In this article, you will learn how to easily turn your chickens into an income stream.
You’ve probably heard a lot about people making money from their chickens lately. That’s because the idea has been gaining momentum for some time now, catching on in cities across the country. Before you dismiss it as just another trend, you should know that it is within reach of many homesteaders and backyard chicken keepers alike!
We’ll teach you how to earn an income from your backyard chickens today. And if you want to learn more about what that actually entails, just keep reading!
In This Article
- Why You Should Care About Chickens
- Ornamental Chicken Breeding
- Commercial Chicken Breeding
- How Do You Start Raising Chickens For Profit?
- 1. Chicken Breeding
- 2. Chicken Purchasing
- The Benefits of Raising Chickens
- Heritage Chickens
- Raising Chickens for Meat
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Where Can I Buy Baby Chickens?
- How Large Are Baby Chickens?
- How Long Do Baby Chickens Live?
- How Much Do Baby Chickens Cost?
- Conclusion:
Why You Should Care About Chickens
You’ve probably heard a lot about people making money from their chickens lately. That’s because the idea has been gaining momentum for some time now, catching on in cities across the country. Before you dismiss it as just another trend, you should know that it is within reach of many homesteaders and backyard chicken keepers alike!
We’ll teach you how to earn an income from your backyard chickens today, like so many others, some that have made over $1000 a month. And if you want to learn more about what that actually entails, just keep reading!
Ornamental Chicken Breeding
If you’re looking to start off with having chickens to create some passive income, then you’ve come to the right place. We recommend that you start with ornamental chicken breeding . It’s a great way to make money from your chickens!
There are lots of ways that people can use their chickens for profit. Some people sell their eggs and hatch their chicks while others sell broilers and eggs. Still others start and finish birds on their own and sell them directly to those who wish to harvest them for meat.
Once you’ve gotten comfortable with the basics of commercial chicken keeping, you can also put the birds to work for income. There are several different uses for your chickens that makes them extremely useful.
Commercial Chicken Breeding
These days, all kinds of people are using chickens in business as a way to make lots of money. You have farmers who want to keep a cushion when their prices are low.
Or you have homesteaders who want to make money from chickens and then use those profits to buy more animals or luxuries. And then you have the people who just want to make a little extra cash from their backyard chickens, and they aren’t interested in expanding their operation.
How Do You Start Raising Chickens For Profit?
You have two choices when it comes to starting your own chicken breeding endeavor: you can either purchase or breed your birds. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you’ll want to weigh your choices carefully.
1. Chicken Breeding
Breeding your own chickens is far from a simple task. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and effort to breed chickens well. But it can be interesting if you’re doing it for hobby reasons.
On the other hand, if you want to make money from chicken breeding then you definitely need to purchase your birds from reputable breeders.
If they don’t take care of their stock properly then they could be bringing in all kinds of diseases that can hurt or even ruin the bird’s health! And that’s just not going to help anyone.
And don’t worry about the cost of your birds. It really depends on what kind of bird you’re getting and what your goals are. If you just want a few eggs for your kitchen, then it might be worth it to get a cheap egg-laying breed.
But if you want to raise chicks for sale or to eventually have meat, then you’re going to want to spend a little bit more money upfront if you want good health and high-quality birds.
2. Chicken Purchasing
Instead of purchasing or breeding your own chickens, you can always get animals from breeders. If you’re interested in the industry, there’s a good chance that there are local suppliers that could hook you up with everything you need.
But if you want to be successful and make money from raising chickens, then it’s probably not in your best interest to let someone else do all the work for you.
The Benefits of Raising Chickens
One thing to consider when deciding whether or not to invest in raising chickens is whether or not a local family is going to use your food if they get sick. Chickens give us protein that’s pretty high incomplete proteins, and they’re small enough to eat regularly.
They can also be stored for a long time while keeping them fresh until the end of their shelf life. And because they’re raised close by, you and the entire family can enjoy their eggs often!
Heritage Chickens
When you decide to raise chickens for money, there are lots of different breeds out there. You can choose from the egg-laying breeds like the Silkie, to the meat-type breeds that produce a lot of eggs and meat. You can even find hybrid birds that have traits from both!
And you don’t just have to stick with a standard breed. There are lots of rare heritage chickens out there that can be fun to own. It’s a great way to expand your collection, even if they aren’t very good producers.
Each fertilized egg can sell for about $4.
Raising Chickens for Meat
Meat chicken breeds are pretty popular at the moment and for good reason! They produce meat fairly quickly and there’s plenty to go around when you raise them correctly.
While the meat isn’t the best quality in terms of tenderness and taste, you’re getting high-quality protein with every bite. Just make sure that the meat is at least 8 months old.
When you’re raising chickens for meat, it’s important that you know the difference between a chicken and a rooster. Roosters are aggressive and loud, while hens give us eggs. Plus, roosters don’t eat much so they aren’t very useful in the kitchen.
Meat chicken breeds include chickens like Cornish Rock Crosses which produce up to 9 pounds of meat every eight weeks! A popular cross breed is the DeKalb, which is popular because of its fast growth period and easy care requirements.
Sometimes you’ll see Blue Andalusian being raised as well due to their great flavor and higher meat yield compared to other chicken breeds.
Each chicken sells for about $5 a pound, so typically $25-50.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Buy Baby Chickens?
You should likely avoid buying them online due to the risk. Its best if you raise them yourself from scratch or buy them locally from a reputable farmer.
How Large Are Baby Chickens?
Depending on the breed, baby chickens will start out small. Some of them can even be adult size when they’re just a few weeks old!
How Long Do Baby Chickens Live?
Baby chickens can survive for a few weeks, but only if they have plenty of nutrition and care. Otherwise it’s normal to see your chickens only living for a month or two.
However, if you raise them correctly then they can live up to two years in the wild, but normally around 14-18 months in captivity.
How Much Do Baby Chickens Cost?
Mostly this will depend on which breed you’re looking to buy. Older hens will produce eggs over their lifespan and might not require as much running around during the day.
Baby chicks cost about $5-10.
Conclusion:
Raising chickens for eggs can be a fun way to get some fresh, healthy food for your family. But it’s important to know that you’re also producing an animal when you’re raising chickens for money as well!
Make sure you stay focused on the task at hand and treat your hens with the proper care they deserve. Some say it can take up to 15 chickens to be profitable, but I say start small and build your way up.
It’s also important that you keep in mind how many chickens you want to produce for yourself and others. If you want to be successful, then it might be worth it to invest in a local coop that can provide an interesting social experience.
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What a great blog! Not only for farmers but also for those who raise their food. I learned a lot more than I anticipated, such as taking care of my chickens better for me and my family’s food and extra income.