Help...Considering an amazing chicken opportunity...need advice

[JROOSTER]

I would think long and hard. You are going from a hobbie hen house to the BIG time real Hen house with lots of work and overhead. I would get some kind of contract or something. Lots of things can go wrong and if you dont have something that says the chickens are yours and your just renting from the farmer. it could get ugly. Whatever you do have fun and when the fun stops its time to move on.

 

[crosbygroup]

I think I would keep my backyard girls safe in the yard at home. I would not want to mix up the flocks and I would miss having my girls just outside my door. I also think it would be exciting to raise the 25 new birds on the property that adjoins yours. I would check around and see if there is a market for their eggs. I'd hate to have to eat 25 extra eggs a day.

 

[BarkerChickens]

We started with 6 hen and then added more. We now have 28 hens and 2 roosters and the 6 hens joined the flock (very unhappy about it at first...especially re: the roosters!). All is well. But, if each chicken gets hurt or injured just once every two years, I have an injured or sick chicken about every 3-4 weeks. So, in that sense it is more work. More cleaning, but aside from that...it is much more difficult. My 3 dogs are more expensive and time consuming than my chickens. If you can sell eggs (or possibly eat that many), then I say go for it!!

 

[FlashPointFarm]

How's the weather where you are? Are you going to have to tromp through snow, or depend on your neighbor to clear a path to the barn in the Winter?

I'd be hesitant, since you don't own the land.

Also, if you aren't sure you can sell several dozen a week, you really don't need to fill the coop to capacity.

If you do decide to go for it, maybe the land owner has some contacts for you to sell eggs to?

I also think it's a great idea to start with a mixed flock. That way you will get to know the breeds on your own and pick your favorites for future replacements.