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Baby Chickens for Sale in Belfry, Kentucky

Baby Chickens for Sale in Belfry, Kentucky

How to Introduce New Chickens into your Flock, part 2

[This article is part of a series that addresses the question of how to introduce new chickens into your existing flock, along with several related questions. To see all articles in this series, visit .]

Disease and Parasites

When you introduce new chickens to your flock, you run the risk of also introducing new diseases or parasites to your flock. If you take your chickens to poultry shows, then you run that same risk when you reintroduce chickens that were taken to the show back into your main flock.

Quarantine

The best and most effective way to protect your flock from diseases introduced by new chickens is to quarantine them. When you quarantine a chicken or several chickens, you keep them separate from the rest of the flock for an extended time period.  We recommend a quarantine of at least 30 days.

During the quarantine, care for the quarantined chickens normally, giving them food and water, but do not allow any contact with the existing flock.  Thoroughly wash your hands and disinfect your feet and anything else that comes in contact with these chickens or their environment or manure. We carry several that work well.

While the chickens are in quarantine, watch them closely for any signs of parasites, such as mites, and for any signs of disease, such as respiratory problems, or mucus discharges from the chickens’ eyes or nostrils.

Another Precaution

Chickens in a flock can build up an immunity to a disease yet still be carriers of that disease.  If your new chickens have such an immunity and are disease carriers, the quarantine described above won’t be enough, and the new chickens could still introduce disease into your flock undetected.

There is a way to guard against this. It involves a little risk, but it minimizes the risk of infecting the main flock.  Take one chicken from your main flock and move it into the quarantine with the new birds.  Keep that chicken with your other quarantined birds for the entire quarantine period.  Watch her closely.  If she begins to develop any signs of disease, it is likely that she was infected by the new birds, so in that case, do not introduce the new birds into the flock.  On the other hand, if she makes it through the quarantine period without any signs of disease, then you can be reasonably sure that it is safe to introduce her and the new birds into your flock.

With this approach, you run the risk of losing one chicken from your main flock to disease, but you greatly reduce the risk of losing your entire flock.

Baby Chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery

Murray McMurray Hatchery takes a to make sure that any baby chicks you receive from us are healthy and free of disease.  This eliminates any concern you may have about the baby chicks introducing disease to your existing flock, but there are still some things to consider.

Baby chicks are not able to defend themselves against larger, more mature chickens, so they should be raised separately until they reach maturity. Second, if you have any concerns about disease or parasites in your existing flock, take proper precautions to make sure that you don’t risk introducing it to your new chickens.

In next week’s article, I will discuss how to integrate the new chickens into your existing flock.

 

Baby Chickens for Sale in Belfry 
KY

Baby Chickens How To Care in Belfry, Kentucky

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Belfry Kentucky, 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. Belfry Kentucky also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Belfry Kentucky, 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 Belfry KY.

Baby Chicks By Mail in Belfry, Kentucky

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Belfry Kentucky 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 Belfry 
KYTypically 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 Belfry Kentucky * 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 Belfry Kentucky * 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 For Sale Free Shipping in Belfry, Kentucky

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 Belfry Kentucky 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 Belfry, Kentucky Baby chicks are quite cute and also tough to resist, but it's best to prepare for their arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially by collecting not just the right materials, but additionally the correct expertise to look after them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably easy, you simply have to give them with the following: A clean and warm and comfortable environment A lot of food and also water Focus and love Habitat Your environment can be a straightforward box, aquarium, pet cat service provider, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels and also blankets (without any loosened strings!) to start, and after a couple of weeks use straw over newspaper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just paper or other sandal surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow misshapen. You likewise need something to serve up food and water in, such as a chicken feeder and water recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar lid for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a pet store. Additionally, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch into the habitat to obtain them trained on setting down. Warmth To keep your chicks warm you have to provide them with a warmth resource. This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth bulb likewise function very well (my suggestion). Chicks require this heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is changed with plumes (which can take up to two months). The freshly hatched require a temperature in between 90 and also 100 levels, as well as every week this could be decreased by approximately 5 levels approximately. The heat source should get on simply one side of the cage to enable chicks an array of temperatures. The chicks are your best thermostat- if they are hiding in the opposite corner of your heat light, you have to decrease the temperature. If they are surrounding each various other under the warmth (not simply curling up), you have to include some warmth. Housekeeping Tidiness is crucial as well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to change the bed linen often as well as always offer tidy food and also water Food and water. Chicks expand really quickly which requires plenty of clean food and also water. Supply enough whatsoever times and examine typically to prevent thirsty and starving chicks. Chick food is different compared to adult chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the very first 2 months, then change to a raiser food (~ 17 % protein) for one more 2 months, and after that to a somewhat lower protein feed or a level feed (if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking filth bathrooms, while others will not use up that task till they are older. If you have the space in your chick enclosure, present a tray of sand or dust for them to wash in. Focus and love There are a few advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and also not escape as grownups. Second, if you examine your chicks daily and see their actions, you can catch health problem or other problems earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or various other undesirable indications. Make sure to also take a look at their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted plumes as well as clogged cloaca. Lastly, it is necessary to watch out for social issues, such as the littlest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your chicks are now fully feathery and its time for them to leave the safety and security of your house as well as relocate outside into a cage. Look into our part on chicken coops to learn more regarding cages and correct coop habitats.
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