Baby Chickens for Sale in Sandy Point, Virginia
Baby Chickens for Sale in Sandy Point, 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 Chicks Baby Chickens in Sandy Point, Virginia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Sandy Point 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. Sandy Point Virginia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in Sandy Point 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 Sandy Point VA.Baby Chicks Outside in Sandy Point, Virginia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Sandy Point 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
Sandy Point 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 Sandy Point
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 Buy in Sandy Point, 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 Sandy Point 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 Sandy Point, Virginia Baby chicks are very cute and also hard to withstand, but it's finest to prepare for their arrival before you get them. Prepare first by collecting not only the appropriate materials, however additionally the correct understanding to take care of them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably straightforward, you just have to provide them with the following: A tidy and also cozy environment Plenty of food and also water Attention and love Environment Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank, feline provider, or guinea porker cage. Line it with old towels and also blankets (without any loosened strings!) to start, and after a few weeks utilize straw over paper. Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only newspaper or various other sandal surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow malformed. You also require something to provide food and also water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar lid for food and a family pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks get older you can introduce a perch right into the habitat to get them trained on perching. Warmth To maintain your chicks heat you need to offer them with a warmth source. This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat light bulb also function effectively (my recommendation). Chicks require this warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is replaced with plumes (which could take up to 2 months). The freshly hatched out need a temperature level in between 90 and also 100 degrees, and every week this could be reduced by about 5 degrees or so. The warmth source should be on simply one side of the cage to allow chicks an array of temperature levels. The chicks are your finest thermostat- if they are concealing in the other corner of your heat light, you have to decrease the temperature level. If they are smothering each other under the heat (not simply cuddling), you should put some warmth. Housekeeping Tidiness is crucial as well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter the bed linens often and also constantly provide tidy food and also water Food as well as water. Chicks grow very quickly which requires lots of clean food and water. Supply enough in any way times as well as check typically to prevent dehydrated and hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the initial 2 months, then switch to a raiser food (~ 17 % protein) for another 2 months, and then to a somewhat reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed (if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking dirt baths, while others will not occupy that task till they are older. If you have the room in your chick room, introduce a tray of sand or filth for them to wash in. Interest as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most likely bond with you and not run away as grownups. Second, if you examine your chicks daily and see their actions, you can capture disease or various other issues earlier. Keep an eye out for hissing, limping, or various other unhealthy signs. Make certain to additionally take a look at their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted feathers as well as blocked cloaca. Finally, it is essential to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the littlest chick getting picked on. Empty nest syndrome So your chicks are currently completely feathery as well as its time for them to leave the security of your house and also relocate outside into a coop. Take a look at our area on chicken cages to find out more regarding coops and appropriate cage environments.Baby Chicks As Pets Baby Chicks Food
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