A couple of months ago our family decided that we were going to get some baby chicks to raise so we could get fresh organic eggs. We were so excited when we walked into the Tractor Supply Store during their “Chick days” we got 6 baby chicks and everything we needed for starting out. They were kept inside for 6 weeks and grew so big in that short amount of time.
A couple of weeks before they were transitioned outside my husband and I built their chicken coop. It was one that we bought on Ebay that looks really cute like a house for chickens. We had never raised chickens before and a few of our neighbors had told us to watch out for predators that would try to get to the chickens.
I was so naïve and would tell my husband that it’s the city near the ocean where neighbors are all over place and that I have never seen any wildlife at all out here! The only animals I have ever seen was squirrels and seagulls. We’ve lived in the country before and I felt sure that nothing would happen here and with our new cute chicken coop for our chickens they would be fine.
Everything went fine the first night and then the second morning when I went out to let them out of the housing part, one of the chicks were on the outside waiting near the coop door. I found that odd and wondered how he got out and then of course to my horror I saw blood and the other 5 were missing. Something had knocked a board up from underneath and all the chickens had fallen out to the ground. We never did find them that day anywhere and decided we were going to take the one back inside for a while. My husband fixed the board in hopes that it would do the trick in the future. Unfortunately the last chicken was killed as well. We found prints all over the coop which look like to me Racoon prints? Our poor chicken was pulled out from some slats that were up underneath.
Again I was so upset. How could this be happening? We spent so much time and energy into having chickens and to me after raising them that short while I realized that chickens have personalities and they were becoming more of a pet to me then anything. We decided to adopt some more from online because we didn’t find any babies in our area so we got some from mypetchicken.com. They arrived safely and are doing very well. I cannot believe how big they are already!
My husband has put so many locks and has altered the chicken coop that there is no way that anything is getting to my babies again!
If your planning to get baby chicks or have gotten some recently and getting ready to put them outdoors please make sure that the coops is bullet proof per say. Apparently there are some critters out there that are wicked smart and clever and get to your animals if you’re not careful.
Lesson learned here, just because we are in the city doesn’t mean that there isn’t any night-time predators lurking to get to my chickens.
Bonnie is a Business Owner and Blogger. She's a Wife, Momma to 5 kiddos and loves anything that has to do with the outdoors, especially gardening. She started her blog in 2013 to share with others her learning to Live greener experiences, Product , with 5 kiddos, DIY projects, Savings, Recipes and more. Reach her at wemake7blog@gmail.com
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Baby Chickens Outside in
Palmyra, Indiana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Palmyra 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. Palmyra
Indiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Palmyra 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 Palmyra IN.
Baby Chickens Buy in
Palmyra, Indiana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Palmyra 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
Palmyra 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 Palmyra
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 Chickens Online in
Palmyra, 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
Palmyra 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 Palmyra,
Indiana Baby chicks are quite
cute and also
tough to stand up to,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not only the
appropriate materials, but
likewise the correct
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you just should offer them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
habitat A lot of food and also water Attention as well as
love Environment Your habitat could be an easy box, aquarium,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You likewise need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you could present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
supply them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also work very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and every week this can
be minimized by
about 5 degrees approximately. The heat source ought
to be on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
light, you should
decrease the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just snuggling),
you have to include some heat.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is crucial and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter
the bed linens
often and also
consistently supply clean
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks expand really quickly
which needs lots of tidy
food and water. Offer
enough in any way times as well
as examine
often to avoid parched as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not take
up that activity until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Interest and also love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
watch their habits, you can
catch illness or various
other troubles previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
various other undesirable
signs. Make sure to
additionally consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted feathers and also stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is important to look out
for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathery
and its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and also move outside into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages to read more
regarding coops as well as
proper coop environments.
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