Baby Chickens for Sale in Huntsville, Illinois
Baby Chickens for Sale in Huntsville, Illinois
Is Buying Chicks for Easter a Good Idea?
It’s that time of year again: The sun is shining more. Flowers are beginning to bloom. People are getting ready for Easter. Baby animals are being born.
Baby chicks for sale are readily available.
Before the Easter Bunny decides to bring some cute, fuzzy chicks to your house, there are a few things to consider about those adorable, cheeping balls of fluff.
Chicks require special care and handling.
Chicks are not animals appropriate for most toddlers. Puppies and kittens are able to wriggle, and even scratch or bite if they feel uncomfortable or threatened by children. Chicks are pretty helpless and are fairly susceptible to sustaining internal injury if not properly handled.
Anyone handling chicks should always thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water afterward—something that is sometimes difficult to achieve with young children.
Chicks also require frequent monitoring for unusual behaviors that can indicate illness.
Chicks grow up—fast!
Just like puppies and kittens, chicks grow—and grow quickly. They may be cute and fluffy and able to fit in a box in your bathroom today, but by the time they are five weeks old, some breeds may have more than tripled in size. They are not-so-cute and fluffy any more. And they are not content to stay inside all day, especially not in a box with a bunch of others. If you end up with a cockerel (male adolescent chicken), he might just start crowing by the time he is eight weeks old.
Chicks are a commitment for their lifetime.
Also like puppies and kittens, you need to think long term. Most of the animals I have owned have lived between 13 and 17 years. For some pet owners, my pets would have still been considered young. Realize that a chicken can easily live 8-10 years, but a healthy, well-cared for backyard chicken can live up to 20 years!
Chickens may not be legal in your area.
Just because a store or a farmer in your area may be selling chicks doesn’t make them legal where you live. Don’t just take the word of a friend, either. In some cities and counties, adjacent properties may have different sets of laws governing them because of things such as zoning. Personally check the laws where you live before making a purchase AND check with the local animal control, code enforcement, or extension office. They will be able to prove to you the legality of chickens in your area.
You might be wondering by now, “Why the negativity about chickens?” It’s not negative. It’s realistic. Chicks can be a lot of fun, but their keeping needs to be seriously considered.
So how do you do it right?
Do your homework.
After making sure that you may legally own chickens, learn about different breeds to find what will best meet your family’s needs once they are grown. Are you looking for a reliable egg-layer? A docile companion? Something with personality? Each breed has unique characteristics, just like dogs or cats. You also need to know what equipment you will need. You don’t usually buy a puppy without buying food, food and water dishes, a collar, a bed, and toys. Chicks will need some kind of container and a heat source in which to keep safe and warm, as well as feeder, water container, starter feed, and disposable bedding. When they are older and bigger, and are kept outside, they will need a safe shelter complete with roost and nesting areas; bedding; feed; feeder; and watering container, along with access to sunlight and dirt. That’s just the beginning.
Know what you are getting.
Are you looking for girl chicks (pullets) only? Then it is best to avoid buying your chicks “straight run.” Buying straight run basically means that girls and boys are all put in together, and you don’t know what you’re going to get. (General rule is that half will be boys and half will be girls—IF you’re lucky!) Try to make sure the chicks have been “sexed;” that is, they have been separated according to gender. It is possible for trained individuals to tell the difference even at a young age.
It is also a good idea to try to buy local, especially if you are looking for a specific breed. You may end up paying a little more per chick, but chances are, the chick will be healthier and of better breeding than those at feed stores. But make sure to ask the seller for your gender preference to see if he/she will honor it.
Ask for help if you need it.
If you have already purchased chicks and are reconsidering a little too late, DO NOT abandon your chickens! Contact us for assistance. We are passionate about chicken keeping and want what is best for families and for chickens. We might be able to provide ideas on how to make chicken owning less overwhelming for you. We also might be able to assist you in finding a home for unwanted chickens—especially the unexpected cockerels.
Backyard chicken keeping is a rewarding endeavor, but it takes dedication. As with owning any other animal, you must be well acquainted with the needs of the animal and the responsibilities of ownership you will face.
Baby Chicks To Buy in Huntsville, Illinois
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Huntsville 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. Huntsville Illinois also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Huntsville 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 Huntsville IL.Baby Chickens For Sale Online in Huntsville, Illinois
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Huntsville 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
Huntsville 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 Huntsville
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 Chicks Types in Huntsville, 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville, Illinois Baby chicks are very adorable as well as challenging to resist, however it's ideal to plan for their arrival before you get them. Prepare first by gathering not only the correct products, however additionally the correct knowledge to care for them. Raising baby chicks is fairly simple, you just should provide them with the following: A tidy and also cozy environment A lot of food and water Focus as well as love Habitat Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank, cat service provider, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels and blankets (without loosened strings!) to start, as well as after a couple of weeks use straw over newspaper. Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just paper or various other slipper surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand malformed. You likewise need something to provide food as well as water in, such as a chicken feeder and water meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar lid for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a pet dog store. Also, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch into the environment to obtain them educated on perching. Warmth To keep your chicks heat you have to provide them with a warmth resource. This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth light bulb likewise work extremely well (my suggestion). Chicks require this heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The recently hatched need a temperature in between 90 as well as 100 levels, and weekly this could be reduced by roughly 5 degrees or so. The heat source should be on merely one side of the cage to enable chicks a variety of temperature levels. The chicks are your best thermostat- if they are concealing in the contrary edge of your heat lamp, you need to reduce the temperature. If they are smothering each other under the heat (not just curling up), you should include some heat. House cleaning Sanitation is vital and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter the bed linens often as well as constantly provide tidy food as well as water Food as well as water. Chicks expand extremely quick which calls for plenty of tidy food and also water. Give enough in any way times as well as examine commonly to stop thirsty as well as hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared to adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the initial 2 months, then switch over to a grower food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for another 2 months, and after that to a somewhat reduced healthy 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 will not occupy that activity until they are older. If you have the room in your chick unit, present a tray of sand or dirt for them to wash in. Interest as well as love There are a few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will more than likely bond with you and not flee as adults. Second, if you examine your chicks daily and also view their behavior, you can capture illness or various other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or other undesirable indicators. Make sure to additionally consider their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted plumes and also clogged cloaca. Lastly, it is very important to look out for social concerns, such as the smallest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest disorder So your chicks are currently totally feathery and its time for them to leave the safety of your residence and also relocate outside right into a coop. Look into our section on chicken coops to read more about cages as well as correct coop environments.Baby Chickens Near Me Baby Chickens 101
More Posts
Baby Chickens for Sale in Elkhart, Illinois
Baby Chickens for Sale in Hoopeston, Illinois
Baby Chickens for Sale in Galena, Illinois
Baby Chickens for Sale in Donovan, Illinois
Baby Chickens for Sale in Bridgeport, Illinois