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 Chickens Eggs in
Bruceville, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Bruceville Texas,
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. Bruceville
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Bruceville Texas, 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 Bruceville TX.
Baby
Chicks Order in
Bruceville, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Bruceville Texas
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
Bruceville Texas * 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 Bruceville
Texas * 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
Black in
Bruceville, Texas
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
Bruceville Texas 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 Bruceville,
Texas Baby chicks are really
adorable and also
tough to stand up to,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
proper products, however
also the proper
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
simple, you merely have to supply them with the following: A
clean and warm
environment Lots of food as well
as water Interest and also
love Environment Your habitat can be an easy box, fish tank,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You additionally require
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a heat source.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise work effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also weekly this can
be lowered by
around 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource must get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you need to
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not just cuddling),
you should put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is key and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to alter
the bed linen
typically and also
constantly supply clean
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks grow quite quickly
which needs a lot of tidy
food and water. Offer
sufficient in any way times and inspect
often to avoid parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others won't use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Attention and love There are a couple of advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
watch their behavior, you could
catch health problem or various
other issues previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
additionally consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could result in matted feathers and obstructed cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as move outside into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken coops for more information
about cages and also
proper cage environments.
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