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 Home in
Dove Creek, Colorado
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Dove Creek Colorado,
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. Dove Creek
Colorado also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Dove Creek Colorado, 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 Dove Creek CO.
Baby Chicks in
Dove Creek, Colorado
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Dove Creek Colorado
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
Dove Creek Colorado * 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 Dove Creek
Colorado * 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
Dove Creek, Colorado
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
Dove Creek Colorado 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 Dove Creek,
Colorado Baby chicks are very
charming and also
difficult to withstand,
yet it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
correct products, but
also the appropriate
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
basic, you simply need
to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as warm and comfortable
habitat Lots of food and water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
paper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You likewise require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal store. Likewise, as the chicks age you could present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you should
offer them with a heat resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature
between 90 and 100 levels,
and weekly this could
be decreased by
about 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource must be on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other corner of your heat
lamp, you should
reduce the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not merely snuggling),
you should put some heat.
House cleaning
Tidiness is vital as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bed linen
commonly and also
consistently give tidy
food and also water Food and also water.
Chicks expand extremely quickly
which needs plenty of tidy
food as well as water. Offer
enough whatsoever times and also inspect
typically to prevent thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
then to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others will not take
up that task up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Interest as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you and
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their habits, you can
capture disease or various
other issues previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other undesirable
signs. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted plumes and stopped up cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to look out
for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and move outside into a
coop. Look into our
area on chicken coops to find out
more
concerning cages as well as
appropriate cage environments.
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