POULTRY SUPPLIESFinding poultry supplies can be tricky whether you're new at farming or you've had chickens and other birds all your life. Of course, you can stick with the closest local store, but they'll have a limited selection. That makes it hard to tell if you're getting the best quality or the best prices. The exact supplies you'll need will of course depend on the kinds of poultry you keep and what you do with them. If you raise turkeys for meat, you'll have very different requirements than someone who keeps chickens for eggs. Large farms will have different challenges than smaller ones, including sanitation, ethical keeping of large numbers of birds at once, and transportation. However, all poultry operations have a few things in common. It's in their best interest to raise the healthiest birds possible and they need to do it while spending as little money as they can. Many farms cut corners on the quality of their poultry supplies, particularly feed. This is a poor idea in the long run, as you'll have lower quality and will have to spend a lot more on antibiotics and other medical supplies. Start with good feed that provides the right nutrients and you'll have fewer problems later on. There are some basic strategies to buying any major poultry supplies, from chicken and egg supplies and incubators and other hatching equipment to production equipment, housing and transportation. For instance, say you wanted to find affordable hatchery supplies. Step one is looking at established suppliers for deals - both online and in your local area. Take down prices, quantities, and notes about the quality of the product as you do this. Sign up for brochures with the supplier. Yearly or twice a year, these stores and hatcheries will send out a newsletter with the latest products and deals available only to people on the mailing list. Compare these prices to those of competitors, and buy in bulk. This is a particularly good idea when it comes to consumables that won't go bad, such as grit. Discounts are available on larger orders, and if you're ordering from a supplier that's far away, you may be able to get free shipping if you make a large enough request. Equipment can't be bought in bulk, of course - at least not in most cases. However, you can look for quality used equipment to save you a little to start with. Remember to buy from a supplier you trust, or from another farmer you know will have treated the equipment well. There are even supply stores that sell refurbished poultry equipment at a discount. This is an excellent way to get poultry supplies in a higher grade than you might ordinarily have been able to afford. CHICKEN BREEDS
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CHICKEN DISEASES
Poultry supplies for those Chicken Little parties !! |