For quite some time I have been toying with the idea of getting chickens. I love the idea of having baby chicks around to help my children learn responsibility and how nature works to provide for us. This, however, is a big decision. Sure, little chicks are cute and having fresh eggs would be divine, but don’t forget that chickens are a lot of work. While they are usually quite content pecking away on their own, they still need a lot of care. Here are several things to consider before getting chickens.
1. Does your residential area allow chickens? Many areas, like homes in the city or neighborhoods, do not allow chickens. You could be fined and forced to remove them.
2. What are you going to do with them when they are done laying eggs?
3. What climate do you live in? Cold climates mean harsh winters when your chickens will need extra care.
4. Do you have time to keep their pens clean, water fresh and food available?
5. What do I need to make them a home? You will need a place for them to lay their eggs and get out of bad weather.
6. Will your chickens be free range or have a chicken pen? How will you keep them in your yard and not your neighbors?
7. What breed of chicken should you buy?
After researching chickens in further detail I still want them to join our family. However, I am going to take my time to make sure my preparations are done right and I am ready for them to join us. Ive read that the best time to get baby chicks is mid March-May. Since it is already March and I have not yet preparing a home for them, I will hold off on my plans until next year when I have ample time to prepare for their arrival. Plus, I still have some convincing to do with my husband who is not yet on board with the idea.
If you are interested in raising chickens, check out the e-book titled The Urban Chicken. I just finished reading it to help me decide if chickens were a good addition to our home or not. The book answered all of the questions I had that I mentioned above. The book also talks about what breed of chicken are best to get for your overall goals, how to care for them and what to do when things go wrong. I think this book is a great resource for the un-experienced person thinking about whether or not to embark on the chicken raising lifestyle. (Like me!)
The e-book The Urban Chicken as mentioned above is available for purchase at the following link. This lovely book is written by Heather Harris. You can also view her blog at .
Any readers raising chickens that can share their experiences with us? I am so curious and want to know more! Please leave your thoughts on raising chickens in the comments.
<3 Dick and JaneDisclosure: I was able to read this book for free from the writer. I was not compensated for mentioning it in my post. All thoughts in this post are my own and not pursuaded by my free copy to read.
Baby Chicks Names in
West Grove, Iowa
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in West Grove 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. West Grove
Iowa also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
West Grove 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 West Grove IA.
Baby Chickens As Pets in
West Grove, Iowa
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in West Grove 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
West Grove 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 West Grove
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 In The Mail in
West Grove, 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
West Grove 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 West Grove,
Iowa Baby chicks are quite
adorable and also
tough to resist,
but it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
proper materials, however
also the proper
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you just have to offer them with the following: A tidy and warm and comfortable
environment Lots of food and also water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your habitat could be a straightforward box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise require
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Additionally, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
offer them with a warmth source.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also each week this can
be lowered by
about 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your warmth
lamp, you have to
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you have to include some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to alter
the bed linen
typically and
constantly supply clean
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand very quick
which calls for lots of clean
food and water. Offer
sufficient in any way times and examine
typically to avoid dehydrated and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, then
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
view their behavior, you can
catch ailment or various
other issues earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other harmful
signs. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted feathers as well
as clogged up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
and also move outside right into a cage. Take a look at our
part on chicken coops to learn more
about coops and
appropriate coop environments.
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