On her blog Lauren informs us about what Organic means when it comes to purchasing your chicken. Many people think chicken is chicken, but there is much to know about the Organic. Here is what Lauren teaches us:
Organic means that the bird you are purchasing has been fed an organic diet, which denies the use of antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering, radiation, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers in the feed. Buying organic only relates to the bird’s diet – it has nothing to do with their environment or handling. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted, and there is no third party auditing.
Natural: This means absolutely nothing. It does not make any promises, guarantees, or claims about the animal, its quality, how it was raised, etc.
Cage Free: This means that the bird is uncaged inside barns or warehouses, but likely has no access to the outdoors. Cage Free birds are still usually packed like sardines in their enclosures, so this is still a far cry from humane living conditions. Beak cutting is permitted.
Free Range: Free Range poultry are uncaged inside barns or warehouses and have some degree of outdoor access, but there are no requirements for the amount, duration, or quality of outdoor access. Outdoor access could mean a concrete enclosure – it does not imply grass or a pasture. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted, and there is no third party auditing.
Vegetarian Fed: This just means that the feed given to the poultry is free of animal flesh. Chickens are naturally not vegetarian, so this does not really mean much in the way of quality.
So what to buy? Basically it’s fairly difficult to buy a bird that you can guarantee was raised in optimal conditions. At minimum, buy organic free-range. If you have access to a farmer’s market, that is likely where you will find the best quality poultry and meats. Birds raised on small family farms are going to be the most humanely raised and likely the best tasting of the bunch.
Aside from the ethical standpoint of buying high-quality, small-farm raised proteins, there are also huge health and environmental benefits to shopping humanely. Taking a few moments out of your day to do a little research on where your food comes from will reap enormous benefits!
, , ,,,,rel=”tag”>organic chicken,
Baby Chickens Facts in
Valparaiso, Nebraska
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Valparaiso 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. Valparaiso
Nebraska also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso NE.
Baby Chickens Sale in
Valparaiso, Nebraska
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Valparaiso 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
Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso
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 Chicks Near Me in
Valparaiso, 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
Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso,
Nebraska Baby chicks are very
charming and also
challenging to resist,
yet it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
correct products, however
also the appropriate
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you merely have to provide them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
environment Lots of food and also water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You additionally require
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as a pet dog bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you need to
give them with a warmth source.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched need a temperature level
between 90 and 100 levels,
as well as weekly this can
be lowered by
about 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource must be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your heat
light, you should
lower the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not simply curling up),
you need to include some heat.
House cleaning
Sanitation is essential and it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter
the bedding
commonly as well as
consistently give tidy
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks expand quite quick
which requires lots of clean
food and also water. Give
enough whatsoever times and inspect
frequently to prevent thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that activity until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a
few benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their habits, you could
capture health problem or various
other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Be sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted plumes and also obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to watch out for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
as well as relocate outside into a
coop. Check out our
area on chicken coops to get more information
regarding cages as well as
proper coop environments.
Baby Chickens By MailBaby Chickens Care More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Louisville, Nebraska Baby Chickens for Sale in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska Baby Chickens for Sale in Boys Town, Nebraska Baby Chickens for Sale in Spencer, Nebraska Baby Chickens for Sale in Burr, Nebraska