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 Home in
Prospect, Tennessee
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Prospect 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. Prospect
Tennessee also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Prospect 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 Prospect TN.
Baby
Chicks Information in
Prospect, Tennessee
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Prospect 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
Prospect 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 Prospect
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 Supplies in
Prospect, 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
Prospect 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 Prospect,
Tennessee Baby chicks are really
cute as well as
difficult to resist,
however it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by gathering not just the
right materials, but
likewise the appropriate
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you just have to provide them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
environment Lots of food as well
as water Interest and
love Environment Your environment could be a basic box, aquarium,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You likewise require
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a warmth source.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also function effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could use
up to two months). The newly
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as each week this could
be decreased by
about 5 levels or
so. The heat source ought
to get on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not just cuddling),
you need to include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter
the bed linen
frequently and
constantly give tidy
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow extremely quickly
which calls for lots of clean
food as well as water. Provide
sufficient whatsoever times and check
typically to
stop dehydrated and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Interest as well as love There are a
few benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
enjoy their actions, you could
capture health problem or other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other undesirable
indications. Be sure to
likewise look at
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted feathers as well
as obstructed cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to look out
for social problems, such as the
smallest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
and move outside into a cage. Check out our
area on chicken cages to find out
more
about cages and also
correct coop habitats.
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