When Raising Chickens What Comes First, the Chicken Or the Poultry Equipment?

There is a movement across the nation, more andof poultry equipment you purchase depends on the
more people are starting to raise chickens. Whether itage of the chicken. The feeder and waterer
be the state of the economy or people just wantingrequirements for baby chickens is different than adult
to get back to the basics - people are looking forpoultry. You will need the regular feeders at some
ways to be a little more self-sufficient and havingpoint. Unless you buy a pre-fab chicken house most
eggs supplied by your own backyard chickens is onedo not come with nesting boxes so you will need to
of many ways.supply the area where you want to gather the eggs.
Along with the interest in raising chickens you need3. Used Poultry Equipment--there are many sources
to be aware of some of the poultry equipmentto purchase used poultry equipment and the first
required to maintain your new flock. Some peopleplace I usually look is Craigslist and from there I
just jump right in without a thought - kind of like I didsearch for any local livestock or small animal auctions.
in the beginning--my husband brought home sixAnd don't forget your local trading posts papers. We
chickens and we scrambled around looking forhave one that comes from our local electric company
temporary housing until we could build better andand sometimes they have some items at good
something to dispense their feed and water. If youprices.
have a choice, first determine what is needed to4. Chicken Feed--when you bring home your new
start raising chickens and then get your chickens.chickens one of the first things they want to do is
What comes first--the chicken or the chickeneat. Again what type you buy is determined by the
supplies?age of the chicken. There are a variety of chicken
At a local farm supply store I noticed a lady hadfeeds out there so do your homework to choose
purchased a new baby chicken and along with thethe one that is right for you.
chick she had a chick feeder, a chick waterer, and5. Storage Containers for Poultry Supplies--what do I
who knows what at home that was waiting for hermean by this? Somewhere to keep your food and
new little chicken. She probably is not aware within agrain so other animals do not have access to it. The
few weeks the baby chickens will about double inlikelihood of attracting critters of some sort is very
size and will not be able to eat out of the chickhigh with all the scratching a chicken does in its food
feeder without opening the top and the waterer willthat helps to spread it around. I use metal trash
not hold enough to give them an adequate watercontainers and they do the trick. I keep my food
supply. These are some of the things that you learnsupplies in one and my chicken equipment in the
from experience in raising chickens.other.
If I was considering raising a few chickens in myI have been raising chickens for over five years now
backyard for the first time, here are the preferredso I have my preferred methods of feeding and
chicken supplies I would have on hand:watering along with my preferred poultry equipment,
some homemade and some store bought. If you are
1. Chicken House--when raising chickens the chickenjust starting out and not sure where to turn, visit
needs a place to call home. Whether it be a chickenyour local feed store. Check out their prices and then
tractor, a chicken coop, or a livestock barn, give thecompare them to the online stores. Most of the time
chickens a place to get out of the rain, lay an egg,you will find if you buy local you will save on the
and roost at night. Baby chickens require an area withshipping costs. And there is the chance that if they
a heat source for a short time so the housingdo not have what you are looking for they will order
requirements will be different.it for you.With the interest in raising chickens you
2. Poultry Equipment--this includes the chickenneed to have the correct poultry equipment to
waterer, poultry feeder, and nesting boxes. The typemaintain your new flock.