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 Chicks Types in
Easton, Minnesota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Easton Minnesota,
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. Easton
Minnesota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Easton Minnesota, 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 Easton MN.
Baby
Chickens Care in
Easton, Minnesota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Easton Minnesota
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
Easton Minnesota * 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 Easton
Minnesota * 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
Easton, Minnesota
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
Easton Minnesota 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 Easton,
Minnesota Baby chicks are extremely
charming as well as
difficult to resist,
yet it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not just the
right products, but
additionally the proper
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply should provide them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
environment Plenty of food and also water Focus and also
love Habitat Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
feline carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
newspaper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you have to
supply them with a heat resource.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also work very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also every week this could
be minimized by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource should be on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other edge of your warmth
lamp, you have to
reduce the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not simply snuggling),
you have to include some warmth.
House cleaning
Tidiness is crucial as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to alter
the bed linen
usually and also
consistently supply clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which calls for lots of clean
food as well as water. Supply
enough in any way times and also examine
commonly to avoid parched and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't occupy that task till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention and also love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
see their actions, you could
capture illness or various
other problems previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
also look at
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted feathers and also blocked cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to look out
for social problems, such as the
littlest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
as well as relocate outside into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken cages to get more information
regarding coops and
proper coop habitats.
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