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 Chickens For Sale Online in
Oreland, Pennsylvania
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Oreland 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. Oreland
Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Oreland 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 Oreland PA.
Baby Chickens Coop in
Oreland, Pennsylvania
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Oreland 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
Oreland 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 Oreland
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 Under Lights in
Oreland, 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
Oreland 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 Oreland,
Pennsylvania Baby chicks are quite
adorable as well as
hard to withstand,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
proper materials, however
also the appropriate
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you merely should offer them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
environment A lot of food and also water Focus and
love Habitat Your environment can be a basic box, aquarium,
feline carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loose
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using only
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You also require
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
give them with a warmth source.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
as well as each week this can
be decreased by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource must be on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your heat
lamp, you need to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not just curling up),
you need to add some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bed linens
commonly and also
constantly provide clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks expand really quick
which requires lots of tidy
food and also water. Provide
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as check
typically to prevent thirsty as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others will not use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Interest as well as love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. To start
with, they will most
likely bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
view their behavior, you could
capture disease or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other harmful
signs. Be sure to
likewise consider
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted feathers as well
as blocked cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to watch out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
as well as relocate outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken cages for more information
concerning cages as well as
correct coop habitats.
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