Updates. Page 19

Dual-purpose chickens were designed for meat and eggs, but they have never lay such many eggs as special laying breed and they don`t grow up so fast as meat breed. Most dual-purpose breeds were originated in United States, for example, New Hampshire, Plymouth Rock, Black Sex Link and other.

All of these breeds will give you brown eggs. Their eggs are smaller and weight less than 1 pound. Though hybrids are more effective, breeders prefer pure breeds because crossed chickens don`t have hereditary properties.

Your flock will replacement all time if you will raise pure breeds, that`s their advantage. If there will be many cockerels in your flock, you can raise them for meat.

Eggs breed chickens are not suitable for meat, because good layers are skinny. If you want to get more meat you have to raise meat breed chickens. Most breeders choose white feathers hens because they look more attractive compared to dark plumage birds. Usually meat breed chickens grow up such fast, that you will not spend large sums on feed. For several weeks it could reach a weight of 4-5 pounds.

The main meat chicken`s breeds are in the English class, like Cornish, Australorp and Orpington. The fastest growing crossed breeds chickens, like Rock-Cornish (a cross between Plymouth Rock and Cornish).

The most of cross breeds do not have white plumage and their trade names provide a reference to color, for example: Silver Cross, Red Rangers, Red Broiler or Black Broiler.

Chickens of all breeds lay eggs. But some hens produce more eggs than others. The best result that you can keep is 200-250 eggs for the year. Around the world people prefer white eggs. Mediterranean chickens will give you more white eggs than other breeds, for example, Ancona, Leghorn and Minorca.

The most demand chicken`s breed for commercial producing is Leghorn.

Crosses breeds are commonly used because of their productivity. Many breeders use strains for commercial raising layers. But it`s easier to raise hens which give brown eggs. As usual hybrids or dual-purpose breeds produce brown eggs.

Chickens lay recording eggs quantity during their first year. But after egg`s number become reduces.

The most common chicken`s skin color are white and yellow. If you breed chickens for meat it will be very important for you. Asians prefer dark skin chickens, Americans prefer poultry with yellow skin and Europeans prefer white skin chickens.

But some breeds may have few colors, for example, penciled, barred or spangled.
You can discern each breed about their comb style. The vast majority have classic single comb with saw tooth zigzags.

But some breeds have two rows of points. Comb`s shape could remind you strawberry, pea, cushion, carnation or anything else. You should know that comb style is very important factor which will fluent on your climate zone.

Before you forming your flock you must determine with your aim. Your choice will depend on it: you can raise chickens for eggs, for meat or you want both of it.

Recently most of people prefer healthy food and one of the main components of healthy eating is organic food. And now many people will ask what`s the difference between organic and non-organic food. Important difference between them is in process of their growing, producing, handling and packing.

Organic vegetables and fruits are grown using natural fertilizer, like manure or compost. These components do not destroy natural properties of soil in contrast of industrial fertilizers which contain nitrate.

In conventional agriculture are used pesticides and insecticides from plant`s diseases and pests. In organic farming people use natural methods, like making traps.

Organic farmers use mulch and hand weeding. Conventional farming prevents chemicals and herbicides during the weed`s growth.

Unlike organic farming, non-organic agriculture applies genetically modified seeds, their benefits are doubtful.

There are no antibiotics for treat, appetite enhancers, growth hormone in organic animal husbandry. Livestock treats humanely, its free to walk and have a natural feed.

If you decide to begin raising livestock, it will be better to start from chickens. It`s easy to breed, their feed is not very expensive and there is no need in large area. Knowledge about chicken`s raising and caring will help you later if you want to keep on breeding animals.

People domesticated chickens many thousands of years ago and it was easy, because they are homebodies. In return of caring chickens gave people fresh eggs and meat.
But raising chickens has some disadvantages, such as dust, their tendency to dig the ground, a lot of droppings producing by them.

But there are more benefits then disadvantages. You have the freshest eggs with bright yolk every day and you have meat whenever you want. You will spend few times a day for caring for chicken flock. You must feed them, clean their housing, provide pure water and collect eggs every day. Caring for chickens mustn`t depend on the weather. You should make your job twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) without weekend and holidays.

Before you decide to breed animals have everything ready for it.

At first, check zoning regulations. You should carefully select an area, because it may prohibit from keeping certain populations, limit its number and it should be enough distance from human habitation. Also review all about zoning laws in your region.

At the second place you should inform your neighbors about your decision to breed livestock. That will save you from rows, troubles and visits from the authorities.

At the third place you must prepare facilities for your animals, especially if you live in a cold or hot climate. Make sure that your constructions are rather big for them. Ensure animal`s feed and pure water. Try to prefer organic and quality food that they receive all the nutrients they need.

Fourthly, install railing. This is necessary for your animal`s safety. That will help you to protect them from predators or thieves.

If you decide to buy an animal avoid purchasing stock at an auction, because usually animals are coming and going. You will have no notion about animal`s health. It could be ill or have injuries. You can spend large sums on treatment of animal.

It will be better if you will buy an animal someone breeder who lives near. You will have possibility to turn for help to professional. When you buy from a local breeder, you can see animal`s living conditions. You will know everything about its health and conformation.

If you want to buy a female breeding animal (cow, goat, sow, rabbit) the seller can offer you a male animal, which will help you to breed, when the time will come. You can immediately buy a male rabbit, because it will take a little bit place, unlike bull, boar or goat buck.

At the same time you can buy a livestock in the farm store, the county Extension office or find seller in the newspaper classified ads.

Even if you interested in fresh milk and eggs, breeding food animals means that once they will be slaughtered. The main rule among farmers is to never give names to your animals. But it will be very hard to you if you have two or more animals and you must discern them. At least try not to give them affectionate names. That will be a good advice to use numbers for calling your animals.

In addition to emotional preparation dealing with butchering includes prowess in prescribed procedures which will provide tasty and tender meat. If you can`t butcher your wards ask for help from your neighbor who has his own livestock or from professional slaughterhouse.

If you want to raise a goat or cow for dairy production you should know that your animal will give milk only after lactate. The main advantage to breeding livestock only for meat is that the project can be short. For example broiler chickens can be raised for about 8 weeks, lambs can be ready in 6 or 7 months.

In addition to supplying freshest eggs, meat, honey and milk, breeding farm animals has benefits for our health. Fresh air, the view and the sound of animals all this has a sedative effect, a distraction from worries and stress.

You must care for your livestock every day. They pull you away from your house, reflections and force you to get out for some exercises.

The other important reason for breeding livestock is educational value. Raising animals for food teach kids the basics of producing food. I think that looking after animals is a wonderful way to teach children responsibility, compassion and patience.

The best way to learn children about the natural processes of procreation, birth and death is raising animals or study visit to the farm.