Expert Warns Against Panic Buying of Chicks

(image courtesy: Pixabay/Capri23)

Despite fears that the global pandemic will impact food supply, a professor from Purdue University says now is not the time to start raising chickens as a source of eggs or meat.

Assistant professor of animal sciences Marisa Erasmus says recent reports on food security have sent some people to their local farm supply store seeking chicks.

She says many people jump into this undertaking without fulling exploring what’s involved in raising chickens, or any other form of poultry.

“If you’re thinking of buying chicks, do your work ahead of time. “Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into,” said Erasmus. “These animals are going to grow up and have very specific needs. They are reliant on us to provide for them and we have to be sure we can do that.”

Erasmus offers this insight:

• Chicks take roughly 5-6 months to mature, at which time they will start producing eggs.
• Chickens, while housed outside, need shelter from the elements.
• As chickens grow, they will need increasingly more space, roughly 2 square feet per bird.
• Other amenities like perches, where the chickens rest, and fencing to keep out wild animals are all necessary to raise healthy birds.
• Owners need to be able to recognize signs of disease and deterioration.

Erasmus says chickens require specific feed to keep them healthy and productive.

“Poultry, including chickens, sometimes have the reputation of being ‘bird-brained’,” Erasmus said.  “But anyone who has experience raising chickens will tell you they are intelligent and complex creatures who have the capacity to experience suffering and contentment.”

She also recommends you check with local ordinances that many communities have before raising a brood.