Birds may be raised on corporate-owned farms or may be raised by contract farmers on their own farms. Farmer involvement in the conventional industry is by contract for production only. Farmers typically have a contract with large, corporate poultry companies. The company typically provides the chicks, the feed, any necessary medication needed for the birds and oversight of the production operation. Farmers supply housing, electricity, water, labor and invest the capital to provide these services. Birds raised for meat (broilers) are raised indoors, in confinement. It is not uncommon for operations to have up to 20,000.
