Baby Chickens for Sale in Decatur, Nebraska
Baby Chickens for Sale in Decatur, Nebraska
Keeping your Chickens safe from predators
A couple of months ago our family decided that we were going to get some baby chicks to raise so we could get fresh organic eggs. We were so excited when we walked into the Tractor Supply Store during their “Chick days” we got 6 baby chicks and everything we needed for starting out. They were kept inside for 6 weeks and grew so big in that short amount of time.
A couple of weeks before they were transitioned outside my husband and I built their chicken coop. It was one that we bought on Ebay that looks really cute like a house for chickens. We had never raised chickens before and a few of our neighbors had told us to watch out for predators that would try to get to the chickens.
I was so naïve and would tell my husband that it’s the city near the ocean where neighbors are all over place and that I have never seen any wildlife at all out here! The only animals I have ever seen was squirrels and seagulls. We’ve lived in the country before and I felt sure that nothing would happen here and with our new cute chicken coop for our chickens they would be fine.
Everything went fine the first night and then the second morning when I went out to let them out of the housing part, one of the chicks were on the outside waiting near the coop door. I found that odd and wondered how he got out and then of course to my horror I saw blood and the other 5 were missing. Something had knocked a board up from underneath and all the chickens had fallen out to the ground. We never did find them that day anywhere and decided we were going to take the one back inside for a while. My husband fixed the board in hopes that it would do the trick in the future. Unfortunately the last chicken was killed as well. We found prints all over the coop which look like to me Racoon prints? Our poor chicken was pulled out from some slats that were up underneath.
Again I was so upset. How could this be happening? We spent so much time and energy into having chickens and to me after raising them that short while I realized that chickens have personalities and they were becoming more of a pet to me then anything. We decided to adopt some more from online because we didn’t find any babies in our area so we got some from mypetchicken.com. They arrived safely and are doing very well. I cannot believe how big they are already!
My husband has put so many locks and has altered the chicken coop that there is no way that anything is getting to my babies again!
If your planning to get baby chicks or have gotten some recently and getting ready to put them outdoors please make sure that the coops is bullet proof per say. Apparently there are some critters out there that are wicked smart and clever and get to your animals if you’re not careful.
Lesson learned here, just because we are in the city doesn’t mean that there isn’t any night-time predators lurking to get to my chickens.
Latest posts by WEMAKE7 ()
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Feeding Baby Quail Chicks in Decatur, Nebraska
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Decatur Nebraska, 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. Decatur Nebraska also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Decatur Nebraska, 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 Decatur NE.Baby Chickens Names in Decatur, Nebraska
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Decatur Nebraska 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
Decatur Nebraska * 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 Decatur
Nebraska * 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 Online in Decatur, Nebraska
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 Decatur Nebraska 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 Decatur, Nebraska Baby chicks are very adorable and hard to resist, but it's best to prepare for their arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially by compiling not just the appropriate products, however likewise the proper knowledge to take care of them. Raising baby chicks is relatively basic, you just need to give them with the following: A clean as well as warm and comfortable environment A lot of food as well as water Interest as well as love Habitat Your environment could be a simple box, aquarium, cat carrier, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels and also blankets (without any loosened strings!) to start, and after a few weeks use straw over paper. Keep in mind: Avoid using only paper or various other slipper surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow misshapen. You also need something to dish out food and also water in, such as a chicken feeder and water recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container lid for food and a pet bird water dispenser from a pet dog store. Additionally, as the chicks get older you can present a perch right into the habitat to get them educated on setting down. Warmth To maintain your chicks heat you have to give them with a heat resource. This can be as basic as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat light bulb likewise work very well (my referral). Chicks require this heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is replaced with plumes (which could use up to 2 months). The recently hatched out need a temperature level in between 90 and also 100 levels, as well as weekly this can be lowered by approximately 5 degrees approximately. The warmth source ought to get on simply one side of the cage to allow chicks an array of temperature levels. The chicks are your finest thermometer- if they are hiding in the opposite corner of your heat lamp, you have to reduce the temperature. If they are smothering each various other under the heat (not just snuggling), you should include some heat. Home cleaning Cleanliness is key as well as it keeps your chicks healthy and balanced. Make certain to change the bed linens commonly as well as constantly provide tidy food and water Food and water. Chicks grow really fast which calls for lots of clean food and also water. Give sufficient at all times and check typically to stop thirsty as well as starving chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the very first two months, after that switch to a raiser food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for an additional 2 months, and then to a slightly reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed (if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want to get a running start on taking dirt bathrooms, while others won't occupy that activity until they are older. If you have the area in your chick room, present a tray of sand or filth for them to wash in. Focus and love There are a couple of benefits to hanging out with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you and also not escape as adults. Second, if you examine your chicks daily and also see their behavior, you could capture disease or various other troubles previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or other undesirable indications. Be sure to likewise check out their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted feathers and clogged up cloaca. Lastly, it is very important to watch out for social concerns, such as the smallest chick obtaining picked on. Empty nest disorder So your chicks are currently fully feathered and also its time for them to leave the security of your house and also relocate outside into a coop. Take a look at our section on chicken coops to find out more regarding coops and proper cage environments.Baby Chickens Names Baby Chicks Types
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