The Middle Tennessee Thread

[rjohns39]

A crazy year! And in this awful heat; the turkeys just lay in the shade and pant. I do wonder if she'll lay the full clutch or if it's just a fluke she has laid the three eggs and will soon stop.

I've had them lay in December. The best I can say is that I've learned that turkeys are unpredictable. They lay when they get the urge.

 

[rjohns39]

Hello all from middle TN. I'm in Fentress County. Where are you?? I am very new to this adventure I am embarking on so I will have a few questions from time to time.

My first is: I have acquired 13 2wk old chicks and they seem to have outgrown their "lg tote" already, how much room do they need and what should be the next "size" brooder before going out to the coop?? Thanks in advance.

Hi there and welcome. I'm in Smith County.

You can get away with a half a square foot per bird for the first 3 weeks or so depending on the breed, but a foot is better and would give you more time before they have to go to their coop.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome. Sorry, I don't have any spares.

 

[rjohns39]

Hi there and welcome

 

[rjohns39]

I'm replying, so I can stay tuned to this thread. I'm Middle TN

Welcome

 

[rjohns39]

Hi! I'm a brand new chicken mama from the Dale Hollow Lake area I'm starting from scratch with 6: 1 white-laced black polish, 1 Delaware, 2 Amberlinks & 2 Welsummers. I adopted my girls (and possible guy) 2 weeks ago, today. They will be 3 weeks old on Sunday and I'm hoping to have them in the coop/run by next weekend, as they're already able to escape their brooder. I feel so guilty laying chicken fence over the top...I feel like they're being punished

Hi and welcome... You have to contain them or they'll hurt themselves.

 

[Poshlissa]

Hello all! I’m not sure I am posting this in the right place on this thread, but I’m wondering if my fellow Tennesseans can help me.
Hubby and I retired and moved to Tennessee a little over a year. I used to have backyard chickens when I lived out west in the desert, just six girls, and I had to leave them when we moved. Broke my heart. ANYHOW, I am considering starting again but what holds me back most is the weather and how different it will be from the desert. Easier in some respects because I won’t have to deal with 115° days and wind that never stops.
I know that chickens generally do better in the cold than the heat, so I’m not overly concerned about the cold…for reference we live in Crossville, Tn…and I think I know how to keep them healthy in regards to keeping them from freezing because I basically research everything to death. Lol. What I am MOST concerned with is the humidity here as it’s not something I had to contend with in the desert, and I am wondering if that humidity causes more health issues such a mite infestations, etc. I know the wild animal issues will be strong here as we have fox and raccoons among other chicken eaters. But that’s all in the coop/run prep and we feel we can be fairly confident in building a strong enough home for them. But the possible humidity bug/health issues are giving me pause.

I am basically trying to decide if raising chickens here will be harder or easier in regards to health problems and if building a coop and run is an investment I want to tackle again. I only want about four girls so the coop will not need to be large, but hubby likes to build really nice things so the cost will not be nothing.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jjdesmo11]

I live near Chattanooga and didn’t grow up with chickens but have had them for several years. I do treat for mites/ lice and deworm consistently. Like twice a year. But not everyone does. I keep a flock of 4 large fowl and 6 bantams ( separate because I have 2 roosters) I never thought thar mites/lice would be more prevalent in humid places but makes sense. Did you deal with coccidiosis? That’s another to look out for in younger birds. I used to let my large fowl free range and would get an occasional fox ( birds disappear so I assumed) but in the last two years my neighbors dog has killed two flocks. So sadly free ranging is off the table for now so I keep my flocks small. Welcome to Tennessee

 

[Poshlissa]

I live near Chattanooga and didn’t grow up with chickens but have had them for several years. I do treat for mites/ lice and deworm consistently. Like twice a year. But not everyone does. I keep a flock of 4 large fowl and 6 bantams ( separate because I have 2 roosters) I never thought thar mites/lice would be more prevalent in humid places but makes sense. Did you deal with coccidiosis? That’s another to look out for in younger birds. I used to let my large fowl free range and would get an occasional fox ( birds disappear so I assumed) but in the last two years my neighbors dog has killed two flocks. So sadly free ranging is off the table for now so I keep my flocks small. Welcome to Tennessee

Hello!! No, I never had any health issues with my girls when I had them. One had pasty butt when she was a baby chick but we got that fixed up. The only thing I really dealt with was the heat in summer. Summer was hard on them, but I kept them as cool as I could with sunshades, frozen treats, etc.
What do you use for mites/lice and deworming?
I used to put AC Vinegar in their water to help with internal things, but never had to deal with mites or lice on my girls. And I don’t WANT to deal with those things.