Well, unfortunately, over the past few months we have been plagued with Bobcats and now Mountain Lions, and our chickens are suffering for it. We’ve lost 1 layer and 2 pullets and one of our layers was mauled and hasn’t laid since. We are in the process of enclosing our chicken pen so that the buggers can’t get in, but the free ranging time has now been limited/and or non existent because I have to be out there with them or make sure our dog is out there watching them, which she has no interest in doing, so I end up out there most of the time. It’s been really frustrating and I’m so upset but not sure what else we can do…
Here’s some pics of where we live and where the coop is:
our property lines up next to protected land where deer are prolific, wild turkeys run loose, as do bands of coyotes, but ever since we (and I believe a few neighbors) have been raising chicken, we now have bobcats and for the first time in 42 years, a mountain lion, to deal with!
And here are my Chickens (Black & Red-the one who was mauled) & funny eggs:
Here’s a pic of a baby egg we got, so teeny tiny I had to share a picture:-)
Our pullets Rhodie & Eagle:
We’ve got another layer Red Sex Link, named Runt, a 2 year old Buff Orpington, who we call Buff, and two more pullets without names, one’s a Barred Rock and another Buff Orpington. I’ll post picks of them soon:-)
I absolutely love having fresh eggs, but sometimes the frustrations have me wondering if it’s worth it…and it really is!!!
Baby Chickens Eggs in
Hillsboro, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Hillsboro 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. Hillsboro
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro TX.
Baby Chickens in
Hillsboro, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Hillsboro 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
Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro
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 Chicks Order Online in
Hillsboro, 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
Hillsboro 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 Hillsboro,
Texas Baby chicks are very
adorable and
difficult to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
appropriate materials, but
also the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply have to offer them with the following: A tidy and warm and comfortable
environment Lots of food and also water Interest as well as
love Habitat Your environment can be a
simple box, aquarium,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using just
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You likewise need
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal store. Also, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
into the environment to obtain them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
give them with a warmth resource.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb additionally function effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could use
up to two months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and every week this can
be lowered by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The warmth resource need to be on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you need to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not just snuggling),
you should include some heat.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to transform
the bedding
typically as well as
consistently offer tidy
food and also water Food and also water.
Chicks grow very quick
which needs plenty of clean
food and water. Give
enough at all times and also examine
often to
stop thirsty and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Attention as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly more than likely bond with you as well as
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
see their habits, you could
capture illness or various
other troubles previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Make sure to
also take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted plumes and clogged up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
and its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and move outside into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken coops to get more information
about coops as well as
proper cage habitats.
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