Baby Chickens for Sale in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania
Baby Chickens for Sale in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania
You can raise chickens in your backyard; find out more in two classes
Weston Henning, 4, of Newfane holds a Rhode Island Red hen. Upcoming classes will cover how to raise chickens in your backyard.
by Connie Oswald Stofko
“Chickens are easy to take care of, they don’t cost a lot and they can be good pets, said Amanda Henning, Agriculture and Food Systems Educator with .
But before you run out and get a bunch of fuzzy chicks, find out what is really involved in raising chickens.
Henning, who raises chickens herself, will teach two classes on “Backyard Chickens” in the small meeting room of the 4-H Training Center of Niagara County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4487 Lake Ave., Lockport.
Class 1, “Backyard Chicken Basics,” will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1.
Class 2, “Backyard Chicken Keeping,” will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.
The cost is $10 for each class or $15 for both.
To register, call Karen at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County at (716) 433-8839, ext. 221.
The classes are being held now because fall and winter are the best times to prepare for new chickens, which are widely available in the spring.
A big issue is whether you are allowed to keep chickens where you live. Henning lives in Newfane, where rules allow her to keep one horse, one cow and 10 chickens.
In nearby Lockport, you can keep chickens if you live in an agricultural district, but they must be penned, not free range. If you live in a residential area, you’re not allowed to keep chickens.
However, even if you live in an area where chickens aren’t allowed, you might be able to get a variable use permit, Henning said.
To find out what the rules are where you live, call your municipality. It can be very helpful talking to and working with your local officials, she said.
With the local food movement, many people are more interested in knowing where their food comes from, Henning said. Some people have gardens, but they want to take it one step further. You can raise chickens to provide eggs or meat.
With the price of eggs so high right now, it can be economical in the long run to raise your own chickens, Henning said. You don’t have to use expensive feed.
Building or buying a coop can be the largest expense, but you could use an old dog house to raise a couple of chickens.
“You can be creative,” she said, “and chickens are pretty hardy.”
Henning’s coop is about 3 ½ feet by 5 feet and their pen is about 6 feet by 8 feet.
“You don’t need a lot of room,” she said.
Chickens generally lay one egg in a 24-hour period, but their laying is affected by the number of daylight hours. In the winter, when there is less daylight, people will often have a light on the coop to get the hens to lay.
Henning has Rhode Island Reds, which lay brown eggs, and Americana hens, which lay turquoise eggs. The taste and nutrition of the eggs is the same as white chicken eggs, but it’s cool to have blue-green eggs, she said.
The other reason she chose those breeds is because her children interact with the animals.
“My kids feed them and pet them,” Henning said. “Depending on what breed you get, they can be really friendly. But honestly, some breeds are not family friendly. They have a little grouchier disposition, I would say.”
Having proper housing is important when keeping chickens.
“There are so many things that want to eat them,” she said. Snakes will try to eat the eggs. Foxes, raccoons, rats and even hawks will go after the adults.
“Then there’s your neighbor’s dog, or your dog,” Henning said.
Cats aren’t much of a threat, she said.
“Cats are about the same size as a chicken,” she said, though a cat would go after baby chicks.
Henning will also cover how to keep your chickens healthy. This summer, to prevent the spread of avian flu. While the current strain isn’t harmful to humans, it can be deadly to chickens. Owners can have their birds vaccinated, and it’s a good idea not to have someone who also owns chickens touch your birds. However, this is more of an issue when there are lots of chickens confined to one area.
Starting with chicks or eggs from certified dealers is also important to have healthy chickens, she said.
The classes will also cover hatching chicks from eggs, nutrition and anatomy.
Chickens are easy to care for, but the classes will help you know what is involved.
“With a coop, food and clean water, and they’re good to go,” Henning said. “But do your research just to make sure this is something you want to do before you get into it.”
Share this:
Tags: , ,
This entry was posted on September 22, 2015 at 4:01 pm and is filed under , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the feed.
Baby Chickens And Ducks in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Martinsburg 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. Martinsburg Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Martinsburg 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 Martinsburg PA.Baby Chickens Eggs in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Martinsburg 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
Martinsburg 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 Martinsburg
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 Eggs For Sale in Martinsburg, 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 Martinsburg 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 Martinsburg, Pennsylvania Baby chicks are extremely charming and challenging to withstand, but it's finest to prepare for their arrival before you get them. Prepare first by compiling not only the correct materials, but additionally the correct knowledge to care for them. Raising baby chicks is relatively simple, you simply need to give them with the following: A clean as well as warm environment A lot of food as well as water Attention and love Habitat Your environment could be a straightforward box, fish tank, cat carrier, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as coverings (with no loose strings!) to start, and after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper. Note: Avoid making use of only paper or other sandal surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow misshapen. You likewise require something to dish out food and water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container lid for food as well as a family pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch into the environment to obtain them trained on perching. Warmth To keep your chicks warm you have to offer them with a heat source. This could be as basic as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat light bulb additionally work extremely well (my suggestion). Chicks need this heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is changed with plumes (which could use up to two months). The recently hatched require a temperature level between 90 and also 100 degrees, and also every week this could be reduced by around 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource ought to be on merely one side of the cage to allow chicks a variety of temperatures. The chicks are your finest thermometer- if they are hiding in the contrary corner of your warmth light, you should lower the temperature level. If they are surrounding each various other under the heat (not simply snuggling), you should add some warmth. Home cleaning Cleanliness is essential and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter the bed linen frequently as well as consistently provide tidy food as well as water Food and also water. Chicks grow quite fast which needs plenty of clean food and water. Supply sufficient in any way times and examine typically to stop parched and hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the very first 2 months, after that change to a raiser food (~ 17 % healthy protein) for one more 2 months, and afterwards to a slightly lower healthy protein feed or a level feed (if you have levels). Soil Some chicks want to get a running 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, present 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. First of all, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and also not flee as grownups. Second, if you examine your chicks daily and see their habits, you could capture illness or other problems earlier. Keep an eye out for hissing, hopping, or various other unhealthy indications. Make sure to also look at their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca. Lastly, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the tiniest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your chicks are currently completely feathered and also its time for them to leave the safety of your home and also relocate outside right into a cage. Have a look at our area on chicken coops to read more regarding coops and also correct cage environments.Baby Chicks Coop Baby Chicks And Ducks For Sale
More Posts
Baby Chickens for Sale in Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Baby Chickens for Sale in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
Baby Chickens for Sale in Acosta, Pennsylvania
Baby Chickens for Sale in Harleigh, Pennsylvania
Baby Chickens for Sale in Drifting, Pennsylvania