Consumers are demonstrating more interest in where their food comes from and in the humane treatment of livestock animals. Free range organic chicken and pork are premium products, commanding top prices from consumers. This makes raising chickens and other free-range livestock organically a viable business for the small property owner.
Knowledge and Skills Needed
Livestock animals raised on pasture typically experience fewer health problems than animals raised in confinement. Basic animal husbandry skills are all that are needed to raise meat chickens or just weaned pigs (weaners).
Day-old chicks purchased from a hatchery must be kept warm and dry for the first 3 weeks, until they are fully feathered. Then they can be moved to pasture to finish growing to market weight, in about 8 or 9 weeks. Chickens raised on pasture need shelter from the weather and protection from predators.
Purchasing weaned pigs from a local farmer is a good way to get started raising pigs. The 30-40 lb weaned pigs will grow to market weight in 4 to 5 months on pasture. Pigs need shelter from cold w
inds and shade from the sun.
They also need sturdy pens or electric fencing to contain them, as they can root and dig their way out of most fences. Other than that, fresh water and twice a day feeding are all that is required to raise pigs.
A book on animal husbandry with specific information about raising chickens and pigs should provide you the information you need to get started. The book should give information about basic care and any troubleshooting required to raise healthy animals.
Start-up Costs
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 100 meat chickens should be less than a thousand dollars. This includes equipment to raise the day-old chicks, e.g. heat lamps, feeders and water containers – and building a shelter and electric fencing to protect the older birds in the field. Day-old meat chicks are available from local hatcheries for about a dollar each.
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 4 weaned pigs should be less than $700. Weaned pigs can be purchased from farmers for between $25-$50 dollars. Pigs will need feeders, source of water, a shelter in the field and electric fence to contain them.
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 100 meat chickens should be less than a thousand dollars. This includes equipment to raise the day-old chicks, e.g. heat lamps, feeders and water containers – and building a shelter and electric fencing to protect the older birds in the field. Day-old meat chicks are available from local hatcheries for about a dollar each.
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 4 weaned pigs should be less than $700. Weaned pigs can be purchased from farmers for between $25-$50 dollars. Pigs will need feeders, source of water, a shelter in the field and electric fence to contain them.
Potential Earnings
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 100 meat chickens should be less than a thousand dollars. This includes equipment to raise the day-old chicks, e.g. heat lamps, feeders and water containers – and building a shelter and electric fencing to protect the older birds in the field. Day-old meat chicks are available from local hatcheries for about a dollar each.
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 4 weaned pigs should be less than $700. Weaned pigs can be purchased from farmers for between $25-$50 dollars. Pigs will need feeders, source of water, a shelter in the field and electric fence to contain them.
Raising both chickens and pigs will return a profit to the farmer in the same season. Free range organic chicken and pork are premium products; its possible to make a profit of 60% - 70% on each batch of pigs or chickens you raise.
After all costs – start-up costs, feed, processing at an abattoir – a batch of 100 meat chickens can net about $800, a batch of 4 weaned pigs can net about $900. In most places, you can raise more than one batch a year using the same equipment; this will increase your profit.
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 100 meat chickens should be less than a thousand dollars. This includes equipment to raise the day-old chicks, e.g. heat lamps, feeders and water containers – and building a shelter and electric fencing to protect the older birds in the field. Day-old meat chicks are available from local hatcheries for about a dollar each.
Start-up costs to raise a batch of 4 weaned pigs should be less than $700. Weaned pigs can be purchased from farmers for between $25-$50 dollars. Pigs will need feeders, source of water, a shelter in the field and electric fence to contain them.
Raising both chickens and pigs will return a profit to the farmer in the same season. Free range organic chicken and pork are premium products; its possible to make a profit of 60% - 70% on each batch of pigs or chickens you raise.
After all costs – start-up costs, feed, processing at an abattoir – a batch of 100 meat chickens can net about $800, a batch of 4 weaned pigs can net about $900. In most places, you can raise more than one batch a year using the same equipment; this will increase your profit.
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