Recently, with the prices of food rising, especially eggs, we decided that we wanted to make a concentrated effort to raise chickens. I have never had the opportunity to interact with chickens other than in grade school when we hatched baby chickens in incubators, so I knew this would have a steep learning curve. After scouring the internet for sites on the different breeds of chickens, we were pleased to discover which had fairly good descriptions and accompanying pictures.
We decided on four different breeds:
1) Brahma:
2) Delaware:
3) Barred Rock:
and one we’re not sure of. We were told she was a Rhode Island Red (), but now we’re assuming she’s an
4) Ameraucana:
We purchased them at 2 weeks old and they’re about 3 months now. One thing I was not prepared for is that each hen has her own personality and quirks, not unlike a puppy. They are curious about everything and always come up to greet us. We decided to not invest in a rooster since our neighbors are relatively close and our alarm clocks are more than adequate.
Besides eggs and meat, another great benefit to having chickens is that their waste can be composted and used as fertilizer. Since they eat practically anything, they also make great food scrap disposals too!
If any of you decide to acquire your own flock of chickens be certain to buy or build your chicken coup first. Chickens grow amazingly fast and before you know it, they will have outgrown their temporary living arrangements. We decided to build our own coup and let me tell you, they take up a great deal of time. We ended up building a 6′ x 6′ base, covered the floor with linoleum, complete with a triangular based roof of which one side “hatches” open for easy cleaning. The whole coup is on wooden stilts attached to concrete slabs which anchor it to the ground. The chicken door opens up into a large chicken run. Our design was pieced together from several other coup designs that others have posted on the internet.
Have you had experiences with chickens? If so, feel free to comment and share.
Barred Rock and a "We're Not Quite Sure" Hen
Baby Chickens Breeds in
Deerbrook, Wisconsin
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Deerbrook Wisconsin,
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. Deerbrook
Wisconsin also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Deerbrook Wisconsin, 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 Deerbrook WI.
Baby Chicks Supplies in
Deerbrook, Wisconsin
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Deerbrook Wisconsin
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
Deerbrook Wisconsin * 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 Deerbrook
Wisconsin * 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 Mail Order in
Deerbrook, Wisconsin
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
Deerbrook Wisconsin 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 Deerbrook,
Wisconsin Baby chicks are quite
adorable and also
difficult to resist,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
proper products, however
also the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
straightforward, you merely should give them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment A lot of food as well
as water Interest and also
love Environment Your habitat can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks use straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using only
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You also require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and 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
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
supply them with a warmth source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb likewise work very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could take up to 2 months). The freshly
hatched out need a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 levels,
and each week this can
be lowered by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource must be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your heat
light, you have to
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not merely curling up),
you have to include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is essential and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to alter
the bed linens
often and also
consistently offer tidy
food and also water Food and also water.
Chicks expand quite quick
which needs lots of tidy
food and also water. Give
enough in any way times and check
usually to prevent thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Focus as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will more than likely bond with you and
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their behavior, you could
capture ailment or various
other troubles previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indicators. Be sure to
also consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted plumes and stopped up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to watch out for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and also move outside right into a
coop. Check out our
section on chicken coops to get more information
about cages and also
appropriate cage habitats.
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