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 Chickens in
Gallupville, New York
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Gallupville 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. Gallupville
New York also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Gallupville 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 Gallupville NY.
Baby
Chickens Under Heat Lamp in
Gallupville, New York
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Gallupville 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
Gallupville 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 Gallupville
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
Chicks Male in
Gallupville, 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
Gallupville 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 Gallupville,
New York Baby chicks are very
charming as well as
hard to withstand,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
correct materials, yet
likewise the correct
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you just need
to supply them with the following: A tidy and warm and comfortable
environment Lots of food and water Interest and also
love Habitat Your environment can be a basic box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (without loose
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You likewise require
something to dish out food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks age you could present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you should
give them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally work effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to two months). The newly
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and each week this could
be decreased by
approximately 5 levels or
so. The heat resource should be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your warmth
light, you have to
decrease the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not just cuddling),
you need to put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is crucial and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter
the bed linen
usually and also
constantly provide tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow quite fast
which requires plenty of tidy
food as well as water. Give
enough whatsoever times and examine
frequently to
stop parched as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not take
up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Focus and love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
enjoy their behavior, you can
capture disease or various
other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Be sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted plumes and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
and also move outside into a
coop. Have a look at our
area on chicken coops to read more
about cages and
proper coop habitats.
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