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 Chickens Raising in
Red Oak, Iowa
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Red Oak 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. Red Oak
Iowa also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Red Oak 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 Red Oak IA.
Baby Chickens in
Red Oak, Iowa
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Red Oak 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
Red Oak 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 Red Oak
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 Baby
Chickens in
Red Oak, 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
Red Oak 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 Red Oak,
Iowa Baby chicks are very
cute and also
hard to stand up to,
yet it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not just the
proper materials, yet
likewise the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you merely need
to supply them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
habitat Plenty of food and water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your habitat can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using only
newspaper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You likewise require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Additionally, as the chicks age you could present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you have to
offer them with a heat source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also every week this can
be decreased by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource need to be on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other edge of your warmth
light, you have to
reduce the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not merely snuggling),
you should put some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is key and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bed linens
usually and also
always supply tidy
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow quite quick
which requires plenty of clean
food and also water. Provide
sufficient at all times as well
as check
usually to prevent thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Focus and love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their habits, you can
capture health problem or various
other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indicators. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
and also move outside into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken coops to get more information
about coops and also
correct coop environments.
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