Baby Chickens for Sale in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Baby Chickens for Sale in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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 Chicks Buy in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Lancaster Pennsylvania, 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. Lancaster Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Lancaster Pennsylvania, 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 Lancaster PA.Baby Chickens Facts in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Lancaster Pennsylvania 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
Lancaster Pennsylvania * 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 Lancaster
Pennsylvania * 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 Names in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
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 Lancaster Pennsylvania 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 Lancaster, Pennsylvania Baby chicks are quite charming and also tough to resist, however it's best to plan for their arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially by gathering not just the appropriate materials, however additionally the proper expertise to care for them. Raising baby chicks is fairly straightforward, you simply need to offer them with the following: A tidy and warm habitat Plenty of food and water Focus and love Environment Your habitat could be a simple box, aquarium, pet cat service provider, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as blankets (without any loose strings!) to start, and after a couple of weeks use straw over paper. Note: Avoid using only newspaper or various other sandal surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand malformed. You also need something to serve up food as well as water in, such as a chicken feeder and water recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar lid for food as well as a family pet bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Additionally, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch into the habitat to get them educated on setting down. Warmth To keep your chicks warm you need to offer them with a heat source. This can be as easy as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth bulb also function very well (my recommendation). Chicks require this warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is replaced with plumes (which can use up to 2 months). The freshly hatched need a temperature in between 90 and also 100 levels, as well as every week this can be reduced by around 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource ought to be on just one side of the cage to permit chicks a variety of temperatures. The chicks are your ideal thermometer- if they are hiding in the opposite corner of your heat light, you need to minimize the temperature level. If they are smothering each other under the heat (not simply curling up), you need to include some warmth. House cleaning Cleanliness is essential and it maintains your chicks healthy and balanced. Be sure to transform the bed linens usually and always give tidy food and water Food and water. Chicks grow extremely fast which calls for plenty of tidy food and water. Supply sufficient in any way times and also check often to stop dehydrated and also starving chicks. Chick food is different compared to adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the initial two months, after that switch over to a grower food (~ 17 % protein) for another 2 months, and then to a somewhat reduced protein feed or a level feed (if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking dust baths, while others won't take up that activity up until they are older. If you have the room in your chick room, introduce a tray of sand or dust for them to wash in. Interest as well as love There are a few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and not escape as adults. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily as well as see their habits, you could capture illness or various other issues previously. Keep an eye out for wheezing, limping, or other harmful indications. Make certain to additionally consider their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted plumes as well as clogged up cloaca. Lastly, it is important to watch out for social problems, such as the littlest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your chicks are now fully feathery as well as its time for them to leave the safety and security of your house and relocate outside into a coop. Check out our area on chicken coops to find out more about cages as well as appropriate cage environments.Baby Chickens And Baby Ducks Baby Chicks In The Mail
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