Baby Chickens for Sale in Farmersville, Illinois
Baby Chickens for Sale in Farmersville, Illinois
6 Points to help you decide if Backyard Chickens are for You.
6 Points to Help You Decide if
Backyard Chickens are for You!
If you are a real food enthusiast who strives to eat real, fresh, healthy, local food, getting backyard chickens may have crossed your mind. Or the road. Or… well you get the point. And the point is that why should you buy fresh pastured eggs when you could simply walk into your backyard and retrieve them from a nest? Sounds pretty romantic, right? So, here are some things to consider if you are thinking about backyard chickens.
Eggs
Studies have shown that to conventional eggs from factory farmed chickens. They have:
• 1/3 less cholesterol • 1/4 less saturated fat • 2/3 more vitamin A • 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids • 3 times more vitamin E • 7 times more beta carotene
Con: Once you account for the cost of set-up, feed and upkeep, you may not actually save much money keeping your own backyard chickens. I don’t like math, but from what I have read from people who do, eggs end up costing the chicken hobbyist between $4 and $5 per dozen, which is probably what you would pay your local farmer for them. Plus, nobody tells you that the chickens don’t lay all year long and will take random breaks for bad weather, low light or to molt.
Pro: Are you kidding me?!!?!? You get freaking EGGS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!!! From your own chickens! It doesn’t get more local than that! Plus you have control of what the chickens eat, so you can choose to make sure they are not eating GMOs or unnatural diets. And fresh eggs are one of the most delicious and versatile foods known to man. Plus, everyone you know wants to be your friend now, because they want you to share your eggs with them. End rant.
Chicken Poop
Con: It happens and it stinks
Pro: It is great fertilizer. If it bothers you, keep your chickens away from your porch. But the truth is, everyone poops. Chickens are no eggception.
Scraps
Pro: Backyard Chickens eat scraps, which is awesome. I don’t see a negative to this. It reduces food waste and the more scraps they eat, the less you have to feed them (this will vary depending on how much free space they have to roam).
Neighbors
Pro: As long as you don’t get a rooster (which is noisy and many places it’s not legal to have a rooster within city limits anyways) many times your neighbors won’t even know the chickens are there. And when they do, they will try to make friends with you to get free eggs. Or, alternately you can bribe them with eggs. 😉�
Bugs
Chickens eat bugs, so in my book, this is a huge pro. But hey, if you have a rare bug collection that you don’t want to feed to your chickens, perhaps this isn’t for you.
Kids
In my experience chickens do not eat kids, so you’re safe there. Kids generally love chickens and find them both entertaining and educational. It is important to teach them good safety and hygiene rules when dealing with chickens. Hand-washing is important. But overall chickens and kids can be a very positive experience.
What you need to know to get started with Backyard Chickens
Before rushing into it (you know you want to). Make sure you do your homework. Check with your city or municipality for the legalities (how many, how big of a space, etc). Then you will want to research what kind to get and how to care for your backyard chickens. The best resource I have come across is this e-book:
It is a thorough guide that covers every topic you can think of from care and feeding to housing and troubleshooting. It is simple, readable and very accessible to the average person who may or may not have experience with chickens. I wish I had read it last year when I was getting started with my chickens! I actually like it so much that I became an affiliate to sell it (that’s how excited I get about chickens). I cannot recommend it highly enough! Click
If you already have backyard chickens, you might enjoy reading
Please give me your best backyard chicken advice in the comments!
Photos courtesy of Feelart and Simon Howden via freedigitalphotos.net
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Any products or techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am just a mom who shares what works for me!
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Baby Chickens And Ducks For Sale in Farmersville, Illinois
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Farmersville Illinois, 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. Farmersville Illinois also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Farmersville Illinois, 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 Farmersville IL.Baby Chickens Diet in Farmersville, Illinois
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Farmersville Illinois 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
Farmersville Illinois * 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 Farmersville
Illinois * 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 For Sale Near Me in Farmersville, Illinois
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 Farmersville Illinois 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 Farmersville, Illinois Baby chicks are quite cute as well as tough to withstand, however it's best to plan for their arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially by gathering not only the correct materials, but also the proper understanding to look after them. Raising baby chicks is relatively simple, you merely have to give them with the following: A clean as well as cozy habitat Plenty of food as well as water Interest and also love Environment Your habitat could be a simple box, aquarium, feline carrier, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels and blankets (with no loosened strings!) to start, 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 grow misshapen. You additionally require something to provide food and water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar cover for food and a family pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Also, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch right into the environment to obtain them trained on perching. Warmth To keep your chicks warm you should provide them with a warmth source. This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth light bulb also function effectively (my suggestion). Chicks require this heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is replaced with feathers (which could use up to two months). The newly hatched out require a temperature level in between 90 and 100 levels, and also every week this could be lowered by approximately 5 levels approximately. The heat source need to get on just one side of the cage to permit chicks an array of temperature levels. The chicks are your best thermometer- if they are concealing in the other corner of your warmth lamp, you should minimize the temperature level. If they are smothering each other under the warmth (not simply curling up), you should include some heat. House cleaning Sanitation is essential as well as it maintains your chicks healthy and balanced. Make certain to change the bedding often and constantly offer tidy food and water Food and water. Chicks expand very fast which needs plenty of tidy food and water. Offer enough whatsoever times and also inspect frequently to stop dehydrated as well as hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared to adult chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the initial 2 months, then switch over to a grower food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for another 2 months, and then to a somewhat lower healthy protein feed or a level feed (if you have levels). Soil Some chicks want to get a running start on taking dust baths, while others won't use up that activity till they are older. If you have the area in your chick unit, present a tray of sand or dirt for them to shower in. Attention and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly most likely bond with you as well as not run away as adults. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily as well as see their behavior, you can catch ailment or other troubles earlier. Watch out for hissing, limping, or other unhealthy indicators. Be sure to likewise check out their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted feathers and obstructed cloaca. Finally, it is necessary to look out for social issues, such as the smallest chick getting picked on. Empty nest disorder So your chicks are now completely feathery and its time for them to leave the security of your house as well as relocate outside right into a coop. Have a look at our section on chicken cages to read more about coops as well as correct coop habitats.Baby Chicks In A Box Baby Chicks For Sale
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