For quite some time I have been toying with the idea of getting chickens. I love the idea of having baby chicks around to help my children learn responsibility and how nature works to provide for us. This, however, is a big decision. Sure, little chicks are cute and having fresh eggs would be divine, but don’t forget that chickens are a lot of work. While they are usually quite content pecking away on their own, they still need a lot of care. Here are several things to consider before getting chickens.
1. Does your residential area allow chickens? Many areas, like homes in the city or neighborhoods, do not allow chickens. You could be fined and forced to remove them.
2. What are you going to do with them when they are done laying eggs?
3. What climate do you live in? Cold climates mean harsh winters when your chickens will need extra care.
4. Do you have time to keep their pens clean, water fresh and food available?
5. What do I need to make them a home? You will need a place for them to lay their eggs and get out of bad weather.
6. Will your chickens be free range or have a chicken pen? How will you keep them in your yard and not your neighbors?
7. What breed of chicken should you buy?
After researching chickens in further detail I still want them to join our family. However, I am going to take my time to make sure my preparations are done right and I am ready for them to join us. Ive read that the best time to get baby chicks is mid March-May. Since it is already March and I have not yet preparing a home for them, I will hold off on my plans until next year when I have ample time to prepare for their arrival. Plus, I still have some convincing to do with my husband who is not yet on board with the idea.
If you are interested in raising chickens, check out the e-book titled The Urban Chicken. I just finished reading it to help me decide if chickens were a good addition to our home or not. The book answered all of the questions I had that I mentioned above. The book also talks about what breed of chicken are best to get for your overall goals, how to care for them and what to do when things go wrong. I think this book is a great resource for the un-experienced person thinking about whether or not to embark on the chicken raising lifestyle. (Like me!)
The e-book The Urban Chicken as mentioned above is available for purchase at the following link. This lovely book is written by Heather Harris. You can also view her blog at .
Any readers raising chickens that can share their experiences with us? I am so curious and want to know more! Please leave your thoughts on raising chickens in the comments.
<3 Dick and JaneDisclosure: I was able to read this book for free from the writer. I was not compensated for mentioning it in my post. All thoughts in this post are my own and not pursuaded by my free copy to read.
Baby Chicks In The Mail in
Bergman, Arkansas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Bergman Arkansas,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. Bergman
Arkansas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Bergman Arkansas, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in Bergman AR.
Baby Chicks By Mail in
Bergman, Arkansas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Bergman Arkansas
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
Bergman Arkansas * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in Bergman
Arkansas * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Quail Chicks For
Sale in
Bergman, Arkansas
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
Bergman Arkansas is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in Bergman,
Arkansas Baby chicks are really
charming and
hard to resist,
however it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
appropriate materials, however
additionally the appropriate
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you just should give them with the following: A
clean and cozy
environment Lots of food as well
as water Interest and
love Habitat Your habitat could be a
simple box, aquarium,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You likewise need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Also, as the chicks age you can present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
supply them with a heat resource.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature level
between 90 and 100 degrees,
and each week this could
be decreased by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource should get on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
light, you need to
lower the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not simply curling up),
you have to put some heat.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bedding
frequently and
consistently give clean
food and also water Food and also water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which calls for a lot of clean
food and water. Supply
sufficient at all times as well
as inspect
frequently to
stop thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and then to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't occupy that activity until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Attention and love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will probably bond with you and also
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their behavior, you can
catch health problem or various
other troubles previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Be sure to
likewise check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead
to matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick getting badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and also relocate outside into a cage. Look into our
part on chicken cages to learn more
about coops and
proper cage habitats.
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