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 Coop in
Reading, Massachusetts
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Reading 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. Reading
Massachusetts also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Reading 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 Reading MA.
Baby
Chickens Under Heat Lamp in
Reading, Massachusetts
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Reading 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
Reading 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 Reading
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 Chicks Needs in
Reading, 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
Reading 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 Reading,
Massachusetts Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and
challenging to withstand,
however it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
appropriate materials, but
likewise the proper
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you merely have to supply them with the following: A tidy and cozy
habitat Plenty of food and water Interest as well as
love Environment Your environment can be an easy box, fish tank,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, and 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 additionally require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to get them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a warmth resource.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally work extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could use
up to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and weekly this could
be minimized by
around 5 levels approximately. The heat source need to be on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your heat
light, you need to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just cuddling),
you have to put some warmth.
House cleaning
Sanitation is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bed linens
frequently as well as
constantly offer tidy
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow really quick
which needs a lot of clean
food and also water. Offer
enough at all times and check
typically to avoid thirsty as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
dust baths, while others won't use up that task till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Interest and love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. To start
with, they will probably bond with you and
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
watch their actions, you could
catch illness or other problems earlier. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Make sure to
additionally consider
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted plumes and also clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
and also move outside right into a
coop. Check out our
section on chicken coops to get more information
about coops and
proper coop habitats.
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