Hens go broody at the strangest times. It is Dec 13th and two of my Silkies have decided to sit on eggs. I know they will keep the eggs warm and the baby chicks, too once they hatch. But winter is not a great time to have baby chicks outside.
Predators are very hungry and brave during the winter and that is when we have lost a chicken or two over the years. Our three dogs bark so it helps to keep most animals away. Lately, we have had a stray cat in our chicken yard. Hopefully, it is just there for some water but we did lose a little two week old chick about the time the cat showed up.
Hens will sit on their eggs for 21 days and only get off the eggs once or twice a day to eat, drink and poop. It can take a toll on the chicken’s health especially when they want to go broody again thirty days later, which is when she starting laying eggs again. After you take the eggs from under her, it is not unusual to see her remain sitting. But if you don’t want more chicks, keep taking the eggs away. She will eventually get the idea.
Silkies are great chickens for many reasons but they are definitely GREAT moms. I often put some of my Americauna (blue/green) eggs under her to hatch for me. Silkies are a smaller breed chicken so they can sit on about 8 eggs.
I live in Northeastern Florida and day-old straight-run Silkie chicks sell for $5 each. Straight-run means you do not know the sex of the chick. You don’t have anything invested in the chicks if the mom hatched the chicks out, so it’s pure profit.
If the chick is not a specialty breed, you can expect to get $3 a chick. I have heard that the Black Cooper Maran chicks sell for $20 each. They lay the real dark chocolate colored eggs.
Again, go on Craigslist under Farm and Garden and find out what your local area charges for chickens. Read up on chickens and determine what kind best suits your needs. Some chickens are known for being good egg layers and some for their meat.
Baby Chicks Needs in
Marion, Indiana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Marion Indiana,
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. Marion
Indiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Marion Indiana, 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 Marion IN.
Baby Chickens In
The Mail in
Marion, Indiana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Marion Indiana
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
Marion Indiana * 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 Marion
Indiana * 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
Marion, Indiana
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
Marion Indiana 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 Marion,
Indiana Baby chicks are really
charming and also
difficult to resist,
however it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
proper products, however
likewise the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you merely have to supply them with the following: A
clean and warm
environment Lots of food as well
as water Interest and also
love Habitat Your environment could be a straightforward box, aquarium,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without loose
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You likewise require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and an animal bird water dispenser from an animal store. Likewise, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you should
offer them with a warmth resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb likewise work extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could use
up to two months). The freshly
hatched out require a temperature level
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
as well as each week this could
be lowered by
roughly 5 degrees or
so. The warmth resource ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your heat
light, you have to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you have to add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is vital and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bed linen
commonly as well as
always supply tidy
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow very fast
which needs lots of tidy
food and water. Provide
enough in any way times and also examine
usually to
stop thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Attention and also love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and also
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
watch their behavior, you can
capture health problem or other problems previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other undesirable
indicators. Make certain to
likewise consider
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
as well as move outside into a
coop. Have a look at our
area on chicken cages to learn more
concerning cages and
correct cage habitats.
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