If you’ve ever thought about starting your own chicken farm, then there’s a chance that you’ve done the very first thing that would come to mind: go to a grocer’s and ask who supplied them with chicken meat and chicken eggs.
This will probably lead you to a hatchery (or a livestock farmer), but half the time, these guys aren’t what you’d call the best chicken breeders in the world.
A hatchery owner can, however, direct you to a breeder within your area. If you’re out to raise chickens on your own, this would be the best course of action for you.
A breeder coming from the same location as you are will know how to take care of his chickens. There’s also an added bonus of him having exactly the type of breeds that will have an easy time surviving in your region. So finding an expert breeder near you will be one of the best ways to start your backyard poultry farm.
But how will you know what to ask the breeder once you get there? Will you have to do a bit of research, or will you know what you’re looking for once you’re there?
There are plenty of benefits one can get from either courses of action. Doing a bit of research beforehand will not only help you fine-tune what you’re looking for, it will also prepare you for all the problems that you might eventually face with the breed you have selected.
One thing you have to remember when asking your chicken breeder questions is that what you may have researched isn’t exactly the most accurate of information.
Remember, these guys have been breeding chickens on their own for a long time – it would be safe to say that they know their chickens inside and out. If they say something that goes against what you may have learned while gathering information, you’ll do good to take their advice.
The thing about going straight to a breeder without any prior information is that this is one of the best ways you can learn about chickens.
Depending on the person your breeder of choice is, he will be more than happy to tell you everything you wish to know about his – and subsequently, your – birds.
The more conversation you have, the better you’ll get to know the breeder. And if you make friends with the man who helped you start your chicken breeding, you can bet that he’ll be around even when you’ve become his colleague.
Granted, this can also happen when you do your research, but you’re less likely to spout what you know when you go in cold. It all depends on how you want to approach this exciting new chapter in your domestic life.
Chad B. is an is all about backyard chicken care and has been involved in raising chickens since he was little boy back in 1986. Find out more about finding a chicken breeder and discover the popular free 10-lesson chicken raising mini-course by visiting Chad’s site Raising chicken secrets.com
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