Baby Chickens for Sale in Bluefield, Virginia
Baby Chickens for Sale in Bluefield, Virginia
6 Points to help you decide if Backyard Chickens are for You.
6 Points to Help You Decide if
Backyard Chickens are for You!
If you are a real food enthusiast who strives to eat real, fresh, healthy, local food, getting backyard chickens may have crossed your mind. Or the road. Or… well you get the point. And the point is that why should you buy fresh pastured eggs when you could simply walk into your backyard and retrieve them from a nest? Sounds pretty romantic, right? So, here are some things to consider if you are thinking about backyard chickens.
Eggs
Studies have shown that to conventional eggs from factory farmed chickens. They have:
• 1/3 less cholesterol • 1/4 less saturated fat • 2/3 more vitamin A • 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids • 3 times more vitamin E • 7 times more beta carotene
Con: Once you account for the cost of set-up, feed and upkeep, you may not actually save much money keeping your own backyard chickens. I don’t like math, but from what I have read from people who do, eggs end up costing the chicken hobbyist between $4 and $5 per dozen, which is probably what you would pay your local farmer for them. Plus, nobody tells you that the chickens don’t lay all year long and will take random breaks for bad weather, low light or to molt.
Pro: Are you kidding me?!!?!? You get freaking EGGS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!!! From your own chickens! It doesn’t get more local than that! Plus you have control of what the chickens eat, so you can choose to make sure they are not eating GMOs or unnatural diets. And fresh eggs are one of the most delicious and versatile foods known to man. Plus, everyone you know wants to be your friend now, because they want you to share your eggs with them. End rant.
Chicken Poop
Con: It happens and it stinks
Pro: It is great fertilizer. If it bothers you, keep your chickens away from your porch. But the truth is, everyone poops. Chickens are no eggception.
Scraps
Pro: Backyard Chickens eat scraps, which is awesome. I don’t see a negative to this. It reduces food waste and the more scraps they eat, the less you have to feed them (this will vary depending on how much free space they have to roam).
Neighbors
Pro: As long as you don’t get a rooster (which is noisy and many places it’s not legal to have a rooster within city limits anyways) many times your neighbors won’t even know the chickens are there. And when they do, they will try to make friends with you to get free eggs. Or, alternately you can bribe them with eggs. 😉�
Bugs
Chickens eat bugs, so in my book, this is a huge pro. But hey, if you have a rare bug collection that you don’t want to feed to your chickens, perhaps this isn’t for you.
Kids
In my experience chickens do not eat kids, so you’re safe there. Kids generally love chickens and find them both entertaining and educational. It is important to teach them good safety and hygiene rules when dealing with chickens. Hand-washing is important. But overall chickens and kids can be a very positive experience.
What you need to know to get started with Backyard Chickens
Before rushing into it (you know you want to). Make sure you do your homework. Check with your city or municipality for the legalities (how many, how big of a space, etc). Then you will want to research what kind to get and how to care for your backyard chickens. The best resource I have come across is this e-book:
It is a thorough guide that covers every topic you can think of from care and feeding to housing and troubleshooting. It is simple, readable and very accessible to the average person who may or may not have experience with chickens. I wish I had read it last year when I was getting started with my chickens! I actually like it so much that I became an affiliate to sell it (that’s how excited I get about chickens). I cannot recommend it highly enough! Click
If you already have backyard chickens, you might enjoy reading
Please give me your best backyard chicken advice in the comments!
Photos courtesy of Feelart and Simon Howden via freedigitalphotos.net
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Any products or techniques mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I am just a mom who shares what works for me!
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Baby Chickens How To Care For Them in Bluefield, Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Bluefield Virginia, 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. Bluefield Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Bluefield Virginia, 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 Bluefield VA.Baby Chickens Breeds in Bluefield, Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Bluefield Virginia 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
Bluefield Virginia * 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 Bluefield
Virginia * 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 Male Or Female in Bluefield, Virginia
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 Bluefield Virginia 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 Bluefield, Virginia Baby chicks are very charming as well as difficult to withstand, but it's best to plan for their arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially by gathering not only the right products, but likewise the proper understanding to take care of them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably easy, you simply should supply them with the following: A clean as well as warm habitat Plenty of food as well as water Focus and love Habitat Your environment could be a simple box, aquarium, cat carrier, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as coverings (without loose strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only paper or various other slipper surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow misshapen. You likewise require something to dish out food and also water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water meal from the feed store, or a pickle container lid for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks age you can present a perch right into the environment to get them educated on setting down. Warmth To keep your chicks heat you have to supply them with a warmth resource. This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat bulb also function very well (my recommendation). Chicks require this heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is replaced with feathers (which could use up to two months). The freshly hatched out require a temperature in between 90 and 100 levels, and each week this could be decreased by about 5 levels or so. The heat source ought to be on simply one side of the cage to allow chicks an array of temperature levels. The chicks are your best thermometer- if they are hiding in the other corner of your warmth lamp, you need to reduce the temperature. If they are smothering each other under the warmth (not just snuggling), you have to include some heat. Housekeeping Cleanliness is essential and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform the bedding usually and always offer tidy food and also water Food and water. Chicks grow quite fast which calls for plenty of tidy food and water. Offer enough at all times as well as inspect commonly to prevent thirsty and hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared to grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the very first 2 months, after that switch to a raiser food (~ 17 % protein) for another 2 months, and afterwards to a slightly lower healthy protein feed or a level feed (if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want to obtain a running start on taking dust bathrooms, while others will not use up that activity up until they are older. If you have the space in your chick unit, introduce a tray of sand or filth for them to shower in. Interest as well as love There are a few advantages to hanging out with your chicks. To start with, they will most likely bond with you as well as not escape as grownups. Second, if you analyze your chicks daily and watch their behavior, you could capture disease or various other troubles previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or various other undesirable indications. Make sure to likewise take a look at their poop, as looseness of the bowels can lead to matted feathers and clogged cloaca. Finally, it is necessary to look out for social concerns, such as the smallest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your chicks are now totally feathery and also its time for them to leave the safety and security of your house as well as move outside into a coop. Look into our part on chicken coops to learn more about coops and also correct cage habitats.Baby Chicks Names Baby Chicks
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