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Baby Chickens for Sale in Sterling, New York

Baby Chickens for Sale in Sterling, New York

How to Introduce New Chickens into your Flock, part 2

[This article is part of a series that addresses the question of how to introduce new chickens into your existing flock, along with several related questions. To see all articles in this series, visit .]

Disease and Parasites

When you introduce new chickens to your flock, you run the risk of also introducing new diseases or parasites to your flock. If you take your chickens to poultry shows, then you run that same risk when you reintroduce chickens that were taken to the show back into your main flock.

Quarantine

The best and most effective way to protect your flock from diseases introduced by new chickens is to quarantine them. When you quarantine a chicken or several chickens, you keep them separate from the rest of the flock for an extended time period.  We recommend a quarantine of at least 30 days.

During the quarantine, care for the quarantined chickens normally, giving them food and water, but do not allow any contact with the existing flock.  Thoroughly wash your hands and disinfect your feet and anything else that comes in contact with these chickens or their environment or manure. We carry several that work well.

While the chickens are in quarantine, watch them closely for any signs of parasites, such as mites, and for any signs of disease, such as respiratory problems, or mucus discharges from the chickens’ eyes or nostrils.

Another Precaution

Chickens in a flock can build up an immunity to a disease yet still be carriers of that disease.  If your new chickens have such an immunity and are disease carriers, the quarantine described above won’t be enough, and the new chickens could still introduce disease into your flock undetected.

There is a way to guard against this. It involves a little risk, but it minimizes the risk of infecting the main flock.  Take one chicken from your main flock and move it into the quarantine with the new birds.  Keep that chicken with your other quarantined birds for the entire quarantine period.  Watch her closely.  If she begins to develop any signs of disease, it is likely that she was infected by the new birds, so in that case, do not introduce the new birds into the flock.  On the other hand, if she makes it through the quarantine period without any signs of disease, then you can be reasonably sure that it is safe to introduce her and the new birds into your flock.

With this approach, you run the risk of losing one chicken from your main flock to disease, but you greatly reduce the risk of losing your entire flock.

Baby Chicks from Murray McMurray Hatchery

Murray McMurray Hatchery takes a to make sure that any baby chicks you receive from us are healthy and free of disease.  This eliminates any concern you may have about the baby chicks introducing disease to your existing flock, but there are still some things to consider.

Baby chicks are not able to defend themselves against larger, more mature chickens, so they should be raised separately until they reach maturity. Second, if you have any concerns about disease or parasites in your existing flock, take proper precautions to make sure that you don’t risk introducing it to your new chickens.

In next week’s article, I will discuss how to integrate the new chickens into your existing flock.

 

Baby Chickens for Sale in Sterling 
NY

Baby Chickens Bedding in Sterling, New York

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Sterling 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. Sterling New York also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Sterling 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 Sterling NY.

Baby Chicks Home in Sterling, New York

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Sterling 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. Baby Chickens for Sale in Sterling 
NYTypically 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 Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Buy in Sterling, 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 Sterling 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 Sterling, New York Baby chicks are very adorable and also difficult to stand up to, however it's finest to prepare for their arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first by gathering not just the correct materials, but additionally the appropriate knowledge to look after them. Raising baby chicks is fairly straightforward, you merely need to give them with the following: A tidy as well as warm habitat A lot of food as well as water Interest as well as love Habitat Your environment can be a basic box, aquarium, pet cat carrier, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as blankets (with no loosened strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks make use of straw over paper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just newspaper or various other slipper surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow malformed. You likewise need something to provide food as well as water in, such as a chicken feeder and water dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container lid for food and a family pet bird water dispenser from a pet dog store. Also, as the chicks get older you can introduce a perch into the environment to obtain them trained on setting down. Heat To keep your chicks heat you have to supply them with a heat resource. This could be as easy as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat light bulb also work very well (my suggestion). Chicks require this heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is changed with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The freshly hatched require a temperature level between 90 as well as 100 levels, and each week this can be reduced by around 5 levels or so. The warmth source must be on merely one side of the cage to enable chicks an array of temperatures. The chicks are your best thermometer- if they are concealing in the contrary edge of your heat light, you need to decrease the temperature level. If they are smothering each various other under the warmth (not merely curling up), you have to add some warmth. House cleaning Tidiness is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy and balanced. Make certain to alter the bed linens commonly and always offer tidy food and water Food and water. Chicks expand really quickly which requires a lot of clean food and also water. Supply sufficient at all times and also inspect frequently to prevent parched and hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared to adult chicken food, as well as it comes in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the very first two months, after that switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 % protein) for another 2 months, and then to a somewhat reduced protein feed or a level feed (if you have levels). Soil Some chicks want to get a running start on taking filth bathrooms, while others will not use up that activity up until they are older. If you have the space in your chick unit, present a tray of sand or filth for them to bathe in. Interest and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly more than likely bond with you as well as not escape as adults. Second, if you examine your chicks daily as well as view their habits, you could catch health problem or other problems earlier. Keep an eye out for hissing, hopping, or various other undesirable indications. Make certain to additionally look at their poop, as diarrhea can result in matted feathers and obstructed cloaca. Lastly, it is essential to look out for social problems, such as the littlest chick getting picked on. Empty nest syndrome So your chicks are currently completely feathery as well as its time for them to leave the safety and security of your house as well as move outside right into a cage. Look into our part on chicken cages to learn more regarding cages as well as proper coop environments.
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