Small Flock Production

Owning a backyard flock is a growing trend in the United States. According to USDA (2005), 7% of households in the U.S. own a small, non-commercial flock. There are over 138,000 small flocks, which is equivalent to 9.7 million birds. The average size of a small flock is approximately 49 birds.

Before starting a backyard flock, the following should be planned out at least six months in advance:

1. What are the zoning regulations in my neighborhood for livestock and poultry?
2. Will raising poultry bother my neighbors?
3. How will I house and confine my poultry?
4. Am I aware of biosecurity practices and common poultry diseases?
5. Do I have time to care for a poultry flock?

By answering all five questions, you begin to prepare yourself for owning a small flock.  Remember, caring for a flock is a 24 hour, seven day a week commitment that begins when you acquire your first bird.

References: USDA. 2005. Part I: Reference of health and management of backyard/ small production flocks in the United States, 2004. 

Choosing the Best Poultry Breeds for Your Small Farm - FS-987

You've decided that you want to raise a small flock of birds. Before you go out to buy any poultry, be sure to contact your local county planning office to make sure birds can be raised and produced in your area. Also, contact local zoning and building ordinances to know what building structures are permissible on your property. By contacting necessary personnel, they will determine if any special permits are needed for livestock on your property. In planning your poultry operation, it is also important to have a farm plan for manure management to avoid odor and pollution problems so you will avoid future problems with neighbors.

When buying birds, caution should be exercised. New birds should be bought only from reputable locations. Avoid auctions, fleamarkets, and imported poultry from "dockside sales". Reputable locations that sell birds may include hatcheries and breeders who participate in USDA's National Improvement Plan.  Buying new stock from suppliers who participate in USDA's NPIP program ensures new birds have been tested and are free from certain diseases. New birds present the greatest risk to biosecurity because their disease history is unknown (Jeffrey, 1997).  Plan ahead to decide where birds will be purchased.  Regardless of where birds are purchased, make sure all birds come from a healthy flock and are current on vaccinations. 

Once purchased, birds should be transported in carriers that are easy to disinfect.  If transported in cardboard or wood crates, the cardboard should be disposed of properly and wood crates should be disinfected thoroughly.  Plan ahead and decide where birds will be purchased before traveling to acquire them.  Travel straight home after purchasing new birds. This will keep disease threat to a minimum. 

References:  Jeffrey, J.S. 1997. Biosecurity for Poultry Flocks. University of California, Davis, School Veterinary Medicine.

Younger birds, while very cute and  comical to watch grow, require more attention to manage, with temperature being the number one concern. Temperatures must remain very warm until the chicks mature because they are unable to regulate their body temperature. Young poultry requires supplemental heat for at least the first three to five weeks (Sander et al., 1999). Have temperatures set at 90°F upon hatching (exact temperature will vary with different species). 

Decrease the temperatures five degrees each week until 70°F is reached (Clauer, 1997). Do not expose young birds to outside elements until they have grown in their permanent feathers. It is important to expose young birds gradually to decreasing temperatures because young poultry do not handle large temperature changes well and stress easily. Make sure to also have feed and water available.

An excellent way to raise young poultry is to set up a brooding area. A brooding area separates and protects young birds from older birds. Because young poultry must be supplied with supplemental heat, placing young birds in a brooder will help young birds maintain their body temperature. Along with providing heat, a brooder is an excellent way to make sure young poultry are supplied with all necessities to achieve optimum production: heat source, fresh feed and water, and a dry environment. Within the brooding area, feeders and waterers should be spaced apart to prevent overcrowding when feeding.

References:  Clauer, P.J. 1997. A Small-Scale Agriculture Alternative: Poultry. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Accessed June 2008. 

Sander, J.E., and Lacy, M.P. 1999 Management Guide for the Backyard Flock. Cooperative Extension Service- The University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Leaflet 429.

Even if maintaining your small flock is a hobby, recordkeeping helps keep track of your expenses.  It can aid in monitoring the progress of your flock.  Records are important to the financial health of a business or operation. Efficient and profitable poultry operations are not guaranteed by good record keeping, but success is unlikely without them. Records are essential tools for management to maintain a successful flock. Recordkeeping involves keeping, filing, maintaining, and categorizing inventory, financial and production information for your flock. This can be accomplished by hand recording or by using computer software.

Recordkeeping is important. Records tell an owner or manager where the business/operation has been and the direction in which it is going. Records show the strength and weaknesses of the poultry operation. They provide useful insight to financial stability for your flock. If there are any shortcomings, records will show where adjustments can be made. Along with showing where adjustments can be made and being a good reference tool, there are several other purposes of recordkeeping. 

Purposes of Records

1. Measure profit and access the financial ability of the business/operation.
2. Provides data for business/operation analysis.
3. Assists in obtaining loans.
4. Measure the profitability of individual operation.
5. Assist in analysis of new investments.
6. Help prepare income tax returns.

Records assist in avoiding management problems, helping prevent potential problems with your flock.  More so, producers are being encouraged to keep accurate records about the activities on their farms due to increasing environmental concerns. Farm records consist of three distinct categories: inventory, financial, and production records. All records are used to compile useful information that is used in record analysis for an individual operation or the entire business. Records are only useful when maintained and categorized correctly.

