Well, unfortunately, over the past few months we have been plagued with Bobcats and now Mountain Lions, and our chickens are suffering for it. We’ve lost 1 layer and 2 pullets and one of our layers was mauled and hasn’t laid since. We are in the process of enclosing our chicken pen so that the buggers can’t get in, but the free ranging time has now been limited/and or non existent because I have to be out there with them or make sure our dog is out there watching them, which she has no interest in doing, so I end up out there most of the time. It’s been really frustrating and I’m so upset but not sure what else we can do…
Here’s some pics of where we live and where the coop is:
our property lines up next to protected land where deer are prolific, wild turkeys run loose, as do bands of coyotes, but ever since we (and I believe a few neighbors) have been raising chicken, we now have bobcats and for the first time in 42 years, a mountain lion, to deal with!
And here are my Chickens (Black & Red-the one who was mauled) & funny eggs:
Here’s a pic of a baby egg we got, so teeny tiny I had to share a picture:-)
Our pullets Rhodie & Eagle:
We’ve got another layer Red Sex Link, named Runt, a 2 year old Buff Orpington, who we call Buff, and two more pullets without names, one’s a Barred Rock and another Buff Orpington. I’ll post picks of them soon:-)
I absolutely love having fresh eggs, but sometimes the frustrations have me wondering if it’s worth it…and it really is!!!
Baby Chicks To Buy in
Brayton, Iowa
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Brayton Iowa,
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. Brayton
Iowa also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Brayton Iowa, 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 Brayton IA.
Baby Chicks Habitat in
Brayton, Iowa
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Brayton Iowa
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
Brayton Iowa * 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 Brayton
Iowa * 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 As
Pets in
Brayton, Iowa
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
Brayton Iowa 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 Brayton,
Iowa Baby chicks are very
cute as well as
difficult to resist,
but it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not just the
proper materials, yet
likewise the proper
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you just should offer them with the following: A tidy and warm and comfortable
habitat A lot of food and also water Interest and
love Environment Your habitat can be a straightforward box, aquarium,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You also need
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish 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 could introduce a perch
into the habitat to get them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
offer them with a warmth source.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb also work very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 and 100 degrees,
as well as every week this could
be decreased by
around 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource should get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your warmth
lamp, you have to
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not merely snuggling),
you need to add some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is essential and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to transform
the bed linens
typically as well as
always provide clean
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow extremely quick
which calls for lots of clean
food and water. Provide
sufficient in any way times and inspect
usually to
stop dehydrated and also
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Focus as well as love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
view their habits, you could
capture health problem or various
other troubles previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
various other harmful
signs. Make certain to
likewise check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can cause matted plumes as well
as clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is important to watch out for social problems, such as the
littlest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
as well as move outside right into a
coop. Look into our
area on chicken cages for more information
concerning cages and also
appropriate coop environments.
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