New chicken mom in VT

Date sort Score sort
joseevt48

joseevt48

Hatching
Apr 17, 2016
6
0
7
Hi all! I am in South Burlington VT surrounded by farmland. I am new to taking care of chicken. I have 6 8 week old chicks currently residing in the garage in their coop. I am nervous about transitioning them to the outside world! Free range? Electric fence? Fully endosed pen? Rooster or not? Hawks, coyotes, raccoons, what's a chicken mom to do? Any advice would be appreciated.
 
:welcome from another Vermonter! You're not too far from me at all, I'm in Fair Haven :) You should come join us in the VT thread, there's a link in my signature.

As for putting them outside, I free range mine when I'm home, but otherwise they have a nice big run that they stay in. I'm moving to an electric netting setup in a month or so for even more protection. My run isn't covered and I have lost a few to a hawk. If you decide to free range you will almost definitely lose some to predators, but in my mind it's about quality of life over quantity and the risk is worth it. I also keep roosters, geese, and guineas, and they all help reduce losses.
 
I am from VT too!
thumbsup.gif
 
Hey Pixis, I saw that you keep roosters. Im from Waterbury VT and I am hatching chicks at the moment. I Have a home for all the hens, but am worried if ones a rooster. Let me know if you know anybody that could take them, or if you have room for one more
D.gif
 
Would love to join the VT thread! Explain to me how to do it! I have electric netting already but it is still in the box. I don't want to build Fort Knox but I would like to avoid losing chicken since I have an 8 year old son who has already gotten attached to them... Will try the electric netting with some hawk deterrent device and we shall see! If only my three rescued hounds could help... Or perhaps I could get a rooster?
 
joseevt48 said:
Would love to join the VT thread! Explain to me how to do it! I have electric netting already but it is still in the box. I don't want to build Fort Knox but I would like to avoid losing chicken since I have an 8 year old son who has already gotten attached to them... Will try the electric netting with some hawk deterrent device and we shall see! If only my three rescued hounds could help... Or perhaps I could get a rooster?
Click to expand...


If you need a rooster I'll certainly be able to give you one later in the year - my hens are hatching full swing and I'll definitely have some cockerels :) To join the VT thread just come on over to this link and introduce yourself: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39326/vermont
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom