Tips for starting a Hatchery

[KendallMetz]

Sorry if this isn’t in the right place, I didn’t know which category would be the most useful with reply’s and etc...Anyways, I recently acquired some money in the form of a grant to start my own small Hatchery. I already have chickens but this would be starting from the ground up. I have what breeds I would like to start with (Silkies, Orpingtons and Delaware’s) but I would like some expert advice. What were your biggest struggles? What Incubator did you use? Do you have to have show quality breeding stock (I would never advertise my chicks as such and people in my area seem to not want show birds but just pretty backyard chickens)? And how much money did you, on average, spend? Thanks in advance!

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I don't have a hatchery, but as what incubator I use my own hens to hatch out chicks. I think you do have to prove that no chicken has any diseases. That would probably include testing all chickens. You might be able to email a hatchery and ask them some questions. I would like to start a hatchery someday, myself.
Good luck with your hatchery.

 

[aart]

'Starting a hatchery'...and 'selling chicks' are a quite different endeavors.
Do you plan on shipping large quantities of chicks?
Or just selling some chicks locally?

This search might help you get started on your research.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...ing+chicks&t=post&o=relevance&c[title_only]=1

 

[KendallMetz]

Just locally