Chickens feather pecking, or feather eating can become a problem in a flock and there are a few reasons why it happens.
Your hens might be bored so make sure they have plenty of things to do. Try a couple of thick branches hung up on string that the birds can jump onto. This will also provides a getaway for birds that are being picked on. Hanging old CD’s provides interest for your birds to peck at. Hanging whole cabbages/cauliflower or corn on the cobs just out of reach provides great stimulation for your chickens. They will get plenty of exercise jumping up to reach the tasty treats!
If your chickens are pecking other birds it could be down to a lack of protein in their diet. Make sure they are on a good quality layer pellet and have plenty of oyster shell grit. Cat food provides a good protein hit,along with a poultry supplement.
There are also sprays on the market that deters the chicken from pecking.
Remember when introducing new birds to your flock, the best time is when it is dark. Place the new hens in the nest area, this way the other birds are less likely to notice them. Also spray the new birds the birds with anti pecking spray
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Westville 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. Westville
Indiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Westville 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 Westville IN.
Baby Chicks Supplies in
Westville, Indiana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Westville 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
Westville 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 Westville
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 And Heat Lamps in
Westville, 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
Westville 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 Westville,
Indiana Baby chicks are quite
cute and also
hard to withstand,
however it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not just the
right materials, but
likewise the correct
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you just should supply them with the following: A tidy and also cozy
habitat A lot of food and also water Interest and also
love Habitat Your habitat can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also need
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container
lid for food and a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you have to
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb additionally function extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and weekly this could
be reduced by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The warmth source must be on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your heat
lamp, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not just snuggling),
you have to add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bed linen
frequently and
constantly give tidy
food and water Food and water.
Chicks expand really quick
which requires lots of clean
food and also water. Provide
sufficient at all times as well
as check
commonly to avoid dehydrated and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others will not occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Interest and love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and also
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
watch their behavior, you can
capture health problem or other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
other undesirable
signs. Be sure to
also look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead
to matted feathers and clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to look out
for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and move outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
section on chicken cages for more information
about coops and also
appropriate coop habitats.
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