Chicken Preppers

If I had been paying better attention to my homesteading/farming counterparts (aka the knowledgeable peppers), I would have been more prepared for my current situation. Was I prepared for a zombie apocalypse? Yes. Was I prepared for a second Cold War? Check. But for the most relentless snow I have ever seen in February in my life? Definitely No. But, hooray, it is finally March! Which means there is the promise of Spring right around the corner. So what is the Urban Improv Farm up to? Baby chicks of course!



        Have you ordered your chicks yet? Time to get crackin'! I have talked with a lot of people who are interested in getting chickens, and just don't know where to start. Here is what the Shanny says about getting Chicken Prepared!

Jersey Giants & Easter Egger Chicks

      1. What is your motivation for getting chickens? For pets? For eggs? For meat you can trust?
This is the first and most important question to ask yourself (preferably not out loud). There is a difference between a good meat chicken, and just a laying hen. There is an even larger difference if you are going to name them. If you name them, they are PETS. Sorry friends, that's the truth. If you have named your chicks, there isn't an ice cubes chance in a fiery furnace you will put that sucker in your mouth (unless you are dead inside).

Once you have made that determination, you will know what kind of chickens will work for you. The great classic layers are the Rhode Island Reds and the Orpingtons. But there are many great laying hens out there.

Rhode Island Red

Meat birds tend to be larger, heavier birds. Good examples are the Cornish Cross hens, Dorkings, and Leg Horns. And there are several dual purpose birds that are great layers and are excellent broilers. Some suggestions are the Jersey Giants, Australorps, and Plymouths.


Great pet birds are the exotic birds like the frizzle chicken, silkies, and polish varieties. These birds are just fun to have around! They are friendly and lay unusually small eggs that can be quite pretty, but are not consistent layers in places like Colorado.

Cochin Bantam Frizzle aka "Nugget"

       

2. Next, you need to get yourself ready for your baby birds. The most important thing your chicks need is warmth. It needs to be 100 degrees in there home. This early home is commonly called a brooder, and the chicks will stay there for several months. It needs to have plenty of space, water, food, warming lights, and sand (some folks use newspaper for the bottom of the brooder., but Shanny hates to clean up poop, and discovered fine sand is more like cat litter, and WAY easier to maintain). It also needs to be safe from little hands, cats, dogs, and natural predators (if your brooder is in a barn, raccoons are a serious problem). My poor neighbor lost a chick when she discovered her young daughter had decided it should sleep with her. Co-sleeping is NOT recommended for baby chicks (just in case you had the urge. PS: if you did have the urge to co-sleep with your chicken, and you are over the age of 5, unfollow this blog and seek therapy. The first step is admitting you have a problem).  I encourage friends to use a deep plastic tub (rubber maid is great), with a chicken wire top (for when the learn to use their wings). Next time, I will show you a great, inexpensive brooder that you can make for your baby birds.