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 Incubator in
Heron, Montana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Heron Montana,
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. Heron
Montana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Heron Montana, 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 Heron MT.
Baby Chicks House in
Heron, Montana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Heron Montana
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
Heron Montana * 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 Heron
Montana * 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 Food in
Heron, Montana
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
Heron Montana 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 Heron,
Montana Baby chicks are very
cute as well as
hard to resist,
but it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not just the
proper materials, but
additionally the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you merely need
to give them with the following: A
clean and cozy
environment A lot of food and also water Focus as well as
love Habitat Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
paper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You likewise need
something to dish out food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
give them with a heat resource.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also function effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to two months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also every week this could
be decreased by
approximately 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource need to get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not simply cuddling),
you need to add some warmth.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is vital and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bed linens
frequently as well as
consistently give clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand quite quick
which requires lots of clean
food as well as water. Supply
enough at all times and inspect
commonly to
stop parched as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Attention and love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly probably bond with you and
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
enjoy their behavior, you could
capture disease or various
other troubles previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
other undesirable
indicators. Be sure to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to watch out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
and its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as relocate outside into a cage. Check out our
part on chicken coops to learn more
about coops as well as
correct coop habitats.
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