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 Supplies in
Amsterdam, Missouri
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Amsterdam Missouri,
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. Amsterdam
Missouri also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Amsterdam Missouri, 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 Amsterdam MO.
Baby Chicks Baby
Chickens in
Amsterdam, Missouri
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Amsterdam Missouri
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
Amsterdam Missouri * 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 Amsterdam
Missouri * 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 101 in
Amsterdam, Missouri
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
Amsterdam Missouri 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 Amsterdam,
Missouri Baby chicks are really
adorable and also
tough to stand up to,
but it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by collecting not only the
right products, yet
also the correct
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you merely need
to give them with the following: A tidy and warm
habitat Plenty of food and also water Focus as well as
love Habitat Your environment could be an easy box, aquarium,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid making use of just
paper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you should
supply them with a heat source.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also function very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched need a temperature level
in between 90 and 100 levels,
as well as every week this could
be lowered by
around 5 levels or
so. The heat source must get on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you have to
lower the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not just cuddling),
you should add some heat.
House cleaning
Sanitation is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bedding
usually as well as
consistently supply tidy
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks expand quite fast
which needs lots of tidy
food and also water. Give
enough in any way times and also inspect
commonly to
stop parched and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, then
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to obtain a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Focus and love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly probably bond with you and
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
view their actions, you can
capture health problem or various
other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Be sure to
likewise check out
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted plumes and obstructed cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to watch out for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and also move outside into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken coops to find out
more
concerning cages as well as
correct coop environments.
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