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' Getting started with chickens : Small Farms : University of Minnesota Extension Page 1 of 3 <br /> �UNIVBRSITY OF MINNESOTA I EXTBNSION <br /> Small Farms <br /> Getting started with chickens <br /> By efans on March 7, 2012 4:39 PM � Leave a comment <br /> By Wayne Martin <br /> University of Minnesota Extension <br /> Alternative Livestock Systems <br /> As spring approaches, a broad range of enthusiasts, from backyard gardeners to small scale farm <br /> operators, begin to think about adding chickens (especially broilers), to their summer production activities. <br /> Whether growing for profit or as a source of food for the family, raising broilers can be a rewarding and <br /> educational experience for everyone in the family. It's easy to get a batch of chicks started, at relatively low <br /> cost, and they grow quickly, ready to be processed and put into your freezer or sold to customers in only 6-8 <br /> weeks. <br /> Of course, raising healthy livestock of any type for fun or profit requires some attention to planning and <br /> detail, and broilers are no exception. By just following a few basic, general guidelines about the needs of <br /> baby chicks and growing chickens it will help ensure that you achieve success with the birds you raise. <br /> When ordering broiler chicks: <br /> Hatcheries in MN and around the country can be found online by searching google, or by looking at <br /> Poultry U. <br /> Plan their arrival around their departure. Broilers typically need 6-8 weeks to reach a market carcass <br /> weight of 3.5-5 pounds. You'll need to arrange processing well in advance. If you grow birds for your <br /> own consumption within the limits of a town or city, check the city ordinances prior to processing the <br /> birds in your backyard. Many towns don't allow backyard processing. <br /> You can order cockerels (males), pullets (females), or a straight run (mixed batch). Cockerels typically <br /> are a little more expensive, but grow faster. They may weigh one Ib more than pullets at processing, at <br /> the same age. <br /> Consider having the birds vaccinated at the hatchery against coccidiosis. It is cheap to do so, and then <br /> you'll very likely have healthy birds throughout their short growing period. This vaccine will help give the <br /> birds protection against a very common and costly poultry disease. Doing so can then give you the <br /> option of using non-medicated feed throughout the production period. <br /> Preparing for their arrival: <br /> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/efans/small-farms/2012/03/getting-started-with-chickens.php . 1/17/2013 <br />