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 Mail Order in
Catskill, New York
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Catskill New York,
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. Catskill
New York also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Catskill New York, 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 Catskill NY.
Baby Chickens
Near Me in
Catskill, New York
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Catskill New York
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
Catskill New York * 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 Catskill
New York * 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
And Ducks For Sale in
Catskill, New York
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
Catskill New York 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 Catskill,
New York Baby chicks are quite
adorable as well as
hard to stand up to,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
correct materials, however
also the appropriate
knowledge to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you merely should supply them with the following: A
clean and cozy
habitat Plenty of food and water Attention and also
love Habitat Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
feline carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using only
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You likewise need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you have to
provide them with a heat resource.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could use
up to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature level
between 90 and 100 levels,
and also every week this could
be minimized by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The warmth source should get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your warmth
light, you should
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just curling up),
you need to include some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is essential and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bed linen
frequently as well as
constantly supply tidy
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow quite quick
which needs lots of clean
food as well as water. Offer
sufficient at all times and inspect
usually to avoid parched as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks want
to obtain a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't use up that task until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Interest and love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly more than likely bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
view their habits, you can
capture disease or other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
likewise check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could result in matted feathers as well
as stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken coops for more information
concerning cages and
proper cage environments.
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