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Hello from East Texas

post #1 of 10
4/26/12 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 

Hi all, I have been checking out this forum and a few other chicken sites for a few months now,and finally decided to take the plunge. Starting out small. Just got the 2 pullets in my avatar pic to start with. Using a bird cage for a brooder for now, with a 100 watt light.They are in my utility/laundry room for now while I finish the coop and run. Shoestring budget defines me tongue.png. I am building the coop with scrap wood I had, and 5 gallon pickle buckets. Also have a bunch of pvc pipe and plan to make a chicken tractor, so they can get more variety in their diet and clean me up some garden spots .  I have a few questions which I hope nobody thinks are too dumb hmm.png. At what age would I put them in the chicken tractor? I only plan to have them in it when I am home and can keep an eye on them. East Texas is like the fireant capitol I thinksomad.gif. Will they eat ants, or do I need to be concerned about the ants harming them? Thanks so much for all the wonderful info here, Billy

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post #2 of 10
4/26/12 at 2:16pm

WelcometoBYC.gif

 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

 
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
— Maya Angelou

 

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 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

 
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
— Maya Angelou

 

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post #3 of 10
4/26/12 at 3:34pm

Hello and welcome from Ohio....glad you joined. Don't know anything about ants but I'm sure someone will be along shortly that may be able to help. Good luck with your new chicks and enjoy the site

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post #4 of 10
4/26/12 at 4:02pm

Welcome to BYC. If fire ants can take down a cow, they can take down a chicken. Sevin dust will take care of the fire ants and wont harm your birds. You can put your pullets out in a growout pen at 5-6 weeks old. It'd be safer to bring them back in at night until they get a little bigger.


     Most people have no clue...Forewarned is Forearmed

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     Most people have no clue...Forewarned is Forearmed

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post #5 of 10
4/26/12 at 5:11pm

frow.gif & welcome-byc.gif from Alabama. Glad you joined us. 

Dorothy: The woman keeps a chicken in her home, how normal can she be?
Rose: I kept a chicken in my home.
Dorothy: You see my point?
The Golden Girls "Long Day's Journey Into Marinara"

 

Check out my Blog: The Country Chick                          And be sure to check out our soap shop on Etsy, here.

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Dorothy: The woman keeps a chicken in her home, how normal can she be?
Rose: I kept a chicken in my home.
Dorothy: You see my point?
The Golden Girls "Long Day's Journey Into Marinara"

 

Check out my Blog: The Country Chick                          And be sure to check out our soap shop on Etsy, here.

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post #6 of 10
4/26/12 at 7:48pm
Hi and welcome-byc.gif from Ohio. So glad you joined. Good advice given thumbsup.gif

TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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post #7 of 10
4/28/12 at 10:04am
Thread Starter 

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and the advice. Just added 3 more to my flock todayjumpy.gif Time for a bigger brooder. 

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post #8 of 10
4/28/12 at 10:34am

Hi && Welcome!!!

wee.gif

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post #9 of 10
4/28/12 at 5:55pm

Hi and welcome-byc.gif from Kentucky. Glad you joined. thumbsup.gif

- New for 2013 - Breeding Icelandic Chickens -

 

- Member of The American Buckeye Club -

 

 

 

 

 

 

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- New for 2013 - Breeding Icelandic Chickens -

 

- Member of The American Buckeye Club -

 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #10 of 10
4/28/12 at 5:58pm

welcome-byc.gif from New Mexico!

 

We have fire ants here too. They have never bothered the chickens much although the ants do eat their spilled food. LOL I am sure a sting from an ant would hurt them pretty badly as I have been stung by them while sitting with the chickens. I had to remove one hill near to the chicken run because of this. But I still see a few wandering around in the run. My chickens don't eat ants of any kind. 

 

To get rid of a hill, you will need to remove the queen. So I had to dig the thing out and apply fire ant killer as other methods did not work for me at all.

Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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