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.
Bonnie is a Business Owner and Blogger. She's a Wife, Momma to 5 kiddos and loves anything that has to do with the outdoors, especially gardening. She started her blog in 2013 to share with others her learning to Live greener experiences, Product , with 5 kiddos, DIY projects, Savings, Recipes and more. Reach her at wemake7blog@gmail.com
Latest posts by WEMAKE7 ()
- April 25, 2016
- April 25, 2016
- April 24, 2016
Share this:
Like this:
LikeLoading...
Baby Chickens
And Ducks For Sale in
Timberon, New Mexico
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Timberon 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. Timberon
New Mexico also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Timberon 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 Timberon NM.
Baby Chicks Near Me in
Timberon, New Mexico
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Timberon 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
Timberon 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 Timberon
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 Near Me in
Timberon, 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
Timberon 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 Timberon,
New Mexico Baby chicks are very
adorable and also
challenging to withstand,
however it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
correct materials, however
likewise the proper
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you merely should supply them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
habitat A lot of food and also water Focus and
love Habitat Your habitat can be a
simple box, aquarium,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You additionally need
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from a pet store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you have to
supply them with a warmth source.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally function effectively (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
as well as each week this can
be minimized by
approximately 5 levels approximately. The heat source should get on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your heat
lamp, you need to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just curling up),
you need to add some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is crucial and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bed linen
usually and also
constantly supply tidy
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow quite quickly
which needs plenty of clean
food as well as water. Give
enough whatsoever times and check
typically to prevent thirsty as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not use up that activity until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention and love There are a
few advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
enjoy their habits, you could
catch health problem or various
other problems earlier. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
other harmful
signs. Make sure to
additionally consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead
to matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to look out
for social issues, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
as well as move outside into a cage. Check out our
section on chicken cages to learn more
concerning coops and
appropriate cage habitats.
Baby Chicks Male Or FemaleBaby Chickens And Ducks For Sale More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Gladstone, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Bloomfield, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Corona, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Ruidoso, New Mexico Baby Chickens for Sale in Espanola, New Mexico