Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Other sources of revenue include niche markets for Coturnix quail eggs for pickling
and boiling for lunchtime and snacks, duck eggs for baking, and fresh geese for tradi-
tional holiday meals. It is almost impossible to locate a fresh-dressed goose for Christ-
mas or other holiday dinners, but roast goose is especially prized by the people of Cent-
ral and Eastern European descent and by “foodies” desiring a new twist on a traditional
dinner.
People are beginning to seek out
heritage turkeys
and
naturally mating turkeys
(those that are able to breed without artificial insemination) that do not have the large,
particularly broad breasts, but have rich, succulent meat.
With the rise of niche markets, and people hoping to purchase locally raised food,
many opportunities exist for the person hoping to turn their poultry venture into a profit.
Pet Fowl
Perhaps because so many folks were charmed as children by Mother Goose stories that
included illustrations of little ducklings, goslings, and baby chicks, there will always be
people who want to raise poultry for pets. During the Easter season, when many across
the world are celebrating spring and new life, people are particularly attracted to pur-
chasing poultry for pets.
Arguments exist both for and against using poultry as pets, although I've come to
find there are no absolutes regarding which breeds are suitable as pets. I've seen the
wildest chickens become very tame and docile around someone who's spent a consider-
able length of time with the birds. I've also seen chickens that I usually consider tame
and docile act wild when their raiser has not spent any time with them or has treated
them poorly. Just as people have their own personalities and mannerisms, poultry per-
sonalities are uniquely individual. Some tend to make better pets than others, however
(see
chapter 23
, Poultry as Pets, for further discussion).
Poultry as Pesticide
Yet another important reason to raise poultry is for insect control. Although there is a
limit to how much they can eat, ducks, guineas, and other poultry species can certainly
provide backyard insect control, and allowing them freedom to roam is advantageous to
any gardener as long as certain precautions are taken. For example, you wouldn't want
to turn them out onto a newly sprouting vegetable or perennial garden. Poultry love the
first tender shoots of green in the early spring and will devastate a tulip bed in seconds.
