Baby Chickens for Sale in West Liberty, Kentucky
Baby Chickens for Sale in West Liberty, Kentucky
Things No One Told You About Raising Baby Chicks On The Homestead
There are as many ways and opinions about how to raise chickens as there are chicken breeds. It is amazing at how passionate people are about their chickens and how they raise them. As the little chicks develop you can literally see them changing day to day. One day they had no wing feathers, and the next day they had visibly sprouted. Merissa over at shares raising baby chickens – a beginners guide to baby chicken care.
Raising Baby Chickens & Baby Chicken Care
Who can resist this cute little fuzzy baby chickens at the local farm supply store? They look so sweet and innocent and are just begging for you to take them home.
Even though having raising baby chickens seems easy enough (feed water = happy chickens!), it’s a little more complicated than it appears. Thankfully once you have a few tips and tricks under your belt it will be a breeze and your birds will stay happy and healthy and become the nice, producing flock you hope they will be.
I’ve raised chickens for many many years. When I was little we would have so much fun heading to the feed store and picking out our special birds that we would raise for the 4-H Achievement Days. Then we would spend weeks obsessing over our little birds and watching them as they slowly outgrew their fuzz and gain lovely feathers in all different colors. Of course, not every batch of birds turned out perfectly and there were many bumps along the way, but hopefully you will learn from our mistakes!
Let’s start in the beginning with that trip to the feed store. Most feed stores carry the basic breeds that will grow to be healthy meat and laying birds. You can check out . If you want to raise birds for laying eggs, make sure to get pullets (hens), if you don’t care as much or are raising birds for butchering, you can stick with the cheaper straight run. I’ve personally had one too many roosters chase me across the yard so I stick with all pullets. *Remember, there is always a chance that you may have some roosters, even in a pullet bunch…sexing chickens isn’t always accurate when they are so young.
- Tip! Ask your feed store what day they get chickens in from their source and come pick out your birds a few days later. That way you know the birds made it through the shock of being transported and have a higher chance of being healthy.
While you are at the feed store, make sure to pick up several items. You will need a feeder, a waterer, chick starter, wood shavings, and a heat lamp set up. You will also need some kind of rubber or plastic tub if you don’t have one. A plastic tote works well for a small batch of birds, as does a rubber animal waterer. If there is someone around to help you, you can also ask them about baby chicken care, especially if you are getting a specialty breed.
Baby Chicks And Ducks in West Liberty, Kentucky
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in West Liberty 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. West Liberty Kentucky also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in West Liberty 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 West Liberty KY.Baby Chicks Incubator in West Liberty, Kentucky
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in West Liberty 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
West Liberty 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 West Liberty
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 Types in West Liberty, 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 West Liberty 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 West Liberty, Kentucky Baby chicks are extremely adorable and also difficult to withstand, but it's best to plan for their arrival before you get them. Prepare initially by collecting not only the appropriate materials, however also the proper knowledge to look after them. Raising baby chicks is relatively straightforward, you simply have to offer them with the following: A tidy and also warm and comfortable habitat Plenty of food and also water Focus and love Habitat Your environment could be a basic box, fish tank, feline provider, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels and also coverings (with no loosened strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks use straw over paper. Note: Avoid utilizing only newspaper 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 also water recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar lid for food as well as a family pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Likewise, as the chicks get older you can present a perch into the habitat to get them educated on perching. Heat To maintain your chicks warm you need to offer them with a heat resource. This can be as simple as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth light bulb additionally work effectively (my recommendation). Chicks need this warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is changed with feathers (which could use up to two months). The freshly hatched need a temperature between 90 and 100 degrees, and also every week this could be lowered by around 5 levels or so. The heat source ought to be on just one side of the cage to allow chicks a range of temperatures. The chicks are your best thermometer- if they are concealing in the contrary corner of your heat light, you have to lower the temperature level. If they are smothering each various other under the heat (not merely curling up), you should put some heat. Home cleaning Cleanliness is essential and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to change the bed linens typically and constantly supply clean food and water Food and water. Chicks grow really quickly which needs a lot of clean food and water. Offer sufficient at all times as well as check frequently to prevent parched and hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the very first two months, after that switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for another 2 months, and then to a slightly reduced protein feed or a level feed (if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking dirt bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity till they are older. If you have the room in your chick enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or dirt for them to bathe in. Interest as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will most likely bond with you as well as not escape as adults. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily as well as watch their habits, you can catch health problem or various other issues earlier. Keep an eye out for hissing, limping, or various other unhealthy signs. Make sure to also take a look at their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted feathers and blocked cloaca. Finally, it is important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the smallest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your chicks are now fully feathered and its time for them to leave the safety of your residence and also relocate outside into a cage. Take a look at our area on chicken coops to get more information regarding coops as well as appropriate cage habitats.Baby Chickens Sale Baby Chickens How To Care For Them
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