As much as it is rewarding, there will be times of frustration. Equipment may fail, animals may die, and predators may help themselves to your livestock. By paying careful attention to the material presented in this book and reading the case studies of people who have been there and done it, you will have the best chance of minimizing these negative factors. Careful planning and research can prevent many problems.
Like many projects, the best way to learn is by doing. If you are hesitant to have your own livestock at first, contact others in your area who are raising the species you are interested in and offer to help them out. But do not put off having your own little flock or herd for too long. As long as you have the space, necessary buildings, and enough finances, start out with a chickens. You never know if a small project may eventually bloom into a sizeable income source.
No matter what your ultimate purpose is for raising chickens, remember to enjoy the process. Farming is hard work, but the benefits from the work are great: fresh air, physical work, and something new to be learned each day. Spend time with your chickens; you can learn a lot by just observing and interacting with them.
One final important bit of advice: Remember to pass on what you know to a future small farmer. Teaching others is also a great way of reinforcing what you know. By being honest about the joys and pitfalls of farming, you can mentor others about the wonderful world of small-scale farming.
Thank you for purchasing The Art of Small Scale Farming with Chickens: A Little Book Full of All the Information You Need. Let other consumers know what you think of this book. Atlantic Publishing Group values the opinions of our customer. We would appreciate it if you take a few minutes to leave a customer review at www.amazon.com/review/create-review.