Farm Menu
Chickens
Raising chickens can be a rewarding experience, especially once you are able to enjoy fresh eggs straight from your own backyard! All you need is a little time, work and knowledge!
Care Tips
Brooder
Young chickens must have a brooder, an enclosure that serves as the chicks' home until they are ready to be moved to the coop for warmth and protection. Prepare the brooder by cleaning it at least two days before the chicks arrive. Once it has dried, cover the floor with 4-6 inches of dry litter. Pinewood shavings or sawdust is recommended to aid in disease prevention. Hardwood litter is not recommended. Place the brooder in a draft-free location. Carefully position a heat bulb about a foot above the box floor to provide heat and add a second light in case one bulb burns out.
Temperature
Newly hatched chicks will find their perfect temperature in the brooder. If it’s too hot under the bulb chicks will move away from the heat; if too cool they’ll move closer. Give chicks space to move about. Baby chicks huddle together when they’re cold, which can cause smothering or suffocation, so check your chicks regularly to be sure they are comfortable. Raise the height of the lights as they grow, because their need for artificial heat will diminish as they grow feathers.
Water
Clean, fresh water is the most important thing to give your chicks. Make sure it is always available and that the waterers are clean. Check water levels daily to be sure your chicks are consuming enough. Chick starter grower rations are available in medicated and unmedicated formulas. Select one with the protein, vitamins and minerals chicks need to thrive. Sprinkle the feed on the brooder floor at first but use a chick feeder when the chicks are a few days old.
Feed
Starter
Our chick starter feed will ensure that your chicks maintain a healthy digestive tract and absorb the nutrients they need. Use this feed until the birds are six weeks old. We carry medicated, non-medicated and organic varieties of starter feed.
Layer
Our Layer feed is infused with all the nutrients your chickens need to stay healthy during their egg laying years. Use this feed throughout their entire laying cycle, which should last 72 weeks. Our layer feed is available in crumbles and pellets. We offer organic layer feed as well.
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Resources:
| Amber Links |
Amber Links• Great large egg producer (brown) • Excellent Forager • Starts laying around 20 weeks • Friendly • 260-320 eggs / year |
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| Ancona |
Ancona• Lay large white eggs • Very Productive Layers • Very aware • Friendly • 250-300 eggs / year |
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| Araucana |
Araucana• Also called "Easter Eggers" because of their multi-colored eggs (blues, greens) • Cold hardy • Good foragers • Very friendly • 250 eggs / year |
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| Barred Rocks |
Barred Rocks• Brown eggs • Cold Hardy • Docile • Very friendly • 260 eggs / year |
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| Black Australorp |
Black Australorp• Great large egg producer (brown) • Quiet Gentle • Starts laying around 20-24 weeks • Winter hardy layers • 200-280 eggs / year |
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| Black Sexlinks |
Black Sexlinks• Quick to start laying, about 20 weeks old (brown eggs) • Dual Purpose • Friendly • 220-280 eggs / year |
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| Buff Orpington |
Buff Orpington• Brown eggs • Pleasant Demeanor • Very Cold Hardy • Very Friendly & Gentle • 220-260 eggs / year |
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| Jersey Black Giants |
Jersey Black Giants• Lay large brown eggs • Very cold hardy, good layers through the winter • Docile • Friendly • 240 eggs / year |
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| Light Brahma |
Light Brahma• Brown eggs • Feathered Shanks & Toes • Very Cold Hardy • Very Friendly & Easy To Handle • 200-240 eggs / year |
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| Red Sexlinks |
Red Sexlinks• Mix between a Rhode Island Red and White Rock or Delaware • Quick to start laying, 18-20 weeks old (brown eggs) • Docile • Friendly • 300 eggs / year |
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| Rhode Island Reds |
Rhode Island Reds• Quick to start laying, 18-22 weeks (brown eggs) • Curious • Friendly • 300 eggs / year |
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| Silver Laced Wyandottes |
Silver Laced Wyandottes• Good egg layers (brown eggs) • Docile • Beautiful • Very cold hardy • 240-260 eggs / year |
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| White Leghorn |
White Leghorn• Lay large white eggs • Very Productive Layers • Not excessive eaters • Friendly • 280-300 eggs / year |
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| White Pekin Duck |
White Pekin Duck• Excellent layers (white eggs) • Friendly • Good foragers • Very friendly • Entertaining • 200 eggs / year |
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We will be carrying other breeds that are not shown in this chart. Please call us for further information!
