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Baby Chickens for Sale in Mount Carmel, Tennessee

Baby Chickens for Sale in Mount Carmel, Tennessee

Is Buying Chicks for Easter a Good Idea?

It’s that time of year again:  The sun is shining more.  Flowers are beginning to bloom.  People are getting ready for Easter.  Baby animals are being born.

Baby chicks for sale are readily available.

Before the Easter Bunny decides to bring some cute, fuzzy chicks to your house, there are a few things to consider about those adorable, cheeping balls of fluff.

Chicks require special care and handling.

Chicks are not animals appropriate for most toddlers.  Puppies and kittens are able to wriggle, and even scratch or bite if they feel uncomfortable or threatened by children.   Chicks are pretty helpless and are fairly susceptible to sustaining internal injury if not properly handled.  

Anyone handling chicks should always thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water afterward—something that is sometimes difficult to achieve with young children.

Chicks also require frequent monitoring for unusual behaviors that can indicate illness.

 Chicks grow up—fast!

Just like puppies and kittens, chicks grow—and grow quickly.  They may be cute and fluffy and able to fit in a box in your bathroom today, but by the time they are five weeks old, some breeds may have more than tripled in size.  They are not-so-cute and fluffy any more.  And they are not content to stay inside all day, especially not in a box with a bunch of others.  If you end up with a cockerel (male adolescent chicken), he might just start crowing by the time he is eight weeks old. 

Chicks are a commitment for their lifetime.

Also like puppies and kittens, you need to think long term.   Most of the animals I have owned have lived between 13 and 17 years.  For some pet owners, my pets would have still been considered young.    Realize that a chicken can easily live 8-10 years, but a healthy, well-cared for backyard chicken can live up to 20 years!  

Chickens may not be legal in your area.

Just because a store or a farmer in your area may be selling chicks doesn’t make them legal where you live.  Don’t just take the word of a friend, either.  In some cities and counties, adjacent properties may have different sets of laws governing them because of things such as zoning.  Personally check the laws where you live before making a purchase AND check with the local animal control, code enforcement, or extension office.  They will be able to prove to you the legality of chickens in your area.

You might be wondering by now, “Why the negativity about chickens?” It’s not negative.  It’s realistic.  Chicks can be a lot of fun, but their keeping needs to be seriously considered.

So how do you do it right?

Do your homework.

After making sure that you may legally own chickens, learn about different breeds to find what will best meet your family’s needs once they are grown.   Are you looking for a reliable egg-layer?   A docile companion?   Something with personality?   Each breed has unique characteristics, just like dogs or cats.   You also need to know what equipment you will need.   You don’t usually buy a puppy without buying food, food and water dishes, a collar, a bed, and toys.  Chicks will need some kind of container and a heat source in which to keep safe and warm, as well as feeder, water container, starter feed, and disposable bedding.   When they are older and bigger, and are kept outside, they will need a safe shelter complete with roost and nesting areas; bedding; feed; feeder; and watering container, along with access to sunlight and dirt.  That’s just the beginning.

Know what you are getting.

Are you looking for girl chicks (pullets) only?  Then it is best to avoid buying your chicks “straight run.”  Buying straight run basically means that girls and boys are all put in together, and you don’t know what you’re going to get.  (General rule is that half will be boys and half will be girls—IF you’re lucky!)  Try to make sure the chicks have been “sexed;” that is, they have been separated according to gender.  It is possible for trained individuals to tell the difference even at a young age.

It is also a good idea to try to buy local, especially if you are looking for a specific breed.  You may end up paying a little more per chick, but chances are, the chick will be healthier and of better breeding than those at feed stores.  But make sure to ask the seller for your gender preference to see if he/she will honor it.

Ask for help if you need it.

If you have already purchased chicks and are reconsidering a little too late, DO NOT abandon your chickens!  Contact us for assistance.  We are passionate about chicken keeping and want what is best for families and for chickens.  We might be able to provide ideas on how to make chicken owning less overwhelming for you.  We also might be able to assist you in finding a home for unwanted chickens—especially the unexpected cockerels.

Backyard chicken keeping is a rewarding endeavor, but it takes dedication.  As with owning any other animal, you must be well acquainted with the needs of the animal and the responsibilities of ownership you will face.

Baby Chickens for Sale in Mount Carmel 
TN

Baby Chickens Outside in Mount Carmel, Tennessee

We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Mount Carmel 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. Mount Carmel Tennessee also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Mount Carmel 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 Mount Carmel TN.

Baby Chickens Eggs in Mount Carmel, Tennessee

Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Mount Carmel 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. Baby Chickens for Sale in Mount Carmel 
TNTypically 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 Mount Carmel 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 Mount Carmel 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 Chickens As Pets in Mount Carmel, 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 Mount Carmel 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 Mount Carmel, Tennessee Baby chicks are extremely adorable and challenging to stand up to, yet it's best to prepare for their arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially by compiling not only the correct products, however additionally the correct knowledge to look after them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably straightforward, you merely should supply them with the following: A tidy and warm and comfortable habitat Lots of food and water Interest and also love Habitat Your habitat can be a straightforward box, fish tank, cat carrier, or guinea pig cage. Line it with old towels and coverings (without any loosened strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper. Note: Avoid making use of only paper or various other sandal surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand misshapen. You likewise need something to serve up food and water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar lid for food as well as a family pet bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch right into the habitat to obtain them educated on perching. Heat To keep your chicks heat you need to give them with a warmth source. This can be as basic as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth light bulb likewise work extremely well (my referral). Chicks require this heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is replaced with plumes (which can use up to 2 months). The newly hatched need a temperature level between 90 and also 100 degrees, as well as every week this could be lowered by approximately 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource must be on merely one side of the cage to permit chicks a range of temperature levels. The chicks are your finest thermostat- if they are hiding in the contrary edge of your heat light, you have to lower the temperature level. If they are surrounding each various other under the heat (not merely snuggling), you need to put some warmth. Home cleaning Cleanliness is crucial and also it keeps your chicks healthy and balanced. Be sure to transform the bedding usually and always offer clean food as well as water Food and also water. Chicks expand very quickly which needs a lot of clean food and also water. Offer sufficient at all times as well as examine typically to avoid dehydrated and also hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and also it comes in both medicated and also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the first 2 months, after that switch over to a grower food (~ 17 % protein) for an additional 2 months, and after that to a slightly lower protein feed or a level feed (if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want to get a head start on taking filth bathrooms, while others won't use up that task until they are older. If you have the room in your chick enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or dust for them to bathe in. Focus and also love There are a few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start with, they will certainly most likely bond with you as well as not escape as adults. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily and enjoy their habits, you could catch illness or various other issues earlier. Keep an eye out for hissing, limping, or various other unhealthy indicators. Make certain to likewise consider their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted plumes and clogged cloaca. Lastly, it is very important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the tiniest chick getting picked on. Empty nest syndrome So your chicks are now fully feathery and also its time for them to leave the safety and security of your house as well as relocate outside into a coop. Look into our part on chicken coops for more information regarding cages and also correct cage environments.
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