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 For Easter in
Collinwood, Tennessee
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Collinwood Tennessee,
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. Collinwood
Tennessee also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Collinwood Tennessee, 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 Collinwood TN.
Baby Chicks Habitat in
Collinwood, Tennessee
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Collinwood Tennessee
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
Collinwood Tennessee * 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 Collinwood
Tennessee * 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 For Easter in
Collinwood, Tennessee
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
Collinwood Tennessee 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 Collinwood,
Tennessee Baby chicks are really
cute and
hard to resist,
however it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
proper products, however
additionally the proper
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you merely have to give them with the following: A tidy and warm
environment Lots of food and also water Interest and
love Habitat Your habitat can be an easy box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also require
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Also, as the chicks age you could present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
provide them with a heat source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb also function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to two months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and also each week this could
be minimized by
approximately 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource ought
to get on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
light, you should
lower the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not merely snuggling),
you have to put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is essential as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to transform
the bed linens
frequently and also
always supply tidy
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which requires lots of clean
food as well as water. Offer
sufficient in any way times as well
as check
frequently to
stop thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want
to obtain a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Attention and also love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
watch their actions, you can
catch disease or various
other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
various other harmful
indications. Be sure to
also look at
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted plumes and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your home
and move outside right into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken cages to learn more
concerning coops as well as
appropriate coop environments.
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