Backyard chicken flocks for meat or egg production are agrowing trend among rural, suburban and even urban dwellers, said a expert.
But Craig Coufal, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension poultry specialist and associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Poultry Science at Texas A&M University said increasing numbers of consumers want to know the source of their food. Producing eggs and poultry at home is part of that movement.
But there are a number of considerations for backyard poultry beginners before they start a flock, he said.
There is a range of informational resources available toprospective and established backyard poultry producers, Coufal said.
AgriLife Extension and the Departmentof Poultry Science have a wide array of informationregarding small poultry production operations and backyardflocks, including publications, webinars and a contact list of experts.
Backyard poultry production expectations
Investing in a barnyard flock is an upfront and ongoingexpense. So, owners should consider what their expectations for the flock willbe.
Is it for the satisfaction of producing your own eggs and/ormeat? Is it to make a profit or reduce the food bill?
“I will tell you now that it’s cheaper to go to the grocerystore and buy eggs,” Coufal said. “But there is something about havinghomegrown eggs. It’s like producing your own vegetables, and I understand that.But it takes commitment and work to produce meat and eggs on a break-even scalemuch less turn a profit. But it can be done.”
Good nutritious feed helps egg-producing hens “build” theireggs, Coufal said. Even free-range chickens should be provided supplementalfeed if producers want to maximize egg production.
“A young egg-producing breed should be producing an egg aday at around twenty-five weeks,” Coufal said. “That tapers off as they getolder, but you will maximize production if you provide the right amount ofprotein, nutrients and vitamins to their diet and help the hen build her egg.”
Chickens can live for many years, but their egg productionwill reduce as they age. So maximum egg production, and thus reduced cost, isachieved with younger hens.
If the backyard flock is producing for commercial sale,owners should know the applicable rules and regulations governing theoperation, he said. Backyard producers in urban or suburban areas should alsolook at applicable regulations regarding chicken numbers and noise and odorabatement before investing time and money.
“Backyard flocks have grown in popularity over the lastseveral years,” Coufal said. “It’s fun and satisfying work, but there is a lotmore to it than just buying some chicks and collecting eggs.”
Chicks for a backyard flock
Coufal said it’s important for backyard flocks to includebirds from reputable sources. This reduces the chance of buying incorrect sexesdepending on production desires and birds that could be carrying diseasewithout showing any symptoms.
Look for National Poultry Improvement Plan, NPIP, certifiedhatcheries, Coufal said. Many reputable poultry producers can be found onlineand will deliver vaccinated chicks.
When purchasing ask for documentation regarding diseasetesting for diseases like Pullorum-Typhoid, Coufal said. Buying from certifiedgrowers also reduces the possibility of exposing an existing flock to a diseasewhen new birds are introduced.
Poultry housing preparations
Planning before means preparation for all possibilitiesincluding manure management/disposal; dead bird disposal, predator control andhousing designed to keep birds safe and comfortable through weather extremes,he said.
Backyard growers need to provide good shelter, fresh waterand nutritious feed for their flock.
A chicken coop can be a simple shelter but should be wellventilated and include protection from extreme weather, including rain andwinter cold and summer heat, Coufal said. It should be a sanitary space thatallows mobility and protects the flockfrom predators, like hawks, dogs, raccoons, and coyotes, at night.
Coops should be constructed of wire strong enough to preventraccoons from tearing. It is also a good idea to put wire underground, or pavestones,tile, brick or wire around the perimeter to prevent animals from digging underit.
If a solid material or the ground serves as the floor, then3-4 inches of clean litter such as wood shavings, rice hulls or builder’s sandshould be provided, he said. Mobile coops that can be moved periodically are agood way to reduce sanitation concerns.
Chicks need a proper brooding environment for the earlygrowth period, he said. This typically includes a separate smaller enclosedarea with wood shavings, ground corncobs or another good litter source toprotect the young birds and that maintains warmer temperatures until they are3-4 weeks old.
Layinghens need a place to nest and lay eggs. A nest box should be 12-inch by12-inch by 14-inch and contain hay or shavings suitable for nesting material.
Always make sure to provide clean water, Coufal said.
Eggs, meat or both?
Coufal said selecting chicken breeds would be a matter ofpreference and performance expectations.
There are literally hundreds of breeds and varieties tochoose from. The best producing egg layers are white or brown Leghorn strains. Themore popular heritage breeds that will lay brown eggs include Production Reds;Barred Plymouth Rocks; Rhode Island Reds; Silver Laced Wyandottes and NewHampshire Reds.
Dual-purpose breeds for both meat and egg production includeBuff Orpingtons; Black Australorps; Dark Cornish; Cochins and Delawares. Breedsstrictly for meat production are referred to as broilers and are often called aCornish Cross. They are usually white-feathered but are also available in otherfeather colors.
“Like Angus and Jersey cows, which are bred for meat andmilk, respectively, poultry are bred with characteristics that make them betterfor egg or meat production. There are also species bred for their looks thatmay not be the best for egg or meat production. It comes down to what thegrower wants out of their flock.”
Disease management
Coufal said environmental controls to prevent the spread ofdisease is vital to backyard flocks.
“It’s to prevent introduction of a viral disease that willaffect your flock’s health,” he said. “I have a pair of rubber boots I usespecifically for checking my birds. This reduces the chances of me bringingsomething into my flock or transferring something my flock is immune to intosomeone else’s birds.”
Here are some tips to reduce disease transmissions:
- Clean up spilled feed to reduce attracting wildbirds and rodents, which can carry diseases.
- Minimize birds’ contact with manure, which is asource of bacteria.
- Keep habitat improvements and attractants,including feeders, houses and baths for wild birds, and waterfowl ponds awayfrom areas frequented by the flock.
- New birds should be quarantined for at least sixweeks before they are introduced to the existing flock.
“New birds should be kept as far away from the flock aspossible,” he said. “Monitor the new birds for disease symptoms, especiallyrespiratory issues. Always handle sick or quarantined birds after the otherbirds and wash your hands thoroughly as well as change or disinfect yourboots.”
Coufal also doesn’t recommend co-mingling birds ofsignificantly different ages. Olderbirds can be aggressive toward younger birds that might result in harm to theyounger birds.
Vaccinating your flock
Birds should be vaccinated for Marek’s disease, Newcastledisease and fowl pox, Coufal said. Many certified breeders will vaccinatechicks for Marek’s and Newcastle. But birds should be vaccinated for fowl poxat five weeks old.
“Vaccinations are necessary and go a long way for reducingproblems in your flock,” he said. “Most vaccinations are a one-time thingunless you want to give your birds a booster. They just reduce the risk of avirus that a wild bird or a bug or you might introduce to them.”
Safe handling and salmonella
Coufal also warned that backyard producers should be mindfulabout biosecurity measures to prevent exposure to salmonellafrom birds. Basic hygiene like handwashing and changing clothes after handlingbirds and eggs greatly reduces the chance of infection.
Salmonella occurs naturally on poultry, he said. Birds arecarriers but don’t show signs of the bacteria.
Children are especially susceptible because of theirtendency to pet and hold birds and then directly infect themselves by puttingtheir fingers in their mouths, Coufal said.
“It is very rare that viral diseases from chickens can passon to humans, but there are plenty of bacterial infections that birds cantransfer to humans,” he said. “It’s a matter of common-sense hygiene wheneveryou handle fresh eggs or tools used in and around the coop.”
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