Chicken Chat at P&A Feed and Pet

Doylestown, PA (March 7, 2012) – P & A Feed and Pet is pleased to announce the arrival of 2012 Chick Days providing poultry raising resources to the Central Bucks community from March 26^th until the first week in May.  Apart from the fact that chickens make great pets, many people are looking for ways to save on food costs, and poultry raising is a healthy and educational alternative.

“Raising poultry is a tradition farm families have shared for generations,” says William Ephraim, P & A Feed and Pet. “We are excited to help families learn the value of raising a small backyard flock. Whether on the farm, in town or in the woods, people like knowing their eggs are fresh and all natural.”

During Chick Days, P & A Feed and Pet will offer guidance on how to raise chickens from the freshly hatched chicks sold there. A free event, Chicken Chat, at 7 p.m. on March 29^th, is a well-attended, informative, and entertaining chicken-raising forum.  The seminar features speakers and a Q&A session, where everyone from beginners to experts can learn about nutritional needs as well as other valuable chicken-raising information. Customers will get free booklets on chicken care, enjoy a private after-hours sale, and might even win one of the chicken-themed door prizes!

Anyone interested in reserving their hatchlings in advance may stop by the store to fill out a reserve order form which lists the types of chicks and their arrival dates.  Hatchlings will be available throughout the duration of Chick Days, but it is recommended to reserve birds in advance.  For the fourth year, hatcheries nationwide are reporting that due to the growing popularity of backyard farming, they are experiencing chick shortages.  Twenty-six different varieties of standard breeds will be available at P & A, the first batch arriving March 26th.  P & A is known for its outstanding selection of breeds which include the more popular egg layers and very rare types.  All chicks offered for sale at P & A are hatchery-sexed to ensure that 90% of the hatchlings will become egg-laying hens, not roosters.

“Chick Days is a time to show people how easy it is to raise their own chickens,” says Ephraim. “We have found that adults, men and women alike, become interested because they like the self-sufficiency of raising their own food.  And, not to mention, with all the colorful varieties of chickens out there, they’ve become kind of collectible. This is an activity for the whole family to enjoy. Caring for a small flock is a perfect way for children to learn responsibility and make a worthwhile contribution to the household.”

“Raising chickens is inexpensive and relatively trouble-free,” added Ephraim. “If people start their flock in the early spring, they can begin enjoying fresh eggs by late summer. This is a relaxing pastime.  Sitting outside with a drink in hand at the end of the day while you watch your feathered friends peck around your backyard is a great way to decompress.  They’ll even help eliminate ticks and bugs.  People don’t realize how beautiful some of these birds are or just how easy it is to keep them.”