Sometimes you may wonder whether or not you should raise chickens, especially when you see other people in your area raising chickens and making a profit.
As we mentioned earlier, raising chickens is indeed very profitable and can make you rich if you follow the right plan, love what you do and do everything perfectly and on time.
Here we take a closer look at why you should start keeping chickens, as well as some of the pros and cons of keeping them.
Should you keep chickens
Before you start, ask yourself, “Why should you start raising chickens?” You can start raising chickens for fresh meat and eggs and as a hobby.
You should raise chickens if you love them, have the space to raise them, have the time, and want to earn extra income with your other business or current job.
Don’t raise chickens if you don’t like them and don’t have time to take care of them. And before you start, you need to know the pros and cons of starting a livestock business. Let’s look at the pros and cons of raising chickens.
Benefits of raising chickens
These are the main advantages of raising chickens. The main benefits of keeping chickens include, but are not limited to the following.
- Great job and source of income.
- Fresh eggs and meat for your family.
- Since chickens are small in size, common farm work is easy to do if you love your birds, and one person can handle hundreds of chickens.
- Huge demand for chicken meat and eggs. Most people love chicken products.
- Good value for money on the market.
- Marketing is very simple.
- Ready-to-use feeds for chickens are available in the market. So you don’t have to cook their meals on a regular basis, whether you’re raising broilers or laying hens.
- There are different types of chicken breeds to choose from.
- Usually, chickens are friendly in nature and are adorable little animals.
- You can easily use your family work.
- You will receive high-quality natural fertilizers from chickens, which will increase crop yields. You can also use it for other purposes.
- You do not need a license to start a poultry business (in most areas).
- You can get a loan from a bank if you don’t have enough money to start a business.
- The chickens are very cute and fluffy. And if you love animals, raising chickens will give you great pleasure.
Disadvantages of raising chickens
Some of the disadvantages of raising chickens are listed below.
- Like all livestock industries, raising chickens is a complex process that requires hard and steady work. Some people also consider keeping the chickens dirty.
- In some areas, not all materials are available to open this business. For example, chickens, feed, equipment, etc.
- A specialized and experienced avian veterinarian is not available in some areas, or it may be difficult to find someone to help you.
- Some people also have difficulty marketing their products.
- Some people (your neighbor) may complain about the noise or the smell of the chickens.
- Chickens often have diseases and other health problems.
- Risk of infestation by predators (such as raptors, coyotes, dogs, foxes, etc.).
- Industrial chicken farming is quite expensive and requires a lot of investment. The first time, you need to invest a large sum of money.
So what do you think? Should you raise chickens? I hope you have decided on your plan and your goal. But if you’re still in a dilemma, consider the following.
Do you like chickens?
This is the first and most important question to ask. If you are sure that you like to be with chickens and like to take care of them, then you should raise chickens.
We recommend visiting some of the existing chicken farms in your area if you’ve never spent time with chickens before. Hope you enjoy them!
Do you have land?
On average broiler chicks need about 2-2.5 square feet of living space, and laying chicks need about 4-4.5 square feet of living space to keep them in permanence in the house.
You will need additional land if you plan to farm it in a free range system. So keep that in mind before planning to raise chickens.
Do you have enough time?
A small herd will require less time for care and maintenance. But for commercial production, you should consider working full time on your poultry farm.
However, chickens require less care time compared to other farm animals. But he does daily routine work. You should regularly check their diet, watering system, health status, etc.
You need to clean their house and equipment regularly. When breeding laying hens, it is necessary to collect eggs daily. So make sure you have time to do all of this regularly. It also takes time, even if everything on your farm is hard work.
Can you afford it?
You need money either to raise a few chickens or to raise a large number of chickens commercially. It will take money to build a house, buy chickens, food and supplies.
You have to constantly spend money on the project until your hens start laying eggs or until your chickens are ready to be sold. So determine whether you can afford the project or not, depending on the type and number of chickens you intend to raise.
Before deciding whether or not to keep chickens, carefully consider all the aspects described above. If you want to raise a few chickens to provide your family with fresh meat and eggs, you don’t have to worry.
But if you’re considering commercial production, consider all the major factors wisely. For example, chicken and feed availability in your area, medicines, marketing, investments, etc.
Try to find out how people profit from raising chickens in your area. Visit as many farms as possible to gain hands-on knowledge.
Besides, if you love animals and are ready to work hard, then you should raise chickens. Make a plan and follow it. We sincerely wish you success! God bless you!!
video