What Should I Record?

The needs and size of your small flock will determine the type of records you as an owner or manager should keep. Financial statements are an intricate part of recordkeeping. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the enterprise, the more detailed records and financial statements should be kept. Regardless of flock size, records should always be kept up-to-date. Other records that should be kept along with financial records include:

•      Where, when, and types of birds acquired
•   Poultry Registration Papers
•   Age and number of birds in each flock
•   Vaccination dates
•   Vaccine expiration dates

See  Basic Management of Intensive Poultry Production

There are several types of financial statements that can be used to help organize information for your flock. Many records are interrelated and used to create other records. In order to determine how an enterprise is doing, the balance sheet and income statement are needed. A larger enterprise may need to elaborate by preparing cash flow statements and a statement of owner's equity (Duvick, 2001). The types of financial statements used to maintain records are determined by the flock needs. Detailed record sheets may be necessary for larger flocks whereas, others may need only a basic format.

Methods of Recordkeeping

Traditionally, growers have kept records by hand. In many cases, a hand recording system is still useful for many growers. Yet, the use of computers and computer software has expanded on farms in recent years because of better record accuracy. The farm manager decides on the system that best fits his/her situation. Gerloff et al. (1995) has listed advantages to both hand records and computer records.

Hand-Recording System               

   - low initial out-of-pocket expense     

   - easy to start                              

   - requires only pencil & paper

Computer Recording System         

   - more accurate & faster

   - tax deductible as an expense 

   - much easier to create analysis

Recordkeeping can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. All farm records should provide accurate and necessary information, fit into the farm organization, and be available in a form that aids in decision-making (Gerloff et al., 1995). Accurate records aid an owner in making good management decisions. Managing an operation requires an individual (usually the manager) to possess skills to allocate scarce resources while conducting business towards the farm. Skills necessary for management include reducing costs of production, having knowledge of the industry, and willingness to adapt to change. Examples of scarce resources are (but not limited to) feed, water, fuel, building materials, and money. Possessing skills of a good manager allow good records to be maintained, which allow you to accomplish a specific purpose - raising and producing health birds!

References:  Duvick, R.D. 2001. Computerized Farm Record Keeping. The Ohio State University. Bulletin 890-01. Gerloff, D.C., Holland, R.W. 1995. Establishing and Using a Farm Financial Record-Keeping System. The University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service. Publication 1540.

Just like humans, birds are subject to disease, injury, stress, and genetic abnormalities than can result in death. Disposal is a normal part of raising poultry. But, when the time arises, do you know how to properly dispose of dead birds? 

There are several options to dispose of birds.  Disposal methods include compost burial, incineration, rendering, composting or the landfill.  Composting is a form of animal disposal that is very efficient at killing disease causing pathogens when correctly managed. A commonly used method for instances of high mortality, composting is cautioned with small flocks due to the difficulty of maintaining high temperatures within the compost.   Check your local ordinances (including city and county) to see which methods are allowed, suggested, or prohibited. The method you choose will depend on both the daily activities with your birds and resources available.

Composting Dead Birds - FS

Composting Animals Mortalities on the Farm

Rodent Control on Small Poultry Farms

Protecting your investment is very important. Early detection and prevention is key to maintaining a healthy flock. It is much easier to prevent disease than to try and eliminate it. Having good biosecurity practices in place, aid in protecting your flock from disease. Biosecurity practices can be achieved while being both productive and profitable at the same time. It is an easy way to protect your birds from harm.

What is Biosecurity?

"Bio" means life. "Security" means protection.  Biosecurity is a set of measures designed that are practiced to prevent the spread of disease onto your property and into your flock. Biosecurity planning is a proactive approach to safeguarding the health and productivity of your flock. By having a plan set in place, you are protecting the life of your birds. Biosecurity can easily be incorporated into daily management practices. It is important to assess and periodically adjust your biosecurity practices as needed to your property and flock.

3 Major Requirements for Biosecurity

(Jeffrey, 1997)

1. Isolation

Confining your animals within a controlled environment. This includes keeping other animals out and locking doors on poultry houses (if applicable).

2. Traffic Control

Reducing the amount of traffic onto and around your farm. This includes not only motorized traffic but foot traffic as well!

3. Sanitation

Disinfecting materials, equipment, and people that work on your property.

Biosecurity is a work in progress. You should periodically assess your program and adjust your biosecurity practices as needed to the ever-changing risks (age of birds, types of birds on premises, amount of traffic onto and off property) for your property. Controlling the amount of traffic on your farm is one of the most inexpensive forms of biosecurity than can reduce the chance of disease transmission. Be sure to disinfect all materials, equipment, and people that work on your farm/property. By practicing good biosecurity, you can prevent the spread of disease from humans, vehicles, animals, carcasses, and other flocks that may be traveling onto and around the property.

Biosecurity signs posted at the entrance and around the perimeter of the farm, as well as on buildings and doors, will inform others of your goal of good biosecurity.

Learn more about these biosecurity practices for your small flock