Well, unfortunately, over the past few months we have been plagued with Bobcats and now Mountain Lions, and our chickens are suffering for it. We’ve lost 1 layer and 2 pullets and one of our layers was mauled and hasn’t laid since. We are in the process of enclosing our chicken pen so that the buggers can’t get in, but the free ranging time has now been limited/and or non existent because I have to be out there with them or make sure our dog is out there watching them, which she has no interest in doing, so I end up out there most of the time. It’s been really frustrating and I’m so upset but not sure what else we can do…
Here’s some pics of where we live and where the coop is:
our property lines up next to protected land where deer are prolific, wild turkeys run loose, as do bands of coyotes, but ever since we (and I believe a few neighbors) have been raising chicken, we now have bobcats and for the first time in 42 years, a mountain lion, to deal with!
And here are my Chickens (Black & Red-the one who was mauled) & funny eggs:
Here’s a pic of a baby egg we got, so teeny tiny I had to share a picture:-)
Our pullets Rhodie & Eagle:
We’ve got another layer Red Sex Link, named Runt, a 2 year old Buff Orpington, who we call Buff, and two more pullets without names, one’s a Barred Rock and another Buff Orpington. I’ll post picks of them soon:-)
I absolutely love having fresh eggs, but sometimes the frustrations have me wondering if it’s worth it…and it really is!!!
Baby Chickens Eggs in
Valley Ford, California
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Valley Ford 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. Valley Ford
California also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Valley Ford 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 Valley Ford CA.
Baby Chicks Near Me in
Valley Ford, California
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Valley Ford 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
Valley Ford 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 Valley Ford
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 Chickens Diet in
Valley Ford, 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
Valley Ford 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 Valley Ford,
California Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and also
challenging to withstand,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
appropriate materials, but
likewise the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you merely need
to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as warm
habitat Plenty of food and also water Interest and
love Environment Your environment could be a basic box, fish tank,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
paper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You additionally require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Additionally, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
into the environment to obtain them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally work very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also every week this can
be minimized by
about 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource must get on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not simply curling up),
you should put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is essential and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bedding
commonly and
consistently supply clean
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow quite quick
which requires lots of tidy
food and water. Give
enough whatsoever times and check
usually to prevent dehydrated as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Interest and love There are a
few advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
enjoy their actions, you could
capture illness or various
other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other harmful
signs. Make sure to
also consider
their poop, as diarrhea can bring about matted feathers and blocked cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to look out
for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as move outside right into a
coop. Check out our
part on chicken cages to find out
more
regarding coops and also
appropriate cage environments.
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