Baby Chickens for Sale in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts
Baby Chickens for Sale in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts
How to Raise Chickens: #3 Selecting Chickens
How to Raise Chickens: #3 Selecting Chickens
April 9, 2014 in by
Chickens are social birds and really need to have at least one friend, so count on starting with a minimum of two. Having multiple birds will also help them keep each other warm in the winter time. So, how many should you get? I read somewhere that two hens per family member is a good guideline. By their rule, if you have a family of 5, that would mean 10 hens. But also keep in mind that young hens can lay one egg every 1-2 days during the warm months. That means you could have 35-70 eggs in one week’s time! That’s quite a few eggs. Now you can freeze eggs, cook or bake items that use eggs and freeze those, but you still should take that into consideration when deciding how many. Personally if we were to start again, I would go with 5-8 hens. This coming from the family that currently has 18 hens … but we’re also selling quite a few eggs.
We’ve never gotten eggs for incubation, so I can’t offer any advice on how to start there.
Our chickens have always come as baby chicks. There are two ways I know of to get chickens this way – buy them local or find an online source. I’m pretty sure our local Blaine’s Farm & Fleet has chickens each spring. Selection would be limited but you should find only those breeds suited to your area.
We’ve had good luck ordering from Murray McMurray Hatchery. They have a wide array of breeds and you can find some good deals (which is how we ended up ordering 45 birds the first time!). The downside to mail-ordering birds is there is usually a minimum number you have to order so they can keep each other warm in the box during the few days they are being shipped. And yes, they do actually come via US Postal Service. The post office knows how to handle them so they get to you in time. There’s always a risk of chicks not surviving the shipping process. We lost one last year when we ordered again. Sometimes hatcheries will take that into consideration and throw in an extra bird just in case (but don’t count on it). Let them know if a bird doesn’t survive – they may give you a refund or discount if it’s within 24-48 hrs of arrival.
If you get baby chicks instead of full-grown hens, keep in mind that you will need to keep them warm … like 90-95°F warm the first few weeks of their lives. This requires a heat lamp or some other heat source, and a “brooder” area where you can make sure they are draft-free. This area could be inside your existing coop (if there aren’t hens in there already), but you’ll want to contain them in a smaller size to make sure they stay warm. As the weeks pass you can move the heat lamp up, reducing the temperature by 5-degrees per week until they’re ready to go outside.
You could also check out local sites like Craigslist as there might be some people that received full-grown chickens can no longer keep them.
There are a multitude of choices for chicken breeds out there. You can get
- great egg-producers
- dual-purpose breeds (if you intend to eat your birds later)
- breeds that are cold-hardy
- “fancy” birds with amazing plumage, aka ornamentals
- rare breeds – some of which are endangered.
and have great listings of chicken breeds to help you sort it out.
For our location, we wanted to make sure our chickens would be cold-hardy. We also wanted fairly good layers, so most of our hens are either Speckled Sussex or Rhode Island Reds. We also had good luck with Buff Orpingtons. Opal is our one remaining Silver-Laced Wyandotte from the first batch.
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Baby Chickens Habitat in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Newton Highlands 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. Newton Highlands Massachusetts also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Newton Highlands 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 Newton Highlands MA.Baby Chickens 101 in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Newton Highlands 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
Newton Highlands 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 Newton Highlands
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 Online in Newton Highlands, 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 Newton Highlands 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 Newton Highlands, Massachusetts Baby chicks are quite charming and difficult to resist, yet it's best to plan for their arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first by collecting not just the right products, however additionally the proper knowledge to look after them. Raising baby chicks is fairly basic, you just should give them with the following: A tidy and also warm and comfortable environment Lots of food and also water Focus and also love Habitat Your environment can be a straightforward box, aquarium, pet cat provider, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as blankets (without loosened strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks make use of straw over paper. Note: Avoid utilizing just paper or various other slipper surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand misshapen. You likewise need something to dish out food as well as water in, such as a chicken feeder and water dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container lid for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal store. Additionally, as the chicks get older you can introduce a perch right into the habitat to obtain them educated on perching. Heat To keep your chicks heat you should supply them with a warmth source. This could be as basic as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat bulb likewise work effectively (my recommendation). Chicks need this heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is replaced with plumes (which can take up to 2 months). The freshly hatched out require a temperature between 90 as well as 100 degrees, and every week this can be lowered by roughly 5 degrees or so. The warmth resource should be on merely one side of the cage to allow chicks a variety of temperatures. The chicks are your ideal thermostat- if they are concealing in the opposite edge of your warmth lamp, you should reduce the temperature level. If they are smothering each various other under the heat (not simply curling up), you need to add some warmth. Housekeeping Tidiness is vital as well as it maintains your chicks healthy and balanced. Be sure to alter the bed linens often and also constantly supply tidy food and also water Food and water. Chicks grow very quickly which needs a lot of clean food as well as water. Supply enough at all times and also examine frequently to stop thirsty and also hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the first two months, after that switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for another 2 months, and afterwards to a slightly lower protein feed or a level feed (if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking filth baths, while others won't use up that task up until they are older. If you have the room in your chick room, introduce a tray of sand or dust for them to shower in. Attention and love There are a few advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you and not escape as grownups. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily and also view their actions, you could capture ailment or various other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or other unhealthy signs. Make sure to likewise consider their poop, as looseness of the bowels could result in matted plumes as well as stopped up cloaca. Finally, it is necessary to watch out for social concerns, such as the tiniest chick getting picked on. Vacant nest disorder So your chicks are currently completely feathered and its time for them to leave the safety and security of your home as well as relocate outside into a cage. Take a look at our part on chicken coops to find out more about cages and appropriate cage environments.Baby Chickens Baby Chicks Types
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