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Baby Chickens for Sale in Ellsworth, Michigan

Baby Chickens for Sale in Ellsworth, Michigan

6 Points to help you decide if Backyard Chickens are for You.

6 Points to Help You Decide if

Backyard Chickens are for You!

If you are a real food enthusiast who strives to eat real, fresh, healthy, local food, getting backyard chickens may have crossed your mind. Or the road. Or… well you get the point. And the point is that why should you buy fresh pastured eggs when you could simply walk into your backyard and retrieve them from a nest? Sounds pretty romantic, right? So, here are some  things to consider if you are thinking about backyard chickens.

Eggs

Studies have shown that to conventional eggs from factory farmed chickens. They have:

• 1/3 less cholesterol • 1/4 less saturated fat • 2/3 more vitamin A • 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids • 3 times more vitamin E • 7 times more beta carotene 

Con: Once you account for the cost of set-up, feed and upkeep, you may not actually save much money keeping your own backyard chickens. I don’t like math, but from what I have read from people who do, eggs end up costing the chicken hobbyist between $4 and $5 per dozen, which is probably what you would pay your local farmer for them. Plus, nobody tells you that the chickens don’t lay all year long and will take random breaks for bad weather, low light or to molt.

Pro: Are you kidding me?!!?!? You get freaking EGGS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!!!  From your own chickens! It doesn’t get more local than that! Plus you have control of what the chickens eat, so you can choose to make sure they are not eating GMOs or unnatural diets. And fresh eggs are one of the most delicious and versatile foods known to man. Plus, everyone you know wants to be your friend now, because they want you to share your eggs with them. End rant.

Chicken Poop

Con: It happens and it stinks

Pro: It is great fertilizer. If it bothers you, keep your chickens away from your porch. But the truth is, everyone poops. Chickens are no eggception. 

Scraps

Pro: Backyard Chickens eat scraps, which is awesome. I don’t see a negative to this. It reduces food waste and the more scraps they eat, the less you have to feed them (this will vary depending on how much free space they have to roam).

Neighbors

Pro: As long as you don’t get a rooster (which is noisy and many places it’s not legal to have a rooster within city limits anyways) many times your neighbors won’t even know the chickens are there. And when they do, they will try to make friends with you to get free eggs. Or, alternately you can bribe them with eggs. 😉�

Bugs

Chickens eat bugs, so in my book, this is a huge pro. But hey, if you have a rare bug collection that you don’t want to feed to your chickens, perhaps this isn’t for you.

Kids

In my experience chickens do not eat kids, so you’re safe there. Kids generally love chickens and find them both entertaining and educational. It is important to teach them good safety and hygiene rules when dealing with chickens. Hand-washing is important. But overall chickens and kids can be a very positive experience.

What you need to know to get started with Backyard Chickens

Before rushing into it (you know you want to). Make sure you do your homework. Check with your city or municipality for the legalities (how many, how big of a space, etc). Then you will want to research what kind to get and how to care for your backyard chickens. The best resource I have come across is this e-book:

It is a thorough guide that covers every topic you can think of from care and feeding to housing and troubleshooting. It is simple, readable and very accessible to the average person who may or may not have experience with chickens. I wish I had read it last year when I was getting started with my chickens! I actually like it so much that I became an affiliate to sell it (that’s how excited I get about chickens). I cannot recommend it highly enough! Click

If you already have backyard chickens, you might enjoy reading

Please give me your best backyard chicken advice in the comments!

Photos courtesy of Feelart and Simon Howden via freedigitalphotos.net

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

AMAZON DISCLOSURE: The owner of this website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Any products or techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am just a mom who shares what works for me!

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Baby Chickens for Sale in Ellsworth 
MI

Baby Chicks Male in Ellsworth, Michigan

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Ellsworth 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. Ellsworth Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth MI.

Baby Chicks Outside With Heat Lamp in Ellsworth, Michigan

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Ellsworth 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. Baby Chickens for Sale in Ellsworth 
MITypically 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 Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth 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 Chickens How To Care For Them in Ellsworth, 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 Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth, Michigan Baby chicks are really adorable and also difficult to withstand, however it's ideal to prepare for their arrival before you get them. Prepare first by gathering not just the proper products, but also the proper knowledge to take care of them. Raising baby chicks is fairly straightforward, you simply need to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy environment Plenty of food and also water Attention as well as love Environment Your environment can be a straightforward box, aquarium, feline carrier, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels and also coverings (without loose strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks use straw over newspaper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just newspaper or other sandal surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow malformed. You also need something to provide food as well as water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar cover for food and an animal bird water dispenser from an animal store. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch into the habitat to get them educated on perching. Warmth To keep your chicks warm you should give them with a warmth source. This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth bulb likewise function effectively (my suggestion). Chicks need this heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is replaced with plumes (which could occupy to 2 months). The freshly hatched need a temperature between 90 and 100 levels, as well as each week this could be decreased by about 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource must get on just one side of the cage to permit chicks an array of temperature levels. The chicks are your finest thermometer- if they are hiding in the opposite edge of your warmth light, you need to lower the temperature. If they are smothering each other under the warmth (not merely cuddling), you need to put some warmth. Home cleaning Sanitation is vital as well as it keeps your chicks healthy and balanced. Make sure to transform the bed linen frequently as well as consistently provide tidy food and water Food as well as water. Chicks grow really quickly which needs lots of clean food and also water. Provide enough whatsoever times as well as examine typically to prevent parched and starving chicks. Chick food is various compared to grown-up chicken food, and it comes in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the first 2 months, then switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 % protein) for an additional 2 months, and after that to a slightly reduced protein feed or a layer feed (if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking dirt baths, while others will not use up that task up until they are older. If you have the area in your chick unit, present a tray of sand or filth for them to bathe in. Focus and love There are a few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most likely bond with you and not flee as adults. Second, if you examine your chicks daily and also enjoy their actions, you can capture illness or other troubles previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or other unhealthy signs. Make sure to also look at their poop, as diarrhea can bring about matted plumes and also clogged cloaca. Finally, it is important to look out for social issues, such as the smallest chick obtaining picked on. Vacant nest syndrome So your chicks are currently fully feathery and its time for them to leave the security of your home as well as move outside into a cage. Take a look at our section on chicken coops to read more regarding coops and proper cage environments.
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