Baby Chickens for Sale in Atherton, California
Baby Chickens for Sale in Atherton, California
Is Buying Chicks for Easter a Good Idea?
It’s that time of year again: The sun is shining more. Flowers are beginning to bloom. People are getting ready for Easter. Baby animals are being born.
Baby chicks for sale are readily available.
Before the Easter Bunny decides to bring some cute, fuzzy chicks to your house, there are a few things to consider about those adorable, cheeping balls of fluff.
Chicks require special care and handling.
Chicks are not animals appropriate for most toddlers. Puppies and kittens are able to wriggle, and even scratch or bite if they feel uncomfortable or threatened by children. Chicks are pretty helpless and are fairly susceptible to sustaining internal injury if not properly handled.
Anyone handling chicks should always thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water afterward—something that is sometimes difficult to achieve with young children.
Chicks also require frequent monitoring for unusual behaviors that can indicate illness.
Chicks grow up—fast!
Just like puppies and kittens, chicks grow—and grow quickly. They may be cute and fluffy and able to fit in a box in your bathroom today, but by the time they are five weeks old, some breeds may have more than tripled in size. They are not-so-cute and fluffy any more. And they are not content to stay inside all day, especially not in a box with a bunch of others. If you end up with a cockerel (male adolescent chicken), he might just start crowing by the time he is eight weeks old.
Chicks are a commitment for their lifetime.
Also like puppies and kittens, you need to think long term. Most of the animals I have owned have lived between 13 and 17 years. For some pet owners, my pets would have still been considered young. Realize that a chicken can easily live 8-10 years, but a healthy, well-cared for backyard chicken can live up to 20 years!
Chickens may not be legal in your area.
Just because a store or a farmer in your area may be selling chicks doesn’t make them legal where you live. Don’t just take the word of a friend, either. In some cities and counties, adjacent properties may have different sets of laws governing them because of things such as zoning. Personally check the laws where you live before making a purchase AND check with the local animal control, code enforcement, or extension office. They will be able to prove to you the legality of chickens in your area.
You might be wondering by now, “Why the negativity about chickens?” It’s not negative. It’s realistic. Chicks can be a lot of fun, but their keeping needs to be seriously considered.
So how do you do it right?
Do your homework.
After making sure that you may legally own chickens, learn about different breeds to find what will best meet your family’s needs once they are grown. Are you looking for a reliable egg-layer? A docile companion? Something with personality? Each breed has unique characteristics, just like dogs or cats. You also need to know what equipment you will need. You don’t usually buy a puppy without buying food, food and water dishes, a collar, a bed, and toys. Chicks will need some kind of container and a heat source in which to keep safe and warm, as well as feeder, water container, starter feed, and disposable bedding. When they are older and bigger, and are kept outside, they will need a safe shelter complete with roost and nesting areas; bedding; feed; feeder; and watering container, along with access to sunlight and dirt. That’s just the beginning.
Know what you are getting.
Are you looking for girl chicks (pullets) only? Then it is best to avoid buying your chicks “straight run.” Buying straight run basically means that girls and boys are all put in together, and you don’t know what you’re going to get. (General rule is that half will be boys and half will be girls—IF you’re lucky!) Try to make sure the chicks have been “sexed;” that is, they have been separated according to gender. It is possible for trained individuals to tell the difference even at a young age.
It is also a good idea to try to buy local, especially if you are looking for a specific breed. You may end up paying a little more per chick, but chances are, the chick will be healthier and of better breeding than those at feed stores. But make sure to ask the seller for your gender preference to see if he/she will honor it.
Ask for help if you need it.
If you have already purchased chicks and are reconsidering a little too late, DO NOT abandon your chickens! Contact us for assistance. We are passionate about chicken keeping and want what is best for families and for chickens. We might be able to provide ideas on how to make chicken owning less overwhelming for you. We also might be able to assist you in finding a home for unwanted chickens—especially the unexpected cockerels.
Backyard chicken keeping is a rewarding endeavor, but it takes dedication. As with owning any other animal, you must be well acquainted with the needs of the animal and the responsibilities of ownership you will face.
Baby Chickens Hatchery in Atherton, California
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Atherton California, 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. Atherton California also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Atherton California, 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 Atherton CA.Baby Chickens Raising in Atherton, California
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Atherton California 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
Atherton California * 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 Atherton
California * 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 Order Online in Atherton, California
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 Atherton California 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 Atherton, California Baby chicks are very charming and hard to withstand, however it's finest to plan for their arrival before you get them. Prepare initially by collecting not just the correct products, but additionally the correct expertise to care for them. Raising baby chicks is fairly easy, you simply need to offer them with the following: A tidy and also cozy habitat A lot of food as well as water Attention and also love Habitat Your habitat can be a simple box, aquarium, cat service provider, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels and also blankets (without any loosened strings!) to begin, as well as after a couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only newspaper or various other sandal surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand misshapen. You likewise need something to serve up food and water in, such as a chicken feeder and water dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container lid for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Likewise, as the chicks age you could present a perch into the environment to get them educated on setting down. Heat To keep your chicks heat you have to offer them with a warmth resource. This can be as basic as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth bulb additionally work effectively (my recommendation). Chicks need this heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is changed with plumes (which could use up to 2 months). The freshly hatched out need a temperature level in between 90 and 100 levels, as well as every week this can be decreased by roughly 5 levels or so. The warmth source need to get on merely one side of the cage to allow chicks an array of temperatures. The chicks are your finest thermometer- if they are hiding in the opposite edge of your heat light, you should decrease the temperature. If they are surrounding each other under the warmth (not simply cuddling), you have to put some heat. Home cleaning Tidiness is key and it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter the bedding usually and also always provide clean food and water Food as well as water. Chicks expand extremely fast which calls for lots of tidy food and also water. Offer sufficient at all times and inspect usually to stop dehydrated and also starving chicks. Chick food is various compared to grown-up chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the first two months, after that switch over to a grower food (~ 17 % protein) for one more 2 months, and afterwards to a slightly reduced protein feed or a layer feed (if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want to obtain a head start on taking dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task till they are older. If you have the space in your chick room, introduce a tray of sand or filth for them to bathe in. Interest as well as love There are a few advantages to hanging out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly probably bond with you and not flee as adults. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily and view their actions, you could capture health problem or various other troubles earlier. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or various other unhealthy signs. Make sure to also check out their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead to matted feathers and stopped up cloaca. Last but not least, it is very important to look out for social concerns, such as the smallest chick getting picked on. Empty nest disorder So your chicks are now totally feathered and its time for them to leave the safety of your house as well as move outside into a coop. Take a look at our part on chicken cages for more information concerning coops and proper coop habitats.Baby Chickens Mail Raising Baby Chickens
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