Chickens are wonderful animals. They are like the coconut. You see, the coconut can be used in many ways- from the

leaves to the roots.

In more ways than one, chickens are bred and raised because it entails a lot of benefits.

In Asian countries, chickens can be eaten from beak down to its funny-looking feet. Thus, making it one of the sought

after poultry products in the animal community.

Yet, chickens aren’t used only for food but for ornamental purposes.

It all depends on the owner of the poultry farm if he’s going to raise chickens for food or for exhibition.

Whatever the purpose is for these critters, you can settle on one simple question…what breed should you get?

There are actually four ideas to consider when choosing a breed – egg production only, eggs and meat combined, exhibition, and meat only.

Aside from these four, people also account chickens as a hobby and they very well enjoy watching and caring for their chickens.

Egg Production

If you are concerned with only the eggs and are not really a fan of chicken form and features, white leghorns or Red Sex Links and Golden Cornets

fits the job. These breeds lay eggs in a very excellent way. There is a point to ponder upon though, if you wanted white eggs, choose a chicken breed

that have ear lobes that are white. But if you wanted brown eggs, choose a chicken breed that has red ear lobes.

Meat

In meat, you have to purchase a breed that grows quickly and weighs big like the Cornish Cross. It is a cross breed between a White Cornish

and a White Plymouth Rock. These breeds weigh four to five pounds in six weeks and weighs more than 6 pounds within 8 to 12 weeks.

Eggs and Meat

Breeds that are dual purpose is a combination of a breed that is both having the talent of vast egg production and grows larger and faster

than the rest of the species. One typical and popular example is the Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes and Sussex. They are both English and American breeds.

Exhibition

These are the kind of birds that are appreciated for their eloquent beauty and features. Every part of their feather-covered body

must be exceptional. Usually those that are chosen to wind up in exhibition during fairs are those that are crossbred. Exhibitions

shows for poultry raising are most popular in places like the Midwest and Indiana.

Usually, chickens are judged based on their color, breed type that’s supposed to be ideal, their body weight and shape, etc.

Bantams are one of the chicken types that outnumbered larger fowls during shows. They have a characteristic that a judge would

adore – takes less space, easier to feed, eat less, and easy to handle. Their eggs are also expected to be small but are pretty

much good for eating like other ordinary eggs. Some of the popular breeds of bantams are the Wyandottes, Cochins, Old English Game

and Plymouth Rocks. These bantam breeds can most likely win in exhibitions.

Bantams are not the only birds that can have the right to the throne. Larger fowl breeds also hog the limelight. Some of these breeds

are the leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and Black Australorps. These breeds vary in their type, size, color, comb type and shape.

The brooding place is ready. All things are set. All you need are the chicks. Upon anticipating the day of their arrival,

you must get yourself ready otherwise things will go out of hand. Here’s what to do when the chicks arrive. This will be

very helpful to get your way through raising your own chickens.

Tip 1

If the chicks arrived from elsewhere, you have to examine them very well. They must arrive in a condition that is nowhere

near

“diseased”. If you noticed that the babies arrived in poor condition, you could let the postal employee inspect the shipment

again.

It is required that the employee certify the shipment arrive in good condition. Advise the proper authorities on what the

problems

are regarding the shipment for immediate action.

Tip 2

Before putting the babies inside, the brooder must have its proper temperature which is at least 90 degrees. Make sure the

area is warm

and maintain this for a week. You can reduce the temperature for 5 degrees every week that goes on for the first five weeks.

After the first

five weeks, the poultry will no longer require the heat supplemented. You have to keep in mind that there should be enough

space where the

chicks can move so that they can move freely either to or from the source of heat. This will be advisable especially during

extreme temperatures.

Tip 3

Fill the fountains with fresh clean water with an additional half cup of sugar for every gallon filled. This will help boost

the babies’ energy.

It is not recommended to add any chemicals regardless of what advertisements tell you.

Tip 4

Mix fine grit with a ratio of 1:10. Fill the lids with feeds that will not be more than a quarter-inch. Then add the fine grit

mixture then sprinkle

a very generous amount of mixture or feed on top of the material that covers the litter.

Tip 5

Poultry, however angle you look at it, can be the source of thousands of microorganisms which are potentially harmful. With this,

you have to be very careful and certain precautions must be followed. Proper handling must be practiced. This can prevent the spread

of different kinds of oral or fecal transmission from fowl to person to person. Adults should provide proper guidance to their young

ones about how to properly handle their poultry. Avoid bringing any poultry within the vicinity of your family space. Wash your hands

and any part of your body that came in contact with the babies with water and a trustworthy soap.

Tip 6

For starters, upon removal from the box, dip the animal’s beak into the water mixture to familiarize them where their feedings come

from. Do the transferring one chick at a time. Be sure that the brooder is already warm enough for the baby to be placed.

Tip 7

Observe the babies for a couple of hours after transferring. This will help you identify the environment they are in. Is it sufficient

or are there needs lacking? Is their activities relatively equated to the heat? Changes can be observed just by looking at their behavior.

If they crowd over the brooding area, it means that heat is not that warm. If they disperse from the heat and go in areas that aren’t

covered by the warmth, it only means that the heat is too much for them.

If you are already convinced and with the comfortable situation, you can now breath easily with raising your chickens in your backyard.