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
Near Me in
Wellborn, Texas
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Wellborn 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. Wellborn
Texas also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Wellborn 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 Wellborn TX.
Baby Chicks For Easter in
Wellborn, Texas
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Wellborn 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
Wellborn 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 Wellborn
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 Mail in
Wellborn, 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
Wellborn 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 Wellborn,
Texas Baby chicks are very
charming and
difficult to resist,
yet it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
correct products, yet
likewise the appropriate
knowledge to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you just need
to offer them with the following: A
clean as well as cozy
environment Plenty of food and water Focus as well as
love Habitat Your environment could be an easy box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You also need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a heat source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
between 90 and 100 levels,
and every week this can
be minimized by
approximately 5 levels or
so. The warmth source ought
to get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you need to
lower the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you have to put some heat.
House cleaning
Tidiness is essential and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to transform
the bedding
frequently as well as
constantly offer clean
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which needs lots of tidy
food and also water. Give
sufficient whatsoever times and also inspect
frequently to prevent dehydrated as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 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
dust bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Attention and also love There are a
few advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their behavior, you could
capture illness or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indicators. Be sure to
additionally check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted feathers as well
as clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to look out
for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and also move outside right into a
coop. Look into our
section on chicken coops to read more
about cages and also
proper cage environments.
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