Raising Small Flock Poultry
- Skill Level
- Beginner Intermediate
- Length Content Access
- 365
- Sections
- 8
- Length
- 10 hours
- Language
- English
- Note
- This course offers a certificate of completion.
Raising a small flock of poultry (100 to 3,000 birds) for meat or eggs requires a relatively small amount of start-up capital compared to larger livestock. However, turning a profit with a small flock can be a challenge without careful planning. Small flocks of poultry have small profit margins. But if you keep track of expenses, set realistic prices, and raise healthy, productive birds, you may have a chance at making back your investment.
In this self-paced course, you will use a combination of readings, educational videos, and handouts to learn about the basics of poultry keeping. The course begins by looking at w hat you need to consider before you decide to raise poultry and what you need to do to get started. You will learn how to choose and purchase poultry, and best management practices for raising and keeping poultry.
Poultry health is an important component of poultry management. You will learn good biosecurity practices to keep your birds healthy and disease-free, but also symptoms of common poultry diseases and what you can do about them. Additionally, you will learn about the specific needs of egg-layers and meat birds.
Whether you are planning to sell eggs or meat, or a different poultry product for a niche market, this course will help you develop a marketing plan, including certifications, marketing and distribution channels, and prices. Finally, you will be provided with worksheets that you can use to create your own flock records and budgets.
Knowledge check questions throughout the course will help you review what you learn, and each section also provides you the opportunity to reflect on how to incorporate what you've learned into your poultry operation. There is a short quiz at the end of most sections. You need to score an 80% on each quiz to successfully earn your certificate of completion.
- People who want to start a small flock poultry business
- People who already have a small flock of poultry and are looking to expand their flock and turn a profit from it
You will learn how to:
- plan an appropriate poultry facility
- select and purchase appropriate breeds, varieties, and strains of poultry
- take care of your poultry according to best management practices
- practice appropriate biosecurity to keep you and your birds safe and healthy
- recognize some common poultry health issues, how to prevent and/or treat them, and where to go for help
- understand the special needs and practices of egg laying, meat, and exhibition poultry operations
- create a marketing plan for your poultry products
- keep the flock records you need for a successful operation
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Certificates are available for some courses, but not all courses. When applicable, certificates are issued upon successful course completion with a passing grade. The definition of a passing grade varies from course to course.
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