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 In The Mail in
Linden, Pennsylvania
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Linden 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. Linden
Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Linden 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 Linden PA.
Baby Chickens Food in
Linden, Pennsylvania
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Linden 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
Linden 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 Linden
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 Chicks Order Online in
Linden, 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
Linden 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 Linden,
Pennsylvania Baby chicks are extremely
cute and
hard to stand up to,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not just the
proper products, yet
likewise the proper
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you simply need
to offer them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
habitat A lot of food and also water Focus and
love Habitat Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You likewise require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you should
provide them with a heat resource.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also work extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
between 90 and 100 degrees,
as well as each week this could
be lowered by
about 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource ought
to be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your heat
light, you need to
lower the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you need to put some heat.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to change
the bed linens
often and
always give tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow extremely fast
which needs a lot of tidy
food and water. Provide
enough whatsoever times and also inspect
typically to prevent parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not take
up that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly probably bond with you and
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their habits, you can
catch health problem or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other undesirable
signs. Make sure to
also take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted plumes and blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now totally feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and relocate outside right into a cage. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages to get more information
concerning cages as well as
correct coop habitats.
Baby Chicks And Ducks For SaleBaby Chickens Food More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania Baby Chickens for Sale in Bethel, Pennsylvania Baby Chickens for Sale in Gap, Pennsylvania Baby Chickens for Sale in Chatham, Pennsylvania Baby Chickens for Sale in Hannastown, Pennsylvania