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 How To Raise in
Mountain City, Georgia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Mountain City Georgia,
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. Mountain City
Georgia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Mountain City Georgia, 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 Mountain City GA.
Baby
Chickens Hatchery in
Mountain City, Georgia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Mountain City Georgia
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
Mountain City Georgia * 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 Mountain City
Georgia * 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 House in
Mountain City, Georgia
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
Mountain City Georgia 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 Mountain City,
Georgia Baby chicks are really
charming and
difficult to stand up to,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by collecting not only the
proper materials, however
likewise the proper
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you just need
to give them with the following: A tidy and also warm and comfortable
environment Lots of food and water Interest and also
love Environment Your habitat could be a
simple box, aquarium,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid making use of just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You additionally need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as a pet dog bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you should
give them with a warmth resource.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and every week this can
be minimized by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource should get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not merely snuggling),
you should put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is crucial and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bed linens
often and
consistently supply tidy
food and water Food and water.
Chicks grow very fast
which requires lots of tidy
food and also water. Supply
enough whatsoever times and also examine
usually to prevent dehydrated and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others won't take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Interest and also love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their actions, you can
catch health problem or other troubles previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Make sure to
also check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes and clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to look out
for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
as well as relocate outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken cages to find out
more
concerning cages and
proper cage environments.
Baby Chicks SuppliesBaby Chickens 101 More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Cairo, Georgia Baby Chickens for Sale in Lilly, Georgia Baby Chickens for Sale in Jeffersonville, Georgia Baby Chickens for Sale in Chula, Georgia Baby Chickens for Sale in Lovejoy, Georgia