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Baby Chickens for Sale in Roseburg, Oregon

Baby Chickens for Sale in Roseburg, Oregon

Is Buying Chicks for Easter a Good Idea?

It’s that time of year again:  The sun is shining more.  Flowers are beginning to bloom.  People are getting ready for Easter.  Baby animals are being born.

Baby chicks for sale are readily available.

Before the Easter Bunny decides to bring some cute, fuzzy chicks to your house, there are a few things to consider about those adorable, cheeping balls of fluff.

Chicks require special care and handling.

Chicks are not animals appropriate for most toddlers.  Puppies and kittens are able to wriggle, and even scratch or bite if they feel uncomfortable or threatened by children.   Chicks are pretty helpless and are fairly susceptible to sustaining internal injury if not properly handled.  

Anyone handling chicks should always thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water afterward—something that is sometimes difficult to achieve with young children.

Chicks also require frequent monitoring for unusual behaviors that can indicate illness.

 Chicks grow up—fast!

Just like puppies and kittens, chicks grow—and grow quickly.  They may be cute and fluffy and able to fit in a box in your bathroom today, but by the time they are five weeks old, some breeds may have more than tripled in size.  They are not-so-cute and fluffy any more.  And they are not content to stay inside all day, especially not in a box with a bunch of others.  If you end up with a cockerel (male adolescent chicken), he might just start crowing by the time he is eight weeks old. 

Chicks are a commitment for their lifetime.

Also like puppies and kittens, you need to think long term.   Most of the animals I have owned have lived between 13 and 17 years.  For some pet owners, my pets would have still been considered young.    Realize that a chicken can easily live 8-10 years, but a healthy, well-cared for backyard chicken can live up to 20 years!  

Chickens may not be legal in your area.

Just because a store or a farmer in your area may be selling chicks doesn’t make them legal where you live.  Don’t just take the word of a friend, either.  In some cities and counties, adjacent properties may have different sets of laws governing them because of things such as zoning.  Personally check the laws where you live before making a purchase AND check with the local animal control, code enforcement, or extension office.  They will be able to prove to you the legality of chickens in your area.

You might be wondering by now, “Why the negativity about chickens?” It’s not negative.  It’s realistic.  Chicks can be a lot of fun, but their keeping needs to be seriously considered.

So how do you do it right?

Do your homework.

After making sure that you may legally own chickens, learn about different breeds to find what will best meet your family’s needs once they are grown.   Are you looking for a reliable egg-layer?   A docile companion?   Something with personality?   Each breed has unique characteristics, just like dogs or cats.   You also need to know what equipment you will need.   You don’t usually buy a puppy without buying food, food and water dishes, a collar, a bed, and toys.  Chicks will need some kind of container and a heat source in which to keep safe and warm, as well as feeder, water container, starter feed, and disposable bedding.   When they are older and bigger, and are kept outside, they will need a safe shelter complete with roost and nesting areas; bedding; feed; feeder; and watering container, along with access to sunlight and dirt.  That’s just the beginning.

Know what you are getting.

Are you looking for girl chicks (pullets) only?  Then it is best to avoid buying your chicks “straight run.”  Buying straight run basically means that girls and boys are all put in together, and you don’t know what you’re going to get.  (General rule is that half will be boys and half will be girls—IF you’re lucky!)  Try to make sure the chicks have been “sexed;” that is, they have been separated according to gender.  It is possible for trained individuals to tell the difference even at a young age.

It is also a good idea to try to buy local, especially if you are looking for a specific breed.  You may end up paying a little more per chick, but chances are, the chick will be healthier and of better breeding than those at feed stores.  But make sure to ask the seller for your gender preference to see if he/she will honor it.

Ask for help if you need it.

If you have already purchased chicks and are reconsidering a little too late, DO NOT abandon your chickens!  Contact us for assistance.  We are passionate about chicken keeping and want what is best for families and for chickens.  We might be able to provide ideas on how to make chicken owning less overwhelming for you.  We also might be able to assist you in finding a home for unwanted chickens—especially the unexpected cockerels.

Backyard chicken keeping is a rewarding endeavor, but it takes dedication.  As with owning any other animal, you must be well acquainted with the needs of the animal and the responsibilities of ownership you will face.

Baby Chickens for Sale in Roseburg 
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Baby Chickens Hatchery in Roseburg, Oregon

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Roseburg Oregon, 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. Roseburg Oregon also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Roseburg Oregon, 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 Roseburg OR.

Baby Chicks House in Roseburg, Oregon

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Roseburg Oregon 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 Roseburg 
ORTypically 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 Roseburg Oregon * 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 Roseburg Oregon * 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 Buy in Roseburg, Oregon

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 Roseburg Oregon 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 Roseburg, Oregon Baby chicks are quite charming and also difficult to withstand, yet it's ideal to plan for their arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first by collecting not only the appropriate materials, however also the correct expertise to care for them. Raising baby chicks is relatively simple, you simply need to offer them with the following: A clean and also warm habitat Lots of food as well as water Attention and also love Habitat Your habitat could be a straightforward box, fish tank, feline service provider, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels and also coverings (without any loosened strings!) to start, and after a couple of weeks use straw over newspaper. Keep in mind: Avoid using only paper or various other slipper surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow malformed. You additionally need something to serve up food and also water in, such as a chicken feeder and water dish from the feed store, or a pickle container lid for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks get older you can present a perch right into the habitat to obtain them educated on perching. Warmth To maintain your chicks warm you should provide them with a warmth resource. This could be as simple as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat light bulb likewise work extremely well (my referral). Chicks need this heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is replaced with feathers (which can take up to two months). The recently hatched out require a temperature in between 90 and 100 levels, and each week this can be reduced by roughly 5 degrees or so. The heat source ought to get on simply one side of the cage to permit chicks a range of temperature levels. The chicks are your best thermostat- if they are concealing in the other corner of your warmth light, you need to lower the temperature level. If they are smothering each other under the heat (not simply curling up), you need to include some warmth. Home cleaning Cleanliness is vital and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to transform the bed linens typically and also constantly give tidy food as well as water Food and water. Chicks grow quite fast which needs a lot of tidy food and also water. Supply enough in any way times and also check commonly to avoid dehydrated and also hungry 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 two months, after that switch to a raiser food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for one more 2 months, and afterwards to a somewhat lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed (if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking filth baths, while others won't take up that activity till they are older. If you have the space in your chick room, introduce a tray of sand or dirt for them to wash in. Interest and also love There are a couple of benefits to hanging out with your chicks. Firstly, they will most likely bond with you and not escape as grownups. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily as well as view their actions, you can catch illness or other problems previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or other harmful signs. Be sure to additionally consider their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted feathers as well as clogged up cloaca. Lastly, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the littlest chick getting teased. Empty nest disorder So your chicks are now fully feathery as well as its time for them to leave the safety of your home and move outside into a coop. Have a look at our part on chicken coops to find out more concerning cages as well as appropriate coop habitats.
Baby Chicks Care     Baby Chicks Hatchery
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