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
Black in
Long Lake, Michigan
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Long Lake 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. Long Lake
Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Long Lake 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 Long Lake MI.
Baby Chicks And Ducks in
Long Lake, Michigan
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Long Lake 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
Long Lake 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 Long Lake
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 Habitat in
Long Lake, 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
Long Lake 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 Long Lake,
Michigan Baby chicks are quite
cute as well as
hard to stand up to,
yet it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not just the
proper materials, however
also the proper
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you just should supply them with the following: A tidy and warm
environment Lots of food and also water Interest and
love Habitat Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You likewise require
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
give them with a warmth resource.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also function effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can use
up to two months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and weekly this can
be minimized by
roughly 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource need to get on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your warmth
lamp, you should
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you need to put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is essential as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bed linens
commonly and
constantly offer tidy
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand really fast
which calls for plenty of tidy
food as well as water. Supply
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as inspect
commonly to avoid thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to obtain a head start on taking
dust baths, while others will not occupy that activity up 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.
Focus and love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
see their actions, you could
catch health problem or other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken coops to find out
more
regarding coops and
proper cage environments.
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