Raising Baby Chickens

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Raising baby chickens is something most all of us have wished for at one time or another. There is something special inside each of us when we here that peep...peep...peep...For me , it reminds me when I was five years old.

I went to our local feed store with my dad, and there they were hundreds of yellow baby chicks. I wanted to take all of them home, but that would not happen for another 38 years.

Now that's along time to wait, especially when you are only five years old. My patience finally paid off, but during that 38 year period, I learned that buying a few baby chicks at the feed store and taking them home, was a little more difficult than I thought.

But, then again when you are only five years old that's hard to understand. I guess now that I am raising chickens of my own, part of the experience of raising them allows me to reflect back on my childhood memories.

Maybe this is why raising chickens help us to reduce the stress in our daily lives.

Raising baby chickens and watching them grow to adults is a hobby that my whole family shares together. Our chickens give us a common link that helps us to build family bonds.

Not only do we share in the happiness of watching our baby chicks grow but, we also share in the sadness when one dies.

I cannot think of many hobbies or activities that you can do on a daily basis that allows the whole family to be involved with one another, and actually enjoy it.

Raising baby chickens does just that. Adults love to watch as chickens do what chickens do. And, children of all ages learn to care, love and respect other animals.

For these reasons alone, it would benefit any family to raise their own backyard flock of chickens. However, chickens are one of the few pets that can give back. Chickens will provide you with fresh eggs, control pest in your yard and provide fertilizer for your garden. These are just a few of the benefits chickens offer.

As I was saying earlier, there are things that you need to do before you bring your baby chicks home. You will not need to start out with a chicken coop, but figure on having one within four to six weeks from the time your baby chicks are born.

If You live in the city, it maybe important for you not to have roosters. If this is the case, when you order your chicks from the hatchery you may want to have them sexed. If you are hatching your own chicken eggs, you will need an egg incubator and poultry brooder.

The whole experience of raising baby chickens from candling eggs to waiting for your baby chicks to hatch, is something that never gets old. There is something magical witnessing the birth of a baby chick.

The first time you see that little beak pecking its way out of its shell to a new life, is a feeling you will never forget and neither will your children.

We have provided you with tons of information on this web site, of how you and your family can be successful at raising your own flock of happy and healthy chickens. If you have any comments or questions please don't hesitate to ask. Good luck!