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Baby Chickens for Sale in Waveland, Indiana

Baby Chickens for Sale in Waveland, Indiana

Brooder Box for baby Chicks: A Tutorial

  • 09/26/2012

Our little darling chicks have arrived!  We ordered from mypetchicken.com and found the selection and service to be excellent.  The chicks shipped super fast and were all healthy and well when they arrived (oh and so soft and cute!).  Our little gal chicks will live in their brooder box for about 4-6 weeks, then transition to their chicken coop outdoors, where they will have free range of our backyard once they are full grown.

Investing in chicks can start to get expensive if you don’t DIY.  I considered just using a large cardboard box to keep them in for those first 4-6 weeks, but all the sources I read about chick care said that a large cardboard box would soon be too small for the growing chicks (and potentially too short as well for when they try flying).  Mypetchicken.com sells a  for $72 shipping; however to save some cash, I decided to copy the idea using left over moving boxes I had laying around.

You will need:

2 Large cardboard boxes of the same size

cutting tool

strong tape (duct tape works)

It’s so simple: cut a side open on the two boxes, open them up and then tape the edges together, folding the bottoms in together so they sort of weave and interlock.  You can choose to tape those inside flaps together for added stability.

Added bonus for this design: when the chicks get bigger and can start jumping and trying to fly, you can fold up the top flaps of the boxes and tape them together to add 5 plus inches to the height of your box – cool!  You can also grab a couple long sticks or dowels and punch holes in the sides of the cardboard to set up roosting perches for the chicks about 1-2 inches off the ground.

To make removing and cleaning the pine bedding easier, I picked up a painters drop cloth at the hardware store for $8, size 5×5, and laid it inside the pen before putting down the  bedding.  This will allow me to wrap up the entire bedding/poop mess inside the drop cloth and carry it out to the compost pile.

Other items needed for our 6 little birds were purchased at a local feed store:

  • $5.50 – buy the large one so you don’t have to buy it later when the birds get bigger and try to knock over a smaller sized one you may have bought at first.  Saves you money and time!
  •  $4
  • 3 cubic feet of compressed  $8
  • 25 lbs  $12
  • From Amazon I purchased a  for $11.20
  • and from Amazon also I purchased a $12

My home-made “package” cost $55.70, compared to the starter kit from mypetchicken.com priced at $72 plus shipping.  As an added bonus, I purchased 5 times as much food, got a larger watering device and a metal feeder instead of plastic.  I also was able to get 20 times as much pine bedding and a much sturdier heatlamp.  I’d say that’s a win!  Plus, I do think my recycled cardboard chick house ended up being larger than the size of the packaged one.

And man, are they cute!  My son loves going in there during the day with me to check on them.

For more information on raising baby chicks, I recommend

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Baby Chickens for Sale in Waveland 
IN

Baby Chickens By Mail in Waveland, Indiana

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Waveland 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. Waveland Indiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Waveland 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 Waveland IN.

Baby Chicks Care in Waveland, Indiana

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Waveland 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. Baby Chickens for Sale in Waveland 
INTypically 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 Waveland 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 Waveland 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 Outside With Heat Lamp in Waveland, 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 Waveland 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 Waveland, Indiana Baby chicks are really cute and also difficult to stand up to, however it's ideal to prepare for their arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first by compiling not only the right materials, but additionally the appropriate understanding to look after them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably straightforward, you just should provide them with the following: A clean and also warm environment Lots of food and water Interest and love Habitat Your habitat could be an easy box, fish tank, pet cat carrier, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels and also coverings (without any loosened strings!) to start, and after a couple of weeks use straw over newspaper. Note: Avoid making use of only paper or various other sandal surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow misshapen. You likewise require something to provide food and water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container lid for food and also a family pet bird water dispenser from a pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks get older you can present a perch right into the habitat to obtain them educated on perching. Heat To keep your chicks warm you should give them with a warmth source. This can be as simple as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth bulb also work effectively (my recommendation). Chicks need this warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is changed with plumes (which can take up to two months). The recently hatched out require a temperature in between 90 as well as 100 degrees, as well as weekly this could be decreased by around 5 levels approximately. The heat source must get on simply one side of the cage to enable chicks a variety of temperatures. The chicks are your best thermostat- if they are concealing in the opposite corner of your warmth lamp, you have to decrease the temperature level. If they are smothering each other under the warmth (not merely curling up), you need to put some heat. Housekeeping Cleanliness is crucial and it keeps your chicks healthy and balanced. Make sure to alter the bedding commonly and also consistently provide tidy food as well as water Food and also water. Chicks expand quite fast which requires plenty of tidy food and water. Give sufficient at all times as well as inspect often to prevent dehydrated as well as hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared to grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the first two months, then switch to a raiser 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 obtain a running start on taking dust baths, while others won't occupy that task up until they are older. If you have the space in your chick unit, introduce a tray of sand or dirt for them to bathe in. Attention as well as love There are a few advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will probably bond with you and not flee as grownups. Second, if you examine your chicks daily as well as enjoy their actions, you could catch ailment or various other issues earlier. Keep an eye out for hissing, limping, or various other harmful indications. Make sure to also consider their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted feathers as well as stopped up cloaca. Last but not least, it is important to watch out for social issues, such as the littlest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your chicks are currently totally feathery and its time for them to leave the security of your residence as well as move outside right into a coop. Have a look at our part on chicken coops to learn more about coops as well as proper coop environments.
Baby Chickens Care     Baby Chicks Hatchery
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