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 Price in
Clayton, New Mexico
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Clayton New Mexico,
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. Clayton
New Mexico also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Clayton New Mexico, 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 Clayton NM.
Baby Chickens Sale in
Clayton, New Mexico
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Clayton New Mexico
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
Clayton New Mexico * 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 Clayton
New Mexico * 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 Care in
Clayton, New Mexico
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
Clayton New Mexico 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 Clayton,
New Mexico Baby chicks are very
charming as well as
tough to resist,
but it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
proper products, but
likewise the correct
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you merely need
to supply them with the following: A
clean as well as cozy
habitat A lot of food and water Focus as well as
love Environment Your environment can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (with no loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You additionally need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Also, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you should
give them with a heat source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature
between 90 and 100 degrees,
and each week this could
be lowered by
about 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource need to get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
lower the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not merely snuggling),
you need to put some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is essential and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to alter
the bed linens
typically as well as
constantly provide tidy
food and water Food and water.
Chicks expand very quickly
which calls for a lot of tidy
food as well as water. Supply
enough at all times and also inspect
commonly to avoid thirsty as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others will not occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Attention and love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you as well as
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
enjoy their actions, you could
catch disease or other problems earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other undesirable
indications. Make certain to
likewise look at
their poop, as diarrhea can result in matted feathers as well
as blocked cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and also move outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken cages to find out
more
regarding coops as well as
proper coop environments.
Baby Chicks HomeBaby Chicks Food More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Angel Fire, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Chimayo, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Acme, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Algodones, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Aragon, New Mexico