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 Quail Chicks For
Sale in
Sturgis, Michigan
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Sturgis 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. Sturgis
Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Sturgis 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 Sturgis MI.
Baby Chickens Sale in
Sturgis, Michigan
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Sturgis 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
Sturgis 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 Sturgis
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 Outside in
Sturgis, 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
Sturgis 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 Sturgis,
Michigan Baby chicks are very
adorable and
challenging to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
correct materials, yet
additionally the proper
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you simply have to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as warm
habitat Lots of food as well
as water Attention and also
love Environment Your habitat can be an easy box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
give them with a heat source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could occupy to 2 months). The newly
hatched need a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
as well as each week this could
be reduced by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource should be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you have to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just cuddling),
you have to add some heat.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is key as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bedding
often and also
always offer clean
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks grow really fast
which calls for a lot of clean
food and water. Offer
sufficient in any way times and inspect
usually to avoid parched as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like 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
unit, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
see their habits, you could
capture disease or various
other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Be sure to
additionally check out
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted feathers and also obstructed cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to watch out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and move outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops to find out
more
about cages and also
proper cage environments.
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