Yokohama chicken farming is not too popular, and it is raised in the areas where the breed is available. It is an ornamental breed and raised mainly for ornamental purpose. It is a large chicken breed with very beautiful appearance.
The Yokohama chicken breed originated in Germany and came from the Japanese long tailed breeds. It was developed from two different Japanese Natural Monument breeds. One was the Onagadori and the principal ancestor was the Minohiki or Saddle Dragger.
Yokohama is not the place in Japan where the breed was developed. Rather it is the port from where the breed was first exported to Europe, where further breeding created the Yokohama chicken known today.
The Yokohama is a long tailed breed and today it is kept mainly as an ornamental breed, and also used for exhibition. It was admitted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of perfection in the year of 1981.
Today, the Yokohama chicken is globally endangered. Now it is listed as ‘Critical’ on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List.
However, as the Yokohama chickens are ornamental birds, so commercial Yokohama chicken farming will be a profitable business. Because the ornamental birds are generally sold at a very high price in the market. And at the same time, you can help the breed to recover it’s population.
How to Start Yokohama Chicken Farming
The Yokohama chickens are raised as ornamental birds. They are relatively strong and hardy birds. So starting commercial Yokohama chicken farming will be relatively easy.
Here we are trying to describe more information about starting and operating a successful Yokohama chicken farming business from purchasing birds to caring and marketing.
Purchase Chickens
First of all, you have to purchase very good quality, healthy, active and disease free birds for starting your Yokohama chicken farming business. Good quality birds are the key to good production and successful Yokohama chicken farming business.
You can purchase either day old chicks or mature birds depending on the price and availability in your area. The mature birds are generally sold at very high price in the market. But the day old chicks are much cheaper. So we recommend starting with day old chicks.
You can purchase the chicks from any of your local poultry chick suppliers, chicken breeding centers or any existing Yokohama chicken farms (if there is any available). You can also search your local online classified websites. Just ensure that the chicks are healthy, active and strong enough.
Housing
Arranging a good housing system for your chickens is very important for Yokohama chicken farming business. Because a good house not only helps the birds to stay healthy, but also helps them to stay free from all types of wild predators and adverse weather conditions.
The type of the house can be any depending on your budget. It can be of full concrete setup or you can build the house with low cost and easily available materials (such as bamboo or wood).
Install good ventilation system inside the house. Because good ventilation system helps to remove harmful gases from inside the house, and keeps your birds healthy.
Make the house in such a way so that you can easily clean the house. And also ensure flow of sufficient amount of fresh air and light inside the house. The Yokohama chickens are large birds and as they are ornamental birds, so arranging around of up to 10 square feet of housing space per bird will be good.
Feeding
Feeding the birds with very good quality, healthy and nutritious food is the most important part of Yokohama chicken farming business. Because good food not only helps the birds to stay healthy, but also helps them to grow better and produce more.
You can feed your chickens either with ready-made/commercial poultry feeds or you can prepare the feeds of your own. Just ensure that the feeds are good and nutritious for your chickens.
Never feed your chickens with contaminated or polluted feeds. And always try to provide them with enough clean and fresh drinking water as per their demand.
The Yokohama chickens are good for raising in both confinement and free range system. But raising them in free range system will help you to reduce feeding costs and at the same time it will help the birds to stay healthy and produce better quality products.
Breeding
Like many other domestic chicken breeds, the Yokohama chickens are naturally very good breeders. They will breed easily and produce fertile eggs for hatching if you keep good ratio of hens and roosters in your flock. Generally one healthy rooster is enough for breeding around or up to 10 hens.
The Yokohama hens tend to go broody after laying 12-14 eggs. The chicks are hardy, but they generally require extra protein enriched feeds when their tails start growing.
Caring
The Yokohama chickens are generally docile, friendly and quiet birds. They have long tail, so they require special type of housing and extra caring for accommodating the length of their tails. They are easily handled and can be tamed easily. They are well suited to a backyard flock.
Try to take additional care of your birds. Monitor their health on a regular basis for any signs of diseases or illness and take necessary steps as soon as possible. Vaccinate them timely and always try to keep good contact with a vet in your area.
Marketing
Marketing chicken products (such as eggs and meat) is not a problem. Because both meat and eggs of chicken have very good demand and value in the market. But marketing ornamental birds can be a little difficult.
Because value and demand for ornamental birds are not same in all places. So, determine your marketing strategies before starting this business.
These are the common steps and ways for starting and operating a successful Yokohama chicken farming business. Raising Yokohama chickens is really very easy, even the beginners can also raise them. Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck & may God bless you!
