The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition Sept/Oct/Nov 2016

www.BernardsvilleAnimalHospital.com

41 Morristown Road, Bernardsville, NJ 07924

James Baxter, DVM

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Vedrana Gjivoje, DVM

Nicholas Oakley, DVM

Personalized Medical Care For All:

Dogs

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Cats

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Birds

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Reptiles

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Pocket Pets

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Backyard Poultry

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 9am – 6:30pm

Wed: 9am – 7pm

Sat: 9am – 12:30pm

Sunday: Closed

908.766.0041

CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO HELP

OTHER WOMEN THRIVE

Contact:

Clifford Chan CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, CLTC

Managing Director

973-637-5908

clifford.chan@prudential.com

Or visit www.prudential.com/sc for more information

*Candidates cannot currently be registered with another broker-dealer

Bring Your Challenges are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc., and its related entities, registered in many

jurisdictions worldwide. Securities products and services are offered through Pruco Securities, LLC.

Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment

without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability,

age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW. The Prudential Insurance

Company of America, Newark, NJ and its affiliates.

Prudential is an Employer that participates in E-Verify.

0254299-00003-00 Expires 09/23/2016 Version 1 - Revised 3/2/2015

Prudential offers you an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women in your very own

community, when you join us as a Financial Professional Associate (FPA). We’ll prepare you to

earn your financial licenses and teach you how to help mothers, sisters and daughters save for

college, plan for retirement, and create a better future.

Prudential’s business model is devoted to helping improve the lives of working families. Our

company is also strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that employs,

encourages and empowers everyone to do their best work. That’s a big reason why we’ve repeat-

edly been selected as Working Mother magazine’s “Top 100 Companies for Working Mothers”

(2012 and 22 prior years, Hall of Fame member) and National Association for Female Executives

magazine’s “Top Companies for Executive Women” (2012 and 12 prior years).

There’s so much to tell you about this opportunity, about the earning potential and benefits and

how you can even start your own business with us.

WHY SHOULD I START A FLOCK?

The practice of raising chickens for both eggs

and meat has a long history, both commercially

and recreationally. Today, large numbers of flocks

are being established in backyards across the

United States, and even greater numbers of

Americans are seeing the value in raising these

nteresting creatures. Whether you are searching

for a unique companion for your farm, or hoping

to have fresh eggs and meat for your family,

backyard chickens can make a great addition to

your property.

HOW TO GET STARTED:

Zoning Regulations/Bylaws -

To get started,

you should first identify any zoning regulations

and bylaws governing the ownership and/or use

of land for chickens. This initial step is very

mportant, as the rules and regulations will vary

by community and this may stop your dream of

chicken ownership from ever taking flight.

Housing -

A well designed and properly con-

structed coop is essential for the health, safety

and comfort of your chickens. If you are interest-

ed in housing chickens, it is crucial that their new

home is appropriately designed. Online resources

are invaluable when seeking design plans for

coops, or even more simply, a fully designed

coop can be purchased from a company that

specializes in chicken coop construction.

Space Requirements -

Chicken coops

are available in a wide variety of shapes

and sizes to accommodate any size back-

yard. There are a variety of guidelines that

outline the amount of space chickens

require within a coop, and it is recom-

mended to check with your local veteri-

narian if your yard is less than spacious.

Predator Control -

Keeping your chick-

ens within a properly designed coop is

essential for their safety, and a secure coop

will also help to keep predators out. Chick-

ens are the prey for a large number of

predators and the fencing should specifi-

cally prevent entry of cats, eagles and

snakes. By preventing the entry of these

smaller animals, many other larger species

will be unable to enter. Essentially, there

should be very small openings between

the links of the coop fence, as well as a

cover to protect from other birds in the

area.

Getting Chicks/Eggs -

The next step (and the

most exciting) is purchasing some chicks or eggs.

For the beginner, it is recommended to start with

baby chicks or pullets (a young hen under 1 year

of age). Pullets provide the opportunity to skip

raising baby chicks and start with the easier part

of management. If you are interested in baby

chicks, you can look to your local feed store or

order directly from a poultry hatchery. If you do

decide to visit your local feed store, you should

remember that you won’t be able to tell the sex

of your baby chicks. This will mean that you will

most likely end up with a rooster or two. If you

seek out eggs to hatch yourself, you will require

an incubator to ensure that the eggs stay warm.

You must also assume the responsibility of moth-

er hen, and need to rotate your newly acquired

eggs daily for the 21 days until they hatch.

Feeding Your Chickens -

Your local feed store

can provide your flock with balanced feed, and

the options available can vary based upon the

age of your chickens. To reduce the amount of

feed spoilage, it is recommended to buy only

enough food for a 30 day window. You will also

need to pick up specialized, rodent-proof dishes

for feeding and waterers that can be changed

daily. All of these products are available at your

local feed or co-op store.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

When you ensure that your flock is healthy, you

help guarantee that your flock is producing high

quality eggs and meat. Utilize your veterinarian

to access a wealth of information about chicken

ownership and work with them to keep your

flock healthy for the years to come. If you have

questions about starting your own backyard

flock, or you already have established a flock and

need some advice, please feel free to contact me

at droakley@bernardsvilleanimalhospital.com.

HOW TO START YOUR BACKYARD CHICKEN FLOCK

A VETERINARIAN’S PERSPECTIVE

By: Nicholas Oakley DRM, Bernardsville Animal Hospital

908-766-0041 www.bernardsvilleanimalhospital.com

www.theconnectionsnj.com