On her blog Lauren informs us about what Organic means when it comes to purchasing your chicken. Many people think chicken is chicken, but there is much to know about the Organic. Here is what Lauren teaches us:
Organic means that the bird you are purchasing has been fed an organic diet, which denies the use of antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers in the feed. Buying organic only relates to the bird’s diet – it has nothing to do with their environment or handling. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted, and there is no third party auditing.
Natural: This means absolutely nothing. It does not make any promises, guarantees, or claims about the animal, its quality, how it was raised, etc.
Cage Free: This means that the bird is uncaged inside barns or warehouses, but likely has no access to the outdoors. Cage Free birds are still usually packed like sardines in their enclosures, so this is still a far cry from humane living conditions. Beak cutting is permitted.
Free Range: Free Range poultry are uncaged inside barns or warehouses and have some degree of outdoor access, but there are no requirements for the amount, duration, or quality of outdoor access. Outdoor access could mean a concrete enclosure – it does not imply grass or a pasture. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted, and there is no third party auditing.
Vegetarian Fed: This just means that the feed given to the poultry is free of animal flesh. Chickens are naturally not vegetarian, so this does not really mean much in the way of quality.
So what to buy? Basically it’s fairly difficult to buy a bird that you can guarantee was raised in optimal conditions. At minimum, buy organic free-range. If you have access to a farmer’s market, that is likely where you will find the best quality poultry and meats. Birds raised on small family farms are going to be the most humanely raised and likely the best tasting of the bunch.
Aside from the ethical standpoint of buying high-quality, small-farm raised proteins, there are also huge health and environmental benefits to shopping humanely. Taking a few moments out of your day to do a little research on where your food comes from will reap enormous benefits!
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Baby Chickens Under Lights in
Yampa, Colorado
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Yampa 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. Yampa
Colorado also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Yampa 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 Yampa CO.
Baby Chickens Facts in
Yampa, Colorado
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Yampa 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
Yampa 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 Yampa
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 Chickens Eggs in
Yampa, 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
Yampa 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 Yampa,
Colorado Baby chicks are really
cute and also
difficult to withstand,
however it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
right materials, however
additionally the proper
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you simply have to offer them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
environment Plenty of food and also water Focus and also
love Environment Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
offer them with a heat resource.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb also function extremely well (my
referral). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and weekly this can
be minimized by
approximately 5 levels approximately. The heat source should be on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
contrary edge of your heat
light, you should
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you need to put some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is vital as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to transform
the bedding
frequently and also
consistently supply clean
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow quite quickly
which requires plenty of clean
food as well as water. Supply
enough at all times and also check
often to
stop dehydrated as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will most
likely bond with you and
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
enjoy their habits, you could
capture health problem or other problems earlier. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted plumes as well
as stopped up cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to look out
for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
as well as relocate outside right into a
coop. Check out our
part on chicken coops to read more
concerning cages and also
correct coop habitats.
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