Keeping Chickens Warm And Healthy

Yesterday, a reader had a question. She has 10 chicks,
variety of breeds. They are now being housed inside
in a water tub. As you can imagine, it's getting a little
crowded.

She wanted to know when it was safe to move the
little ones to the chicken coop. Which is an excellent
question. The reader assured me that the coop was large
and safe and there were no other birds in the hen house.

No doubt this question is on a lot of minds. Easter time
seems to be when chickens invade the thoughts of many.

The good news is that chicks of any age can be placed
into the chicken coop at any time.

There are two main considerations for the chicks.
Warmth and no drafts! If the chicken coop is drafty,
keep them away. Chickens are highly susceptible to
pneumonia which will prove fatal.

And they must be kept warm! The temperature has to
be around 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Or 30-32 degrees
Celsius.You'll need to get at least one heat lamp if
you live in a cold climate, which most of us seem to.

I'm so glad this concern was raised because it should
always be stressed and what better time than now? So
as long as the chicken coop is safe from predators and
warm and draft-free, you're ready to introduce your
feathered friends to their new home!

Chicken Coops Are Popping Up All Over The World

Raising chickens has become a very hot topic. There's been
incredible growth in the movement in just the last 2 years.
Working in a public library affords me the chance to watch
the interest swell.

More and more patrons are requesting books on
keeping chickens, building chicken coops and how to become
more self-sufficient by keeping chickens in their backyard.

And these people are of all ages and backgrounds. Parents
are especially keen to get their children involved in this practice.
The values this enterprise can instill in young people are life-changing.

At this moment, I'd like to introduce you to a beautiful website
devoted to everything about raising chickens. You'll see
great pictures and videos. Lots of information about chickens
you may find helpful.

http://www.keeping-chickens.com

Raising Chickens On The Cheap

When a lot of people think about raising chickens in the backyard,
they think they have to spend great sums of money to get started.
They check out catalogs with fancy-smancy chicken coops,
chicken tractors, feeders and all the doo-dads one can possibly
buy.

Yes, these all look very enticing. But when they are shipped to
your door, you'll have a pile of flat lumber and some nails.
Nothing like the pretty pictures you were looking over.

There's no need to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars to
keep your chickens happy. All they want is sound shelter and food.

When you decide to build your own chicken coop, you get to
decide the kind of lumber you want. You won't need to spend
money to get the latest water dish when any dish will do. All
the hens care about is having a supply of clean, fresh water.

You can make your own nesting boxes. No need to order
from the retail store. In fact, once your chickens have the
house to keep them safe from predators and protection from
the elements, they are quite happy.

And you'll be happy to DIY and save a ton of money!