thefundamentalrequirementsarethatthebirdsbeprotectedfromthewindorheavydrafts;andthattheybecompletelydry.
Chickenshaveastronginstincttoroost;sowillbemorecontentiffurnishedwithsomestructureonwhichtoroost.
Free Range, Confined or a Combination?
Many home flocks are designed to allow the chickens to be on the ground.
This can fit in with vegetable production to help control grubs and small insects in the soil
To eat weeds and weed seed.
Roost
Different Housing Styles
Purpose
Theintendedpurposeofyourflockhelpsdeterminemanyaspectsofyourproductionbasics.
Poultryhousingprotectsthebirdsfromtheelements(weather),predators,injuryandtheft.
Layerswouldrequireyearroundenclosures. Broilersmaynotrequireyearroundenclosures‐dependentonthetimeofyearyouwishtoberaisingthebirds.
ChickensNeedSpace
Spacerequirementsvaryaccordingtothetypeandageofthebirds.
Smallbreedvarieties(Bantams)willneed2‐3squarefeetofspace
Layersandlargerbreedsmayrequirefrom3to5squarefeetperbird.
Overcrowdingleadstomanyproblems.
ChickensNeedSpace
Spaceforresting,feeding,wateringandmovement.
Protectionandescapefromtheweatherandfrompredators.
Adequateventilationtoavoidmoisturebuildupandstaleair.
ProtectionAgainstPredators
If the flock has constant access to the outside, they will do fine with less space in their "sleeping quarters" inside.
Ifthechickenshelteristightanddry,itisnotnecessarytoprovideartificialheat;anditcouldbedetrimentaltodoso.
Chickensareverycoldtolerant.
Designyourhousingwithpredatorprotection(especiallyatnight)inmind.Butdon'tanticipatethreatslikedogs,raccoons,andfoxesonly‐ aleastweaselcangetthroughanyopeninglargeenoughforarat!
½inchhardwareclothworksverywell. Planahead,itiseasierthanhavingtopurchasereplacements.
Be sure to provide sufficient nest boxes (one for each seven to nine hens) positioned above floor level; keep them lined with plenty of clean straw; and collect eggs frequently.
These measures help keep the eggs clean and unbroken, and reduce the likelihood of egg eating, a bad habit which - once established - is difficult to break.
ManyhealthproblemscanbeavoidedbyfollowingthefollowingfivestepsPurchasehealthybirdsfromhealthyflocks.Keepcoopsclean.Providecleanfoodandwater.Cleanequipmentthatholdsfoodandwaterregularly.
Removewetordampbedding.Keepvaccinationsuptodate.
Startwithacleananddisinfectedbroodinghouseorcoop,andallequipment.
GettingStarted
Whenyoufirstgetyourchicks,besuretoofferthemfivethingsrightaway:warmthofabout100degreessuitablefloorcoveringcool,freshwaterfoodprotectionfrompredatorsMoreisdiscussedonthistopiclatertoday.
GettingStarted
Measurethetemperatureinsidetheirenclosureattheir shoulderlevel.
Iftheyregularlyhuddletogether,theyarenotwarmenough.
Lighting
Layersproducemoreeggsasthedaylengthincreases.
Electriclightingcanbeusedtoprovideadditionallighttokeeplayerproductionup.
Hensprefer15hoursoflightperday. One40wattbulbcansupplyenoughlighttokeepupto100birds
Remember‐ Pulletswillnotstarttoproduceeggsuntilabout22weeksold.Ahenwillproduceabout260eggsinayear,thatworksouttooneeggevery34hours.Haveenoughhenstoprovideforyourneedsineggs,eitherforyourconsumptionorforanticipatedsales.
Ifyoustartwithday‐oldstock,youmustbepreparedforyourbabychicks.
Setupanenclosedbrooderwhichisfreefromdraftsandprotectedfromrodents,cats,etc.;andwhichcontainsanabsorbentlittersuchaswoodshavingsandasourceofheatsuchasa250‐wattlamportwo.
Thewaterershouldbedesignedsothatthechickscannotwadeintoitandgetwet.
Temperatureshouldbemaintainedsothatthechicksareneitherhuddlingundertheheatsource,norhuddlinginacornerasfaraspossiblefromtheheat.
Iftheyaremovingaroundthebrooder,alliswell.
Frequentmonitoringofthebrooderisthekeytosuccess.
Ofcourse,ifyouhaveamotherhenwhoisraisingyournewchicks,youdon'thavetoworryaboutanyofthis.Whenitcomestoraisingbabychickens,amotherhenisalotsmarterthanyou.
As the chicks grow, they will develop a greater ability to deal with the temperature.
The brooder guard may be moved to provide additional room, and eventually removed altogether.
Providing a draft free initially is extremely important in the beginning.
As the chicks grow, air flow to prevent moisture buildup is equally as important.
Damp bedding will lead to air quality problems.
