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 in
Colfax, Washington
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Colfax Washington,
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. Colfax
Washington also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Colfax Washington, 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 Colfax WA.
Baby Chickens Coop in
Colfax, Washington
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Colfax Washington
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
Colfax Washington * 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 Colfax
Washington * 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 Online in
Colfax, Washington
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
Colfax Washington 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 Colfax,
Washington Baby chicks are extremely
adorable as well as
tough to resist,
however it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
right products, but
additionally the correct
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you simply should give them with the following: A tidy and also warm
environment Lots of food and also water Attention as well as
love Environment Your habitat can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
feline service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (with no loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You additionally need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Also, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you have to
provide them with a warmth resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally work very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could use
up to two months). The freshly
hatched out require a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and every week this could
be minimized by
approximately 5 levels or
so. The heat resource ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your warmth
light, you need to
decrease the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not merely snuggling),
you need to add some heat.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is key as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bed linens
commonly and also
always supply tidy
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand very quickly
which needs plenty of clean
food and water. Offer
enough whatsoever times and inspect
often to prevent thirsty as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will most
likely bond with you and also
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
see their actions, you could
capture illness or various
other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for hissing, limping, or
other harmful
indications. Be sure to
also check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes as well
as stopped up cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also move outside into a cage. Check out our
section on chicken coops to read more
about cages and also
appropriate coop environments.
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