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 In A Box in
Wauneta, Nebraska
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Wauneta 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. Wauneta
Nebraska also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Wauneta 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 Wauneta NE.
Baby Chicks Outside in
Wauneta, Nebraska
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Wauneta 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
Wauneta 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 Wauneta
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.
Feeding Baby Quail Chicks in
Wauneta, 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
Wauneta 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 Wauneta,
Nebraska Baby chicks are really
charming as well as
tough to resist,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
proper materials, but
additionally the proper
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you just need
to offer them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
habitat A lot of food as well
as water Attention and
love Environment Your environment can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You likewise require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you should
offer them with a heat resource.
This can be as basic 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
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also weekly this could
be reduced by
approximately 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your warmth
lamp, you need to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you have to put some heat.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bedding
often as well as
always give clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow extremely fast
which calls for plenty of clean
food as well as water. Give
sufficient whatsoever times and inspect
commonly to
stop dehydrated as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a head start on taking
dust baths, while others won't use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and also
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
enjoy their behavior, you can
catch ailment or various
other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
additionally check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can cause matted feathers and clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to look out
for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and move outside into a
coop. Take a look at our
area on chicken cages for more information
regarding coops and
appropriate coop environments.
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