A couple of months ago our family decided that we were going to get some baby chicks to raise so we could get fresh organic eggs. We were so excited when we walked into the Tractor Supply Store during their “Chick days” we got 6 baby chicks and everything we needed for starting out. They were kept inside for 6 weeks and grew so big in that short amount of time.
A couple of weeks before they were transitioned outside my husband and I built their chicken coop. It was one that we bought on Ebay that looks really cute like a house for chickens. We had never raised chickens before and a few of our neighbors had told us to watch out for predators that would try to get to the chickens.
I was so naïve and would tell my husband that it’s the city near the ocean where neighbors are all over place and that I have never seen any wildlife at all out here! The only animals I have ever seen was squirrels and seagulls. We’ve lived in the country before and I felt sure that nothing would happen here and with our new cute chicken coop for our chickens they would be fine.
Everything went fine the first night and then the second morning when I went out to let them out of the housing part, one of the chicks were on the outside waiting near the coop door. I found that odd and wondered how he got out and then of course to my horror I saw blood and the other 5 were missing. Something had knocked a board up from underneath and all the chickens had fallen out to the ground. We never did find them that day anywhere and decided we were going to take the one back inside for a while. My husband fixed the board in hopes that it would do the trick in the future. Unfortunately the last chicken was killed as well. We found prints all over the coop which look like to me Racoon prints? Our poor chicken was pulled out from some slats that were up underneath.
Again I was so upset. How could this be happening? We spent so much time and energy into having chickens and to me after raising them that short while I realized that chickens have personalities and they were becoming more of a pet to me then anything. We decided to adopt some more from online because we didn’t find any babies in our area so we got some from mypetchicken.com. They arrived safely and are doing very well. I cannot believe how big they are already!
My husband has put so many locks and has altered the chicken coop that there is no way that anything is getting to my babies again!
If your planning to get baby chicks or have gotten some recently and getting ready to put them outdoors please make sure that the coops is bullet proof per say. Apparently there are some critters out there that are wicked smart and clever and get to your animals if you’re not careful.
Lesson learned here, just because we are in the city doesn’t mean that there isn’t any night-time predators lurking to get to my chickens.
Bonnie is a Business Owner and Blogger. She's a Wife, Momma to 5 kiddos and loves anything that has to do with the outdoors, especially gardening. She started her blog in 2013 to share with others her learning to Live greener experiences, Product , with 5 kiddos, DIY projects, Savings, Recipes and more. Reach her at wemake7blog@gmail.com
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Baby
Chicks For Sale in
Florence, South Dakota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Florence South Dakota,
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. Florence
South Dakota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Florence South Dakota, 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 Florence SD.
Baby Chicks Buy in
Florence, South Dakota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Florence South Dakota
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
Florence South Dakota * 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 Florence
South Dakota * 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
Near Me in
Florence, South Dakota
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
Florence South Dakota 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 Florence,
South Dakota Baby chicks are very
adorable and
tough to stand up to,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
appropriate materials, yet
also the appropriate
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you simply need
to give them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment Plenty of food as well
as water Interest and also
love Environment Your environment could be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
paper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You also require
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
lid for food as well as a pet dog bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you have to
supply them with a warmth resource.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise work effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could take up to two months). The newly
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
as well as every week this could
be decreased by
roughly 5 degrees approximately. The warmth source must get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your heat
lamp, you have to
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not merely cuddling),
you have to add some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to change
the bed linens
frequently and
consistently provide tidy
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow quite quick
which requires lots of clean
food and water. Offer
enough at all times as well
as check
typically to
stop thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not occupy that activity until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Interest as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
see their actions, you could
capture ailment or various
other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
various other unhealthy
indications. Make sure to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted feathers and also clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is important to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also relocate outside right into a cage. Check out our
part on chicken coops to get more information
concerning cages and also
proper cage environments.
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