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 Chickens Hatching in
Mayflower, Arkansas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Mayflower 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. Mayflower
Arkansas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Mayflower 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 Mayflower AR.
Baby Chickens Hatching in
Mayflower, Arkansas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Mayflower 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
Mayflower 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 Mayflower
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 Chicks
Hatchery in
Mayflower, 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
Mayflower 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 Mayflower,
Arkansas Baby chicks are very
charming as well as
challenging to resist,
but it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
appropriate materials, but
also the proper
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you just need
to supply them with the following: A
clean and warm
environment Lots of food and water Attention and also
love Environment Your environment can be a basic box, aquarium,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You additionally require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as a pet dog bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks age you can present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you should
offer them with a warmth source.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also work extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
and every week this could
be lowered by
about 5 levels approximately. The heat source need to get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your warmth
light, you need to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not simply curling up),
you should include some heat.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bed linens
typically and also
consistently supply clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks expand quite quick
which calls for lots of clean
food and water. Supply
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as check
frequently to
stop dehydrated and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want
to obtain a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not take
up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Attention and love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will most
likely bond with you and also
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
view their habits, you could
catch ailment or various
other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other undesirable
indications. Make certain to
likewise consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could lead
to matted feathers and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to look out
for social problems, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
as well as move outside right into a cage. Take a look at our
section on chicken cages to get more information
concerning cages and also
appropriate coop habitats.
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