Raising domestic birds is a practical and interesting hobby.
Ducks, chickens and turkeys can all provide a source of meat and eggs that is independent of the commercial food system. If you are interested in self-sufficiency, or in saving money, raising birds can help you to accomplish your goals. If possible, find an experienced neighbor who can answer the many questions you will have as you learn the tricks of raising your own poultry. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Provide chicks with plenty of water and a warm incubation spot. Small chicks are particularly susceptible to drafts, and may become sick or die if you don't provide enough heat. At the same time, you can't overheat them either. Chicks should always have access to clean and plentiful water.
2. Protect ducks, chickens and turkeys from predators. Raccoons, weasels, foxes and coyotes will all happily feast on domestic fowl if you let them. Nighttime is the most dangerous time for predators. Keep all of your birds closed inside a secure coop during hours of darkness. Be sure there are no small holes between boards or in the floor that a weasel could squeeze through.
3. Allow your birds to roam freely during the day. This is important to keep them healthy and contented. You can gauge how healthy and happy your birds are by the quality of their eggs. Eggs that come from healthy birds have firm, deep orange yolks. If the yolks are weak and pale yellow, like the yolks of commercial eggs, your birds may be lacking something.
4. Feed your birds a mixture of commercial feed and table and garden scraps. The commercial feed will ensure that the birds are receiving all the minerals that they need, while the scraps will give them variety in their diet. Chickens in particular are not fussy eaters, and thrive on table scraps, garden cuttings, and insects that they find on the ground. Allowing your birds into the garden after your seedlings have grown large and hardy will give them a chance to eat slugs and parasites and make both your garden and your birds healthier.
5. Situate your poultry coop in a place that won't get too hot in the summer. If possible, place it in the shade of a large deciduous tree. A deciduous tree will drop its leaves in the winter and let the winter sun through, helping to keep the coop cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Be sure the coop is big enough that the birds aren't crowded when they are in for the night.
6. Protect your birds from parasites by giving them plenty of space and cleaning their coop regularly. Chickens like to have dust baths, which helps to keep mites under control. Don't keep turkeys in close quarters with chickens and ducks, as they are susceptible to diseases that they can get from the other birds if the germs for the diseases are present.
7. Make provisions for the needs of each type of bird that you have. For example, turkeys need bigger roosts and nesting boxes because of their larger size, and ducks enjoy having a small pond that they can swim on, something that chickens and turkeys don't do.
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