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 In
The Mail in
Nelson, Minnesota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Nelson 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. Nelson
Minnesota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Nelson 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 Nelson MN.
Baby Chickens Facts in
Nelson, Minnesota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Nelson 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
Nelson 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 Nelson
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 Names in
Nelson, 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
Nelson 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 Nelson,
Minnesota Baby chicks are extremely
charming and also
challenging to withstand,
yet it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not just the
correct materials, but
likewise the appropriate
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you merely have to supply them with the following: A
clean and warm
environment Lots of food as well
as water Focus as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be a straightforward box, aquarium,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using only
paper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
provide them with a heat resource.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also function extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could use
up to two months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
and weekly this can
be reduced by
about 5 levels approximately. The heat resource should get on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your warmth
light, you have to
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not merely snuggling),
you have to add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to alter
the bed linen
frequently and also
consistently supply tidy
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks expand extremely quick
which needs a lot of tidy
food and water. Offer
enough in any way times as well
as check
usually to prevent thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
then to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
filth baths, while others will not occupy that activity until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Interest as well as love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly more than likely bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their habits, you can
catch ailment or other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other undesirable
indications. Make sure to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted feathers as well
as obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to watch out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
and move outside right into a
coop. Take a look at our
area on chicken cages to learn more
about coops and also
correct cage habitats.
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