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 Chicks Buy in
Isabel, South Dakota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Isabel 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. Isabel
South Dakota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Isabel 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 Isabel SD.
Baby Chicks Supplies in
Isabel, South Dakota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Isabel 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
Isabel 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 Isabel
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 How To Care in
Isabel, 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
Isabel 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 Isabel,
South Dakota Baby chicks are very
adorable and
challenging to withstand,
yet it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not just the
proper products, yet
also the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you simply need
to supply them with the following: A
clean and cozy
environment Plenty of food and also water Focus as well as
love Habitat Your environment could be a
simple box, fish tank,
feline provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks use straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You also require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you should
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can take up to two months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
as well as weekly this could
be minimized by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource need to be on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your heat
light, you need to
reduce the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you have to put some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is vital and it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter
the bed linen
often as well as
always give tidy
food and water Food and water.
Chicks expand extremely quick
which needs lots of tidy
food and also water. Provide
sufficient in any way times as well
as check
often to avoid parched and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
filth baths, while others won't take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will most
likely bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
watch their behavior, you could
capture illness or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indicators. Make certain to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead
to matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Check out our
part on chicken cages to find out
more
concerning coops and also
correct cage habitats.
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