Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fowl for Exhibition
Exhibiting poultry can be a very rewarding experience. For those with the competitive
spirit, 4-H membership offers exposure to poultry at an early age, and poultry species
make ideal 4-H livestock projects. Children and youths have an early opportunity to
learn about the animals firsthand, care for them, keep record topics, and gain know-
ledge of the science and economics associated with raising livestock. Keep in mind that
poultry projects aren't just for rural youths; these projects give urban and suburban kids
an opportunity to raise animals too, with the support and guidance of a national organiz-
ation. Plus, raising a few chickens in the backyard is far easier than raising a cow or pig.
If you're fortunate enough to live in an area where poultry are allowed, you don't
even have to wait for 4-H to get started raising poultry with younger children. Although
children can't join 4-H earlier than age nine, five- and six-year-olds can gain a great deal
from raising poultry, especially in the area of responsibility.
At some point, however, your growing children may find the simple 4-H endeavor
no longer satisfies their competitive desire. Up until the age of eighteen, they can show
at professional exhibits that include juvenile divisions. As their poultry-showing skills
improve, they can advance from the juvenile to the adult division, where raisers picking
up the hobby in adulthood will begin. This division may be very competitive; raisers
tend to develop their own high-performing show-circuit poultry strains. These birds are
not necessarily heavy egg or meat producers, nor are they necessarily proper breeders,
but you can bet they will be properly colored, feathered, and marked, and have all of the
traits required in the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection .
Poultry for Profit
People often successfully raise poultry as a source of income. In days gone by, this in-
come was known as the farm wife's “egg money.” She would take care of the hens, take
the eggs to market, and keep the profits from such endeavors for household expenses or
other family needs. Those days are in the past — now men and women are the farmers,
of course — but there is still a distinct possibility that money can be made from raising
poultry.
Keep in mind that even though a great deal of work is involved and long hours of
focused energy are necessary, the profits may not be large. But you do have an oppor-
tunity to make poultry a profitable business venture, nevertheless. Backyard raisers are
never going to be able to be more profitable than the giant egg farms or broiler facilities
that produce millions of eggs and millions of butchered birds per year. However, you
can seek out well-paying niche markets to help make your poultry hobby profitable.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search