The Newfarm Forums

[Cody Guhl]

Hi,

My name is Cody Guhl. I live in Iowa and am homeschooled. About three years ago, I started my chicken business. Now, I am running 100 broilers through every 2 months, delivering 30 dozen eggs to a grocery store every week, and looking into getting certified organic.

It all started when I was reading about chickens. I decided I wanted to get some. I talked to a friend of mine at the local farmers co-op, and he helped me order 25 baby chicks (for egg production).

I raised those, and had enough money to buy another 25 layers last year. I also started raising broilers last year. The first (and last years only) batch was of 30 broilers. I raised those, and was able to get the money I wanted out of them.

This year, I was able to afford a new chicken coop, and bought 100 broilers. All except 7 of those broilers died when they were 3 weeks old. That was kind of a major set-back, but 3 days later I had another 100 broilers. Right now, they are a few days from being butchered. I am selling them to my regular customers, and through 2 local grocery stores. In September I am going to order 175 new layers and another batch of 100 broilers (the last batch for this year).

[jason hull]

hey cody -

i'm from iowa as well. hope to have 15 acres by the end of the year or early next year. i also want some chickens, at least for egg production, maybe for meat.

where did you get your information, and do you come from a farm backround?

hope the new birds are doing well!

-jason.

[Cody Guhl]

Hi,

I got my information from the internet, from a neighbor who has had chickens for the last 45 years, and mostly from my local library. Need any information, just ask!

[Nikunj]

[David Love]

Hi Cody,
I am glad to hear about your chicken business. I was wondering if you have encountered any legal issues with respect to selling eggs and chickens? I used to sell eggs to folks at church, but I always wondered if there were any Department of Agriculture issues I might have been violating, and especially so if I thought about selling meat birds.
I hope success for your affairs and efforts.
David

[Cody Guhl]

Hi,

I have encountered no legal issues, but there is one thing you have to do for broilers to ensure this. When butchered they must be state inspected, especially when selling to grocery stores. This will keep you out of trouble.

nikunj patel, I will answer your question when I get time, seeing as this question can take a long time to answer.

Cody Guhl

[Cody Guhl]

About the legal issues:

I have not encountered any legal issues in my area (that is, Iowa). However, you should check with your local extension office.

[Cody Guhl]

Hi,
Last night had some excitement. I went into the chicken coop and saw two possoms eating a chicken. I grabbed them by the tail and held them until dad came in with the shotgun and killed them both. One took three bullets; the other took five, and we still had to cut off his head. Took care of those pests!

Cody Guhl

[E. Ann Clark]

Cody and company: just ran across your interesting dialogue on chickens.

Have you read about Joel Salatin's approach to pastured poultry (Slope, VA)? His book (and video) is called Pastured Poultry Profits, if memory serves. He is the original guru on pastured poultry. There are many others, and probably as many approaches as there are people doing it. Another who is producing 3000 broilers at 2 week intervals throughout the summer season - all on grass - is Greg Gunthorp in LeGrange, Indiana.

You mention legal issues. This is a definite area to be aware of, as Joel has had no end of difficulty with inspectors et al.

Read up on Joel in ACRES USA or in Stockman Grass Farmer - both excellent publications covering a range of issues, including but not limited to chickens. Ann

[Cody Guhl]

Nikunj,

First, you must decide whether you are going to start your business with chickens that are already laying(if you are going to sell eggs), or if you are going to raise them from chicks. You must find your nearest hatchery. If you have multiple local hatcheries, compare prices. Next, you must have a place to put them. I find that a building with wood walls is best, unless you are going to wash the wall periodically. The wood seems to keep the building warmer. Otherwise, steel is the next best material. You can wash it easily, but you must have some kind of insulation.
Once you have decided this, you must figure out where you are going to buy your feed from. Are you going to raise regular or organic chickens? Compare prices from local co-ops.
Do you have a market? Can you sell your eggs or broilers(depending on what you raise; I raise both)? What is an acceptable price?
If you are starting your flock from chicks, order your chicks after you have completed the above.
Equipment you need will be feeders, waterers, two rabbit feeders(good for holding your grit and oyster shell), heatlamps, and possibly a good bucket or two for feed and water.
Capital needed depends on equipment prices, chick prices or hen prices, and if you must have a chicken coop built, you will need to figure out how much materials cost and it is cheaper to build it yourself if you can.

Hope I answered your questions. Any more, just ask!

[EggsCT15]

Hello Coty: I see that you too are a high school student. I am a high school student that has a small flock of laying hens. Right now I have some chicks (3 wks old) and some hens (going on 1 yr old). I started raising chickens about 2 years ago, I have learned a lot about raising chickens thru trial and error. At the beginning of my poultry raising I lost a few hens to predators and to other causes. I sold my first flock last Fall and replenished with chicks that are now hens which are almost 1 yr old...I've lost a couple hens to possums, fox and the hawk...I now have an enclosed area for the girls. Lets share thoughts...I'm still learning...I did not come from a farming background but now live on a 9 acre farm in Southeastern Connecticut. Thanks, Alexis

[GojiGuy]

Wow, great information and sources listed here. I will be new to chickens soon. I am currently just outside Boulder, CO on 10 acres. We are going to get our organic cert. soon. Can't wait to add some chicks, but have no experience with them. We will be getting chicks from another organic farm close by.

Great to see others out there workin the land.

D.