How to Raise Chickens for Beginners

 

So you want to know how to raise chickens? We are going to start from the beginning. Let's get started! 

My Mama has taught me everything I know. But I have picked up a thing or two on my own.

I have always liked chickens, but couldn't call them my own, I always wanted to. I mean, I always had to take care of our new chicks that would come in and I would claim one as mine. But I always wanted to get some of my own and start a business with chickens. So here I am.

Let's start with raising chicks.

The chickens that I have are all rare. When these chicks have chicks I will sell them.

This is what you will need:

a heat lamp with a heat lamp light bulb,

a plastic tote and shavings,

a screw on waterier and a mason jar,

and a feeder.

You can find everything at Tractor Supply, except for the plastic tote, that you can find at Walmart. You could use a card board box instead of a plastic tote, but I like to get new things.  Now all we need is the chicks. Get all of this ready before you get the chicks so when you get them everything will be all set up and ready to go so the chicks will not have wait in the cold.

When you put the waterer in you will need to put it on top of something and not on the shavings. Because the shavings will get in the waterer and that would be one messy waterer.

Of course, you need starter feed for them too.  Whether you get medicated or nonmedicated feed is up to you.  Once you get this all set up, your chicks are ready for their new home.  I like to keep them in the house for the first week or two so I can keep a close watch on them.

These are the basic needs of raising chicks.  It is really quite simple!

How to Hand Tame and Train Your Bird-Budgie

I am going to show you how I trained and hand tamed my budgies. This isn't just for budgies, you can do this with parrots, cockatoos, African Greys, Macaws, Amazon parrots, and more. 

First things first, you want to put your bird in a nice comfortable place with food and water. When you put your bird in the cage at first you want it in a quiet spot where the sun can shine. (Visit your bird often). Leave it in the cage for about 1 or 2 days so he can get used to everything. But if your like me I usually let them get  settled in for like 3 hours. Now for the hand taming and training. 

      Day 1: So you want to put your hand on the cage near your bird for 5 minutes. Then give the bird a brake. But keep doing this throughout the day.

                                                        Put your hand on the cage like this
   
 Day 2: Now put your hand next to your bird in the cage. Keep your hand there for 5 minutes. And don't forget to keep talking to your bird. Do this throughout the day.  

                                                    Now put your hand in the cage like this
      
Day 3: If you feel ready you can try to pet your bird on the abdomen (the lower stomach). If you can do that then try to make your bird step up on your finger. To make your bird step on your finger you gently press on the abdomen (lower stomach) and they should step right up on your finger.

 You can start to pet your bird

       

                                            You can also put your bird on your finger like this

Day 4: Day 4 is where you can take your bird out of the cage. Take your bird out of the cage in a smaller room, I used our bathroom, so it would be easier to catch and put back in the cage. They really like to fly around freely.  

You might have a more difficult bird, so this could take longer but every step is the same.

My next post will be about How to Deal with Biting and How to Calm Your Bird.