A couple of months ago our family decided that we were going to get some baby chicks to raise so we could get fresh organic eggs. We were so excited when we walked into the Tractor Supply Store during their “Chick days” we got 6 baby chicks and everything we needed for starting out. They were kept inside for 6 weeks and grew so big in that short amount of time.
A couple of weeks before they were transitioned outside my husband and I built their chicken coop. It was one that we bought on Ebay that looks really cute like a house for chickens. We had never raised chickens before and a few of our neighbors had told us to watch out for predators that would try to get to the chickens.
I was so naïve and would tell my husband that it’s the city near the ocean where neighbors are all over place and that I have never seen any wildlife at all out here! The only animals I have ever seen was squirrels and seagulls. We’ve lived in the country before and I felt sure that nothing would happen here and with our new cute chicken coop for our chickens they would be fine.
Everything went fine the first night and then the second morning when I went out to let them out of the housing part, one of the chicks were on the outside waiting near the coop door. I found that odd and wondered how he got out and then of course to my horror I saw blood and the other 5 were missing. Something had knocked a board up from underneath and all the chickens had fallen out to the ground. We never did find them that day anywhere and decided we were going to take the one back inside for a while. My husband fixed the board in hopes that it would do the trick in the future. Unfortunately the last chicken was killed as well. We found prints all over the coop which look like to me Racoon prints? Our poor chicken was pulled out from some slats that were up underneath.
Again I was so upset. How could this be happening? We spent so much time and energy into having chickens and to me after raising them that short while I realized that chickens have personalities and they were becoming more of a pet to me then anything. We decided to adopt some more from online because we didn’t find any babies in our area so we got some from mypetchicken.com. They arrived safely and are doing very well. I cannot believe how big they are already!
My husband has put so many locks and has altered the chicken coop that there is no way that anything is getting to my babies again!
If your planning to get baby chicks or have gotten some recently and getting ready to put them outdoors please make sure that the coops is bullet proof per say. Apparently there are some critters out there that are wicked smart and clever and get to your animals if you’re not careful.
Lesson learned here, just because we are in the city doesn’t mean that there isn’t any night-time predators lurking to get to my chickens.
Bonnie is a Business Owner and Blogger. She's a Wife, Momma to 5 kiddos and loves anything that has to do with the outdoors, especially gardening. She started her blog in 2013 to share with others her learning to Live greener experiences, Product , with 5 kiddos, DIY projects, Savings, Recipes and more. Reach her at wemake7blog@gmail.com
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Baby Chicks Gender in
Sparta, Kentucky
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Sparta 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. Sparta
Kentucky also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Sparta 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 Sparta KY.
Baby Chickens Diet in
Sparta, Kentucky
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Sparta 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.
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
Sparta 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 Sparta
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 Chicks Gender in
Sparta, 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
Sparta 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 Sparta,
Kentucky Baby chicks are extremely
adorable as well as
difficult to withstand,
however it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not just the
appropriate materials, but
additionally the appropriate
knowledge to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
basic, you merely have to provide them with the following: A
clean and also warm
habitat Plenty of food and water Focus and
love Environment Your habitat can be a basic box, aquarium,
feline provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loose
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you should
offer them with a heat resource.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also function extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can take up to two months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
and weekly this could
be lowered by
around 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource need to get on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your heat
lamp, you have to
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not simply snuggling),
you should include some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is essential and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bedding
typically and also
constantly offer clean
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand extremely quickly
which requires a lot of clean
food and water. Provide
sufficient at all times as well
as check
usually to prevent parched and also
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others will not use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Focus as well as love There are a
few advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
watch their habits, you can
catch disease or other problems previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indicators. Make sure to
also look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead
to matted plumes and also clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now completely feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
and relocate outside into a cage. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages to read more
regarding coops and also
correct cage habitats.
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