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 Care in
Fredericktown, Missouri
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Fredericktown 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. Fredericktown
Missouri also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Fredericktown 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 Fredericktown MO.
Baby Chickens And Heat Lamps in
Fredericktown, Missouri
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Fredericktown 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
Fredericktown 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 Fredericktown
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
Chicks Order in
Fredericktown, 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
Fredericktown 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 Fredericktown,
Missouri Baby chicks are really
charming and
hard to resist,
yet it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
proper products, however
additionally the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you simply need
to supply them with the following: A
clean and warm
habitat A lot of food as well
as water Interest and
love Environment Your environment could be a basic box, aquarium,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using only
newspaper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You likewise need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
supply them with a heat source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally function extremely well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as every week this could
be decreased by
approximately 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource need to get on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other edge of your warmth
light, you need to
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not just cuddling),
you need to include some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is key and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to change
the bed linens
frequently as well as
consistently give tidy
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks expand very fast
which calls for plenty of tidy
food and water. Offer
enough whatsoever times and examine
typically to
stop thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention and also love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will more than likely bond with you and
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
watch their actions, you could
catch health problem or various
other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
other harmful
signs. Make certain to
likewise look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can cause matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to watch out for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as relocate outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops to find out
more
about cages as well as
correct coop environments.
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