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Baby Chickens for Sale in Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania

Baby Chickens for Sale in Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania

Why You Need Chickens

Why You Need Chickens

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You need chickens.  You really do.  Why?  Because chickens are awesome.  Why are they awesome?  They eat bugs, lay eggs, and they look hilarious when they run.  What other reasons do you need?   I mean we could mention the fact that fresh eggs taste better than store bought eggs, that chickens in factory farms lead terrible lives, and that raising your own food is always a good idea.  But just in case you aren’t convinced, let’s take a look at some reasons why you need chickens.  (Did I mention they look funny when they run?  Because they do.)

It’s the ethical thing to do

.  Even when you try to get high quality eggs, labels are tricky and hard to read.  If you don’t know the farmer personally, there’s really no for sure way to know that the hens weren’t abused.   If the eggs were cheap, chances are they were laid by a very sad bird.  By raising your own hens you know for sure they had happy lives where they were free to roost, scratch, dust bathe, and do their chicken thing (like running).  Large scale farmers tend to keep just a few breeds and because of that a lot of breeds can  be lost.  Backyard producers are in a better position to raise and that have more genetic diversity and are more resilient against disease, and they can even prevent the most critically endangered ones from going extinct.

A hyper local food economy is better for the environment.  By raising your own hens you cut down on the distance your food travels, which reduces emissions from vehicles.  Have you ever been to a chicken farm?  They seriously stink!  By raising your own you also reduce pollution depending on how you handle the waste.   If you sell your eggs then you are also contributing to the of your community as well as giving people an ethical and healthier option.    (And if you really think keeping chickens isn’t for you, buying direct from a farmer helps out too.  Of course chickens themselves reduce waste.  Instead of sending your food scraps off to the dump you can feed them to your hens and they will happily convert them into eggs and fertilizer. 

It’s the self-sufficient thing to do

 Whether you consider yourself a prepper or just like being prepared, raising your own eggs is a way of becoming more self-reliant and increasing your self-sufficiency.  Producing your own food is a good idea for emergency situations.  Sometimes those emergency situations are as simple and common as limited cash flow.  When money is tight it’s nice to be able to trim down the budget without compromising on nutrition.  While hens will still need some supplemental feed, you can cut down on feed costs by letting them roam as much as possible.  They will eat insects and pests from your garden, clean up weeds and fallen fruit, and each hen only needs 200 square feet of pasture for fresh greens (and for running).  In turn their bedding and waste will feed your garden and improve the soil.  It’s that much closer to a closed loop cycle.  Some city folk may not be able to keep a rooster (don’t worry, you can still get eggs), but if you are able you can hatch out your own new stock, and provide a steady source of meat for yourself. 

It’s the healthy thing to do

Have you seen the beautiful bright orange of the yolk from a well fed hen?  Those eggs contain than the conventional kind you can purchase from the store, such as vitamin a, vitamin e, beta carotene, folate, and omega-3s as well as less cholesterol and saturated fat.  When the hens are your own you can have a lot more control about what type of feed they eat; if your family has highly sensitive food intolerances you can even choose a feed without that component.  You pick out the feed, so you don’t need to worry about if there is high levels of arsenic or antibiotics being used for the flock.   

Chickens can also provide all the stress relief benefits of having a pet, with the added bonus of not barking incessantly in the middle of the night, needing long walks, or chewing your house to ribbons.  They need a minimal amount of daily care, but still provide entertainment (in case you haven’t guessed, I’m highly entertained when they run), and a reason to get outside for some extra sunshine (or “cloudshine” here in Oregon).  Chickens even have been because of their calming effect. 

There are so many benefits to raising chickens!  I know my life would not be as sparkly and awesome without a few hens in it.  They are good for society, good for the earth, and good for our souls, and in most cases require just some simple care.  I love chickens. 

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Baby Chickens for Sale in Marshalls Creek 
PA

Baby Chickens Care in Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Marshalls Creek 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. Marshalls Creek Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Marshalls Creek 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 Marshalls Creek PA.

Baby Quail Chicks in Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Marshalls Creek 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. Baby Chickens for Sale in Marshalls Creek 
PATypically 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 Marshalls Creek 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 Marshalls Creek 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 Incubator in Marshalls Creek, 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 Marshalls Creek 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 Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania Baby chicks are quite cute and also difficult to resist, but it's best to prepare for their arrival before you get them. Prepare initially by compiling not just the appropriate materials, yet also the correct understanding to look after them. Raising baby chicks is relatively basic, you simply need to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy habitat A lot of food and also water Attention and also love Habitat 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 loosened strings!) to start, and after a few weeks use straw over paper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only paper or various other slipper surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand misshapen. You also need something to dish out food and also water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water dish from the feed store, or a pickle container cover for food and a family pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch right into the habitat to get them trained on setting down. Warmth To keep your chicks warm you should provide them with a warmth resource. This could be as easy as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth bulb also function extremely well (my referral). Chicks need this warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is changed with plumes (which can occupy to 2 months). The recently hatched require a temperature in between 90 and also 100 degrees, and every week this could be reduced by around 5 levels approximately. The heat source need to get on just one side of the cage to allow chicks a range of temperatures. The chicks are your finest thermostat- if they are concealing in the other edge of your heat light, you should reduce the temperature level. If they are smothering each various other under the heat (not just cuddling), you have to put some warmth. Home cleaning Tidiness is essential as well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to transform the bedding usually and always offer tidy food and water Food and also water. Chicks expand extremely fast which needs lots of tidy food and water. Give sufficient whatsoever times and also check usually to prevent dehydrated as well as starving chicks. Chick food is various compared to adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the very first two months, then change to a raiser food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for another 2 months, then to a somewhat lower healthy protein feed or a level feed (if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want to get a running start on taking dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task until they are older. If you have the room 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 hanging out with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and not flee as adults. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily and also watch their behavior, you can catch ailment or various other issues earlier. Keep an eye out for wheezing, limping, or various other undesirable indications. Make certain to additionally consider their poop, as diarrhea could lead to matted feathers as well as stopped up cloaca. Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest disorder So your chicks are now fully feathered as well as its time for them to leave the security of your house and move outside into a cage. Have a look at our section on chicken cages to get more information about cages and appropriate coop environments.
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