Recently, with the prices of food rising, especially eggs, we decided that we wanted to make a concentrated effort to raise chickens. I have never had the opportunity to interact with chickens other than in grade school when we hatched baby chickens in incubators, so I knew this would have a steep learning curve. After scouring the internet for sites on the different breeds of chickens, we were pleased to discover which had fairly good descriptions and accompanying pictures.
We decided on four different breeds:
1) Brahma:
2) Delaware:
3) Barred Rock:
and one we’re not sure of. We were told she was a Rhode Island Red (), but now we’re assuming she’s an
4) Ameraucana:
We purchased them at 2 weeks old and they’re about 3 months now. One thing I was not prepared for is that each hen has her own personality and quirks, not unlike a puppy. They are curious about everything and always come up to greet us. We decided to not invest in a rooster since our neighbors are relatively close and our alarm clocks are more than adequate.
Besides eggs and meat, another great benefit to having chickens is that their waste can be composted and used as fertilizer. Since they eat practically anything, they also make great food scrap disposals too!
If any of you decide to acquire your own flock of chickens be certain to buy or build your chicken coup first. Chickens grow amazingly fast and before you know it, they will have outgrown their temporary living arrangements. We decided to build our own coup and let me tell you, they take up a great deal of time. We ended up building a 6′ x 6′ base, covered the floor with linoleum, complete with a triangular based roof of which one side “hatches” open for easy cleaning. The whole coup is on wooden stilts attached to concrete slabs which anchor it to the ground. The chicken door opens up into a large chicken run. Our design was pieced together from several other coup designs that others have posted on the internet.
Have you had experiences with chickens? If so, feel free to comment and share.
Barred Rock and a "We're Not Quite Sure" Hen
Baby Chicks Names in
Yukon, Pennsylvania
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Yukon 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. Yukon
Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Yukon 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 Yukon PA.
Baby Chicks Home in
Yukon, Pennsylvania
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Yukon 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
Yukon 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 Yukon
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 Information in
Yukon, 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
Yukon 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 Yukon,
Pennsylvania Baby chicks are quite
cute and also
difficult to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not just the
right products, but
also the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
simple, you simply should supply them with the following: A tidy and also warm and comfortable
habitat Lots of food and water Interest and also
love Environment Your habitat can be an easy box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You likewise need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you should
give them with a heat resource.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature level
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also each week this could
be lowered by
around 5 levels or
so. The heat source need to be on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your warmth
lamp, you need to
decrease the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you have to put some warmth.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is essential and it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to change
the bed linens
frequently and also
constantly supply clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow very quick
which needs lots of clean
food and also water. Provide
enough in any way times and also examine
typically to avoid dehydrated and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking
dust baths, while others won't occupy that activity till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Interest and also love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
watch their habits, you could
capture illness or other issues earlier. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other undesirable
indications. Make certain to
additionally check out
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted feathers and also clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is important to look out
for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
and also move outside into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken coops to learn more
concerning coops and
proper coop habitats.
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