How to Hobby Farm
Hobby farming is getting more and more popular as people seek organic alternatives. You don't have to have a hundred acres to start a hobby farm, in fact, all you need is your back yard. Follow these steps and you'll have your hobby farm up and running in no time at all.
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Instructions
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Select an animal or poultry you would like to specialize in. The easiest hobby farm to start is a chicken farm. Spring is the perfect time of year to buy baby chickens at your local feed store. Feed stores usually get one shipment of chickens a year and the flock is sold on a first come first served basis. Pick out the chickens that are the most lively. Decide if you want to raise egg layers or meat chickens.
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Egg layers vs meat chickens. If eggs is what you're after, then ask the store clerk to steer you in that direction. There are some egg layers that are high strung and then there are some egg layers that are really laid back and these are the ones you want. They make great pets too! If you want to raise chickens to butcher for organic meat, then you will need to make sure you have the stomach to butcher them. It's hard to kill a chicken that your kids think of as a pet. If you're going for the meat, don't get to attached.
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Building your hobby farm. All you need for chickens is a coop, a run, food and water. There are hundreds of plans for chicken habitats. You just need to think of the space you have in your yard, and how much of it you want to give to your chickens. When it comes to space, you'll want to make sure you have at least 4 square feet per bird. I recommend you start with 6 to 8 chickens. If you live in the country and have plenty of space, you can get more than that and a rooster too, but if you are short on space and have neighbors living close by, you will not want a rooster. Many cities have ordinances against owning chickens, so know your laws before making your purchase.
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Safe guard your chickens. Make sure your chickens can't fly out of their home. If they can, you will run into problems with your neighbors. Ensure you provide them with plenty of water and protein rich foods. Your hens will begin laying as early as 5 to 6 months old. Once you have your hens laying, you'll be able to eat or sell their eggs. A hobby farm can be a lot of fund if you plan carefully and devote yourself to its well being.
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