Baby Chickens for Sale in Reston, Virginia
Baby Chickens for Sale in Reston, Virginia
Urban Chickens: Do it yourself hen-party
Until recently, my knowledge of chickens– live ones, at least– was very limited. When I thought of poultry egg production, my mind turned to clucking, gossipy hens who, upon hearing the seductive croon of an emaciated rooster resembling a young Frank Sinatra with feathers, fainted dead away on the small mountain of eggs that just poured out of their backsides as a result of their .
That is, until I met Sophia [above, left] and Zsu Zsu [above, right], two who make their home with the Kriese family in Redwood City.
I’d read about these hens at — a fascinating blog started by Thomas and Melanie Kriese that began as an online diary about the joys and challenges of raising baby chicks into egg-laying adulthood, but has since grown into a mouthpiece for a kind of nascient-though-growing Poultry Rights movement. Yes, if you are looking for the latest-breaking local and national poultry news, you can find it there.
My original fascination with the website stemmed from an outlining the . Yes, that means raising chickens within San Francisco city limits. Apparently, anyone with enough room to keep a chicken coop 20 feet away from any human dwelling’s door or window can keep up to four chickens (sorry, no roosters) as pets! Somehow, I found this news very cheering.
Imagine waking up to find fresh eggs delivered a mere 20 feet from your back door every morning by animals who have imprinted more deeply upon you than your children ever will. Just please don’t expect miracles– hens lay on average once every 26 hours, which would give you…you’ll have to do the math yourself. If that is beyond you, you have no business caring for chickens since you most likely have enough difficulty just getting dressed in the morning.
[Above: Sophia’s very first egg is on the left, her latest, on the right.]
Fresh eggs. Not farm-fresh, mind you. Fresher than that. Fresh from the business ends of your pets.
Pets that like you so much, they provide you with food. Yes, cats will occasionally offer you a small dead bird or lizard, but only a loving chicken can provide you with the consistent means to create marvelous omelets.
And if I had a dog, I’d be looking at him with deep disappointment right about now, too.
Not only do chickens-as-pets provide eggs, they gladly lend themselves to weeding and pest control. And the supply of fertilizer is nearly endless.
Chickens, it would seem, are good for the environment.
After the Krieses kindly allowed me to spend time with their docile, kid-friendly hens, they sent me off with a few eggs from their personal stash, wrapping the very-latest egg separately, so that I might distinguish it from the rest. I was eager to crack it open and have at it.
Upon return to my friend ‘s house, I cracked open a beer, and then proceeded to do the same with the freshest egg in my acquaintance.
There was very little I wished to do other than eat it. But how? A light scramble, with just a little butter in the pan and a slight sprinkling of sea salt when it hit the plate. I cooked up a store-bought (though still organic) egg exactly the same way and compared the two. Everything about the ür-fresh egg was richer– the color of the yolk, the flavor, and the feel on the tongue. The store-bought egg was still good, but, you know where I am going with this, surely.
The thought of returning to my tiny, chicken-free apartment suddenly depressed me a little. Then I took another swig of beer, another bite of scrambled egg, and moved on.
If you think you might be eligible to keep some urban chickens of you very own, or just want to read about people who do, visit .
To purchase an Eglu, which is basically a Barbie Dream home for chickens, visit:
Share this:
Related
Baby Chickens Black in Reston, Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Reston 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. Reston Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Reston 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 Reston VA.Baby Chickens Under Heat Lamp in Reston, Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Reston 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
Reston 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 Reston
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 Black in Reston, 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 Reston 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 Reston, Virginia Baby chicks are very charming and also tough to stand up to, but it's ideal to prepare for their arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially by compiling not only the appropriate products, however 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 cozy habitat A lot of food and also water Attention and love Environment Your habitat can be a simple box, fish tank, cat service provider, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels and coverings (without any loosened strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks use straw over paper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only paper or various other slipper surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand misshapen. You additionally need something to dish out food and also water in, such as a chicken feeder and water dish from the feed store, or a pickle container lid for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Also, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch right into the habitat to obtain them educated on perching. Heat To keep your chicks warm you should give them with a warmth resource. This could be as basic as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth light bulb additionally work very well (my referral). Chicks require this heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is replaced with feathers (which could use up to two months). The newly hatched out require a temperature in between 90 and also 100 levels, and also each week this can be lowered by about 5 levels approximately. The warmth source should be on just one side of the cage to permit chicks a range of temperature levels. The chicks are your best thermometer- if they are concealing in the other corner of your heat lamp, you should reduce the temperature level. If they are smothering each other under the warmth (not just cuddling), you should put some warmth. House cleaning Tidiness is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy and balanced. Make certain to alter the bed linen frequently and also constantly give tidy food and also water Food as well as water. Chicks grow very fast which calls for lots of tidy food and also water. Supply enough in any way times and also check often to avoid parched as well as starving chicks. Chick food is different compared to grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the very first two months, after that switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 % protein) for an additional 2 months, and after that to a slightly reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed (if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want to obtain a head start on taking dirt bathrooms, while others will not take up that activity till they are older. If you have the room in your chick unit, introduce a tray of sand or filth for them to shower in. Interest and love There are a few benefits to hanging out with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you as well as not flee as adults. Second, if you examine your chicks daily as well as see their behavior, you could catch health problem or other problems previously. Keep an eye out for hissing, limping, or various other unhealthy signs. Make certain to also take a look at their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted plumes as well as clogged up cloaca. Last but not least, it is important to watch out for social problems, such as the littlest chick obtaining picked on. Vacant nest syndrome So your chicks are now completely feathery and also its time for them to leave the safety and security of your home and also relocate outside right into a coop. Check out our area on chicken coops to find out more about coops as well as correct coop environments.Baby Chicks Facts Baby Chicks Price
More Posts
Baby Chickens for Sale in Ft Myer, Virginia
Baby Chickens for Sale in Amelia Court House, Virginia
Baby Chickens for Sale in Bergton, Virginia
Baby Chickens for Sale in Fort Lee, Virginia
Baby Chickens for Sale in Colonial Heights, Virginia