| This four part series will give you enough information | | | | Is the purpose to have eggs for the family or is it to |
| about "Raising Chickens" to get your started in the | | | | have a little extra income buy selling eggs? There is |
| fascinating adventure and profitable hobby of having | | | | always the possibility that you love the taste of |
| a small (or large) flock of chickens.This isn't rocket | | | | chicken, or is it a combination of both. These |
| science...anyone can successfully raise chickens. The | | | | considerations will help determine the size of your |
| best part is that you can raise chickens in most cities! | | | | flock will determine on how you will set up for your |
| Let's start with some basic definitions: | | | | chicken raising operation... |
| - Chick...A newly Hatched baby chicken | | | | Are you going to have "real free range chickens" and |
| - Pullet...A female chicken less than a year old | | | | let them run around your garden to eat insects and |
| - Cockerel...A male chicken less than year old | | | | and eating weeds as they pop up? Oh ya don't |
| - Capon...A castrated male chicken used for meat | | | | forget about the fertilizer that they produce. You |
| (ouch!) | | | | may also be thinking about chickens for showing and |
| - Rooster...A male chicken more than a year old | | | | breading as the main purpose. The answer to these |
| - Hen... A female chicken more than a year old. | | | | questions will determine what kind of stock you |
| - Egg... Which came first the chicken or the egg? | | | | purchases. |
| Where did chickens originate? Most likely from the | | | | There are some projects you should think about |
| archeopteryx, which was crow sized and had a body | | | | starting before the baby chicks arrive. Where your |
| that was reptile like. It had claw-tipped wings (think | | | | chickens live usually called a chicken coop or hen |
| about that for a minute) with feathers and dates | | | | house.You are going to need one. When folks ask |
| back 145 million years ago. How would you like a | | | | me about this I usually tell them to save money you |
| flock of those guys running around in your back | | | | need to build your own. If you buy one it can cost |
| yard? | | | | $400 to $1000 depending on the size. |
| A more recent ancestor would be the wild red jungle | | | | You can build one for less than $30 to $50 dollars |
| fowl found in Thailand, eastern India and Sumatra. | | | | depending if you have some left over scrap building |
| The chicken was tamed by man around 5,000 years | | | | materials on hand. The important part is to start out |
| ago. My source for this information was Trivia | | | | with a good set of plans with easy to follow step by |
| Enough with the history already.Lets start by | | | | step instruction. |
| considering what your purpose is for raising chickens? | | | | |