Baby Chickens for Sale in Berkshire, Massachusetts
Baby Chickens for Sale in Berkshire, Massachusetts
Should We Adopt Chickens?
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 Buy in
Berkshire, Massachusetts
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Berkshire Massachusetts,
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. Berkshire
Massachusetts also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Berkshire Massachusetts, 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 Berkshire MA.
Baby Chicks Habitat in
Berkshire, Massachusetts
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Berkshire Massachusetts
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
Berkshire Massachusetts * 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 Berkshire
Massachusetts * 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 in
Berkshire, Massachusetts
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
Berkshire Massachusetts 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 Berkshire,
Massachusetts Baby chicks are quite
cute and
hard to withstand,
yet it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
correct materials, yet
likewise the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you merely have to provide them with the following: A tidy and warm and comfortable
habitat A lot of food and also water Focus and also
love Environment Your environment can be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You additionally need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
give them with a heat resource.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also work extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and each week this can
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The warmth source should get on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your warmth
lamp, you need to
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you should put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is key and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bed linens
frequently and
always give tidy
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which requires plenty of tidy
food and also water. Offer
enough at all times and also check
often to prevent thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not use up that activity until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Interest as well as love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
see their habits, you can
catch ailment or various
other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other harmful
indications. Be sure to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted feathers and obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is important to look out
for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
and relocate outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops for more information
about cages and
appropriate cage habitats.
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