On her blog Lauren informs us about what Organic means when it comes to purchasing your chicken. Many people think chicken is chicken, but there is much to know about the Organic. Here is what Lauren teaches us:
Organic means that the bird you are purchasing has been fed an organic diet, which denies the use of antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers in the feed. Buying organic only relates to the bird’s diet – it has nothing to do with their environment or handling. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted, and there is no third party auditing.
Natural: This means absolutely nothing. It does not make any promises, guarantees, or claims about the animal, its quality, how it was raised, etc.
Cage Free: This means that the bird is uncaged inside barns or warehouses, but likely has no access to the outdoors. Cage Free birds are still usually packed like sardines in their enclosures, so this is still a far cry from humane living conditions. Beak cutting is permitted.
Free Range: Free Range poultry are uncaged inside barns or warehouses and have some degree of outdoor access, but there are no requirements for the amount, duration, or quality of outdoor access. Outdoor access could mean a concrete enclosure – it does not imply grass or a pasture. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted, and there is no third party auditing.
Vegetarian Fed: This just means that the feed given to the poultry is free of animal flesh. Chickens are naturally not vegetarian, so this does not really mean much in the way of quality.
So what to buy? Basically it’s fairly difficult to buy a bird that you can guarantee was raised in optimal conditions. At minimum, buy organic free-range. If you have access to a farmer’s market, that is likely where you will find the best quality poultry and meats. Birds raised on small family farms are going to be the most humanely raised and likely the best tasting of the bunch.
Aside from the ethical standpoint of buying high-quality, small-farm raised proteins, there are also huge health and environmental benefits to shopping humanely. Taking a few moments out of your day to do a little research on where your food comes from will reap enormous benefits!
, , ,,,,rel=”tag”>organic chicken,
Baby Chickens Bedding in
Alna, Maine
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Alna Maine,
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. Alna
Maine also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Alna Maine, 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 Alna ME.
Baby Chickens And Heat Lamps in
Alna, Maine
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Alna Maine
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
Alna Maine * 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 Alna
Maine * 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 And Ducks For Sale in
Alna, Maine
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
Alna Maine 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 Alna,
Maine Baby chicks are quite
cute as well as
challenging to stand up to,
but it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by gathering not just the
correct products, yet
also the proper
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply should provide them with the following: A tidy and also cozy
habitat Plenty of food as well
as water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your habitat can be an easy box, fish tank,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (with no loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally 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 container
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Also, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
offer them with a heat resource.
This can be as straightforward 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
suggestion). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can use
up to two months). The freshly
hatched out require a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and every week this can
be decreased by
around 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource must be on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other corner of your heat
light, you need to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not simply cuddling),
you should put some warmth.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is key and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to transform
the bedding
commonly and also
consistently provide clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand really quick
which needs lots of tidy
food as well as water. Give
sufficient in any way times and also check
usually to prevent dehydrated and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking
filth baths, while others will not occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Interest as well as love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. To start
with, they will most
likely bond with you and
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their actions, you could
catch illness or other issues earlier. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Make sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted feathers and blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
and relocate outside into a
coop. Check out our
part on chicken coops for more information
concerning coops as well as
correct coop habitats.
Baby Chicks Mail OrderBaby Chickens Habitat More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Alfred, Maine Baby Chickens for Sale in Albion, Maine Baby Chickens for Sale in Alna, Maine Baby Chickens for Sale in Acton, Maine Baby Chickens for Sale in Abbot, Maine