Baby Chickens for Sale in West Branch, Michigan
Baby Chickens for Sale in West Branch, Michigan
Why You Need Chickens
Why You Need Chickens
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*This post may contain affiliate links, which means we can earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. We greatly appreciate your support! *You need chickens. You really do. Why? Because chickens are awesome. Why are they awesome? They eat bugs, lay eggs, and they look hilarious when they run. What other reasons do you need? I mean we could mention the fact that fresh eggs taste better than store bought eggs, that chickens in factory farms lead terrible lives, and that raising your own food is always a good idea. But just in case you aren’t convinced, let’s take a look at some reasons why you need chickens. (Did I mention they look funny when they run? Because they do.)
It’s the ethical thing to do
. Even when you try to get high quality eggs, labels are tricky and hard to read. If you don’t know the farmer personally, there’s really no for sure way to know that the hens weren’t abused. If the eggs were cheap, chances are they were laid by a very sad bird. By raising your own hens you know for sure they had happy lives where they were free to roost, scratch, dust bathe, and do their chicken thing (like running). Large scale farmers tend to keep just a few breeds and because of that a lot of breeds can be lost. Backyard producers are in a better position to raise and that have more genetic diversity and are more resilient against disease, and they can even prevent the most critically endangered ones from going extinct.
A hyper local food economy is better for the environment. By raising your own hens you cut down on the distance your food travels, which reduces emissions from vehicles. Have you ever been to a chicken farm? They seriously stink! By raising your own you also reduce pollution depending on how you handle the waste. If you sell your eggs then you are also contributing to the of your community as well as giving people an ethical and healthier option. (And if you really think keeping chickens isn’t for you, buying direct from a farmer helps out too. Of course chickens themselves reduce waste. Instead of sending your food scraps off to the dump you can feed them to your hens and they will happily convert them into eggs and fertilizer.
It’s the self-sufficient thing to do
Whether you consider yourself a prepper or just like being prepared, raising your own eggs is a way of becoming more self-reliant and increasing your self-sufficiency. Producing your own food is a good idea for emergency situations. Sometimes those emergency situations are as simple and common as limited cash flow. When money is tight it’s nice to be able to trim down the budget without compromising on nutrition. While hens will still need some supplemental feed, you can cut down on feed costs by letting them roam as much as possible. They will eat insects and pests from your garden, clean up weeds and fallen fruit, and each hen only needs 200 square feet of pasture for fresh greens (and for running). In turn their bedding and waste will feed your garden and improve the soil. It’s that much closer to a closed loop cycle. Some city folk may not be able to keep a rooster (don’t worry, you can still get eggs), but if you are able you can hatch out your own new stock, and provide a steady source of meat for yourself.
It’s the healthy thing to do
Have you seen the beautiful bright orange of the yolk from a well fed hen? Those eggs contain than the conventional kind you can purchase from the store, such as vitamin a, vitamin e, beta carotene, folate, and omega-3s as well as less cholesterol and saturated fat. When the hens are your own you can have a lot more control about what type of feed they eat; if your family has highly sensitive food intolerances you can even choose a feed without that component. You pick out the feed, so you don’t need to worry about if there is high levels of arsenic or antibiotics being used for the flock.
Chickens can also provide all the stress relief benefits of having a pet, with the added bonus of not barking incessantly in the middle of the night, needing long walks, or chewing your house to ribbons. They need a minimal amount of daily care, but still provide entertainment (in case you haven’t guessed, I’m highly entertained when they run), and a reason to get outside for some extra sunshine (or “cloudshine” here in Oregon). Chickens even have been because of their calming effect.
There are so many benefits to raising chickens! I know my life would not be as sparkly and awesome without a few hens in it. They are good for society, good for the earth, and good for our souls, and in most cases require just some simple care. I love chickens.
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Baby Chicks Types in West Branch, Michigan
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in West Branch 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. West Branch Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in West Branch 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 West Branch MI.Baby Chicks For Sale in West Branch, Michigan
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in West Branch 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
West Branch 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 West Branch
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 Raising in West Branch, 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 West Branch 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 West Branch, Michigan Baby chicks are quite adorable as well as tough to withstand, yet it's ideal to prepare for their arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first by gathering not just the appropriate materials, however likewise the proper expertise to care for them. Raising baby chicks is fairly easy, you just need to give them with the following: A clean and warm habitat A lot of food as well as water Interest as well as love Environment Your environment could be a basic box, aquarium, pet cat service provider, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels and also coverings (with no loose strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks make use of straw over paper. Note: Avoid utilizing only paper or various other slipper surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow malformed. You also require something to dish out food and also water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar cover for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you could present a perch right into the habitat to get them trained on perching. Warmth To keep your chicks heat you need to supply them with a heat resource. This can be as simple as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth light bulb also work very well (my suggestion). Chicks need this heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is changed with feathers (which can occupy to 2 months). The recently hatched require a temperature in between 90 and also 100 degrees, and every week this can be reduced by about 5 degrees or so. The warmth resource must get on just one side of the cage to allow chicks a range of temperature levels. The chicks are your finest thermostat- if they are hiding in the contrary corner of your warmth lamp, you have to reduce the temperature level. If they are surrounding each various other under the warmth (not simply cuddling), you should add some heat. Housekeeping Cleanliness is essential as well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter the bedding usually and also constantly offer clean food as well as water Food and also water. Chicks grow really quickly which requires a lot of clean food and water. Supply enough whatsoever times and also examine often to avoid thirsty and also hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared to adult chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the first 2 months, then switch to a grower food (~ 17 % protein) for an additional 2 months, and after that to a somewhat reduced protein feed or a level feed (if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking dust baths, while others will not use up that task until 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 also love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will most likely bond with you as well as not run away as grownups. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily as well as see their habits, you could catch ailment or other troubles previously. Keep an eye out for hissing, limping, or other unhealthy signs. Make certain to also consider their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted feathers as well as clogged up cloaca. Last but not least, it is very important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the smallest chick getting picked on. Vacant nest syndrome So your chicks are currently fully feathered and its time for them to leave the safety and security of your residence and relocate outside into a cage. Check out our part on chicken cages to learn more about coops and also proper cage environments.Baby Chickens Raising Baby Chickens How To Raise
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