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 Near Me in
Bath, Maine
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Bath 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. Bath
Maine also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Bath 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 Bath ME.
Baby Quail Chicks For
Sale in
Bath, Maine
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Bath 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
Bath 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 Bath
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 For Easter in
Bath, 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
Bath 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 Bath,
Maine Baby chicks are really
charming as well as
difficult to stand up to,
however it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
right products, but
also the proper
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply need
to provide them with the following: A
clean as well as warm
habitat Lots of food as well
as water Interest as well as
love Environment Your habitat could be a
simple box, aquarium,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You also require
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
into the environment to obtain them
trained on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you should
offer them with a warmth resource.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
as well as each week this can
be lowered by
roughly 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource need to get on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your warmth
light, you should
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you should add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is crucial and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to alter
the bedding
frequently and also
always provide clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow extremely fast
which needs plenty of tidy
food and water. Offer
enough whatsoever times as well
as check
usually to
stop thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not take
up that task up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Attention as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and also
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
see their habits, you can
capture disease or other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indicators. Make sure to
likewise consider
their poop, as diarrhea can result in matted plumes and stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and also relocate outside right into a cage. Take a look at our
area on chicken coops to learn more
regarding cages as well as
correct coop environments.
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