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 In The Mail in
Lovelady, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Lovelady 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. Lovelady
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Lovelady 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 Lovelady TX.
Baby
Chickens Care in
Lovelady, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Lovelady 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
Lovelady 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 Lovelady
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 And Ducks in
Lovelady, 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
Lovelady 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 Lovelady,
Texas Baby chicks are very
adorable as well as
challenging to stand up to,
yet it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
proper products, yet
also the correct
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you merely should supply them with the following: A tidy and warm
environment Lots of food and also water Interest and also
love Environment Your environment could be a
simple box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loose
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks use straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally require
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Also, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you need to
supply them with a warmth resource.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb also function effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could occupy to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also each week this could
be reduced by
roughly 5 degrees or
so. The warmth source should be on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your warmth
light, you have to
reduce the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not simply snuggling),
you should put some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is vital and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to alter
the bedding
often as well as
consistently provide tidy
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which requires lots of clean
food and also water. Supply
sufficient whatsoever times and also inspect
typically to prevent thirsty and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others will not use up that activity until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
see their behavior, you could
catch ailment or other problems earlier. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indications. Be sure to
likewise consider
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted plumes as well
as obstructed cloaca.
Lastly, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken cages to learn more
regarding coops and also
appropriate coop environments.
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