There’s a lot of reasons why people venture into poultry farming, one of which is to produce eggs for commercial purposes.
That is, raising farm animals that lay eggs, so the eggs can be sold time and again.
There are about five farm animals that lay eggs, and they are all birds. These birds aren’t just good at laying eggs, they are the best options for poultry farming.
Getting farmed fresh eggs can be much easier and exciting when you raise farm animals that lay eggs.
Moreover, one amazing thing about having farmyard poultry is that you aren’t just subjected to selling eggs alone.
The birds that produce eggs can be occasionally prized for their meat, thereby enabling you to earn from multiple sources.
Many people, who aren’t poultry farmers, believe it’s only one or two farm animals that lay eggs.
That’s just a myth you wouldn’t want to believe. As of now, chickens and turkeys aren’t the only farm animals producing eggs for farmers.
There are other farm animals that are amazing at this too.
If you intend to venture into poultry farming soon or later on, here the farm animals you can rely on for eggs:
1. Chickens.
For thousands of years, chickens have proven to be the most productive farm animal that lay eggs.
As someone who has intentions of creating a commercially successful business out of farmed fresh eggs, chickens should be your paramount option.
After they were domesticated about five thousand years ago in Asia, they have been a significant part of farmyards in every part of the world.
The best thing about raising chickens as farm animals is that they aren’t just good at manufacturing eggs.
They do a whole lot to keep your farm successfully running.
Aside from laying delicious eggs, chickens can serve as meat, they eat bugs and other disturbing insects on the farm.
They naturally produce organic manure and are cost-effective to raise.
You can derive four to six eggs every week from an adult hen.
This simply means you need only about four chickens to keep an average family well-supplied with farmed fresh eggs.
But if you want to produce eggs for commercial purposes, you would definitely need much more than four chickens.
A small poultry can have as many as 50 to 70 chickens.
When it comes to feeding chicken8s, it’s not a big deal.
Chickens don’t eat much. 1/4 pound of feed is more than enough for a few chickens in a day.
Related: Here is a list of farm animals that possess gizzard
2. Geese.
Geese are one of the earliest domesticated poultry.
They are usually friendly and can be quite instrumental on the farmyard.
Geese may not be the ideal farm animal for commercial poultry farming, but their eggs are of great value when it comes to personal consumption.
These large birds can only lay about 20 to 40 eggs in a year.
Nevertheless, one goose egg is large enough to make a full omelet.
Like chickens, geese too are prized for their meats. And when slaughtered, their feathers are used in manufacturing the fluffy pillow you love to rest your head.
Of all the farm animals that lay eggs, geese could just be the most instrumental bird.
It’s quite fascinating to know what geese are used for weeding broad-leafed crops.
Unwanted growth around plants like strawberries can be kept under control with the help of a goose.
Although geese have a reputation for being aggressive and violent most times, the domesticated ones are always calm.
All they do is honk loudly, they don’t bite.
3. Guinea Fowl.
Guinea fowls are a type of domestic bird in the continent of Africa.
Originally, these birds were hunted.
But after a while, they were eventually domesticated just like other farm animals that lay eggs today.
The peculiar thing about guinea fowls is that they lay eggs seasonally, during the spring and summer.
But sadly, they don’t produce many eggs.
An adult guinea fowl can only lay about 30 eggs in a year.
Most farmers who raise guinea fowls do so with the sole purpose of getting the birds prized for their meat.
4. Ducks.
Just like chickens and geese, ducks have also been farmed for thousands of years. As farm animals that lay eggs, they are also valued like chickens.
As of today, there are multiple types of ducks in domestication. There is a variety of ducks known as the runners.
They are usually skinny and upright. There is also the plumper. This category of ducks is the swimming breed that is not usually seen on a farmyard.
Interestingly, ducks share a few similarities with geese. Ducks love to play in ponds but don’t actually need one to be happy.
They prefer to sleep on the ground, unlike chickens.
When it comes to feeding, ducks are peculiar animals.
They are omnivores, enjoying lizards, tadpoles, and even mice. They also have an appetite for food such as tomatoes, lettuce, and bread.
One of the downsides of raising ducks is that they are messy.
Unlike chickens, ducks enjoy playing in the mud and splashing dirt around. For anyone who raises ducks, it’s advisable to keep them within an environment where there isn’t mud.
There could be a pond, but it shouldn’t give them the avenue to mess up your farm.
Also see this article I wrote about farm animals that eat hay
5. Turkeys.
After chickens, turkeys are the best farm animals to raise if you intend to run a commercial poultry farm.
Upon their domestication in Mexico and Central America, these large birds were primarily raised for their meats.
Most people are only familiar with turkey meat from the Thanksgiving tradition, but that’s not all turkeys are meant for.
Like the aforementioned farm animals, turkeys too are farm animals that lay eggs.
An adult turkey can may two to three eggs within a week.
Their eggs aren’t really different from chicken eggs.
They are my bigger.
Turkey eggs can be scrambled and fried, which is just fine.
Like geese, turkeys also have a reputation for being aggressive at times.
But on the contrary to this notion, numerous farmers ego raise turkeys have claimed that the birds can be quite affectionate and friendly towards humans.
Rather than shying away, turkeys love hanging loitering around humans.
This the reason why some people now raise them as pets.
6. Quails.
Quails are beautiful birds whose behavior can be likened to other domestic birds raised on farms.
Although quails are not considered to be farm animals by a large number of people, these birds are actually raised by many farmers in the United States and Mexico as of today.
So, it is safe to say that they are farm animals that may eggs.
Amazingly, quails are incredibly productive when it comes to laying eggs.
An adult quail can produce as many as 200 eggs within a year.
Their eggs are typically tiny and speckled, yet they are considered a delicacy.
Like chickens and turkeys, quail meats are also prized. However, much value isn’t placed on their meats.
If you must raise quails as a farmer, there are certain crucial things you should know.
Quails are not meant to be kept around large domestic animals like dogs and cats.
It’s not safe for the birds. Also, you should protect the quails from small predators such as rats and skunks.
Conclusion.
Raising the right farm animals in your poultry farm is essential in ensuring you stay profitable.
If your sole aim is to build a poultry for commercial purposes, it’s best you go for farm animals such as chickens and turkeys.
These farm animals don’t just lay eggs. There is much value to be placed on their meats as well.
