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 Chickens Eggs in
Cohoctah, Michigan
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Cohoctah Michigan,
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. Cohoctah
Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Cohoctah Michigan, 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 Cohoctah MI.
Baby Chickens Coop in
Cohoctah, Michigan
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Cohoctah Michigan
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
Cohoctah Michigan * 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 Cohoctah
Michigan * 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 In A Box in
Cohoctah, Michigan
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
Cohoctah Michigan 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 Cohoctah,
Michigan Baby chicks are quite
charming and
difficult to stand up to,
but it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
correct materials, yet
likewise the correct
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you merely should supply them with the following: A tidy and also cozy
environment A lot of food and water Focus and
love Habitat Your environment can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you have to
provide them with a warmth source.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and every week this could
be reduced by
about 5 degrees or
so. The warmth resource must be on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your warmth
light, you have to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not simply cuddling),
you need to add some heat.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to change
the bedding
typically and
always supply clean
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks expand really fast
which requires lots of clean
food and water. Offer
enough in any way times and also check
typically to
stop dehydrated and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others will not occupy that task till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their behavior, you can
capture disease or other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other undesirable
indicators. Make sure to
likewise check out
their poop, as diarrhea can result in matted plumes and clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
and move outside into a
coop. Look into our
area on chicken cages to find out
more
about cages and
correct cage environments.
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