There are a couple of things you should know before you purchase chickens. Whether you are trying to add a couple of chickens to your poultry or raise them in your backyard, you should not forget these.
Read The Rules
Knowing the laws about raising poultry where you live is important. You can’t just set up a coop at home without checking the rules and regulations of the town or city where you live. Remember that what works in one city in New Jersey might not be applicable in others.
Some places in the state do not allow the raising of backyard chickens. However, others have made adjustments to their ordinances. A recent example of this is the municipality of Princeton. If you are not sure about the rules that apply to you, you can research them. If you know other chicken owners in your area, perhaps they can help you out as well.
Adheres to Safety and Health Regulations
There are a lot of responsibilities involved when you are raising chickens. Breeders and hatcheries have to ensure that they are breeding and raising chickens in the best possible ways.
Before making that chicken purchase, you can look into the different hatcheries and see if they are a member of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). This cooperative focuses on the promotion of poultry health in the United States of America.
If a hatchery is part of the NPIP, they have to follow standard operating procedures. They have to make sure that their chickens are free from diseases such as Avian Influenza.
Healthy Chickens Only
Raising chickens involves time, effort, money, and many other resources. With that said, you must make sure that the chickens you are adding to your poultry or coop are healthy. If you take home chickens that have some health issues or diseases, this could affect the rest of your flock.
If you are after hatching eggs, make sure that their parents are healthy. Look into the origin of the eggs. A sick chicken can lay bad eggs. If you have chosen the eggs you wish to take home, they should be transported and stored correctly. You should have the right tools and equipment needed in the incubation process.
If you are getting baby chicks, you should know how to identify healthy ones. Check their eyes, toes, beak, and other visible body parts. They should also be active. If they appear weak, they might be going through something. You must be vigilant and patient in checking the chicks before getting them.
Vaccination is also important in chickens. Ask the seller if the chicks have been vaccinated. Vaccines help keep the chicks from catching some diseases. There might be some additional costs. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry. It ensures the healthiness of your chicks.
Choose The Right Breed For You
When shopping for chickens, you should know what you want and what they are for. With so many chicken breeds to choose from, it might be difficult for you to figure out which ones you really want.
Knowing the purpose of your chicken can make things easier for you. If you are setting up your commercial poultry, then you should lean towards breeds that are good layers. Some examples of chickens that produce a good amount of eggs are Plymouth Rock, Leghorn, and Sussex.
If you want to keep chickens as pets, some breeds are perfect for this. You can choose from Silkies, Buff Orpington, Cochin, Australorp. There are many more friendly chicken breeds out there that you can choose from. These kinds of chickens can become your best buddies!
Drive To These New Jersey Hatcheries Soon
If you are ready to take in more chickens, then what are you waiting for? Perhaps it’s time for you to drop by the seven best chicken hatcheries in New Jersey. With the breeds all these hatcheries have, there’s a chicken breed or two that would catch your fancy!
