First decide which is the most important to you eggs, meat, temperament, or beauty. The good thing about raising chickens is that if the breed you selected the first time doesn’t quit suit, you can try another breed or even 2 or 3 breeds each year until you find the breed that fits your purposes.
Four words are the basis in preparing for your chicks.
Safe
The pen needs to be enclosed in a draft free area safe from predators and needs the capacity to be made larger as chicks grow. Chickens are happy and do better in general if given a fenced in area outside to spend part of their days. When the chicks are feathered out roosts should be added to their pen to get them off the floor at night. It is their natural instinct to roost.
Clean
Pen needs to be clean and bedded with wood shavings or peanut hulls. All previously used waterers and feeders need to be washed and disinfected. Diluted Clorox works well as a disinfectant. Feeders and waterers may be elevated slightly to keep bedding out and both feeders and waterer should be replaced with larger ones as the chicks grow.
Warm
Heat lamps should be hung approximately 12 inches above bedding away from feeders and waterers. Lamp should be on all day and night for the first week then if the days are warm light may be raised during the day then down again at night.
Nutrition
Chicks should never be without feed or water. Tizwhiz Nutri-Nest Select Layer Crumbles with 24% protein will easily meet your chicks nutritional needs to enable fast growth and good health.
Tizwhiz Nutri-Nest Select Layer Crumbles will be feed to your pullets until they begin laying which will be sometime after their 20th week of age. When they start singing start watching. Make sure nests are provided with straw for padding. When laying has started their feed should change to Nutri-Nest Select Layer Crumbles 16% protein and fixed nutrient formulation for optimum egg production. If you choose to allow your chickens to be free range or outdoor pen Tizwhiz Scratch feed may be used to friendly up your hens by throwing some on the ground as a treat is a way to really enjoy them. If you choose to keep your chickens indoors electric lighting will be necessary since at least 12 hours of light is necessary for the hens to continue laying regularly. Lighting is also helpful during the winter months when cold weather will force the range or pined hens inside most of the time.
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