First chicks coming this week! Looking for advice from senior chicken owners.

[JessMorris]

I am getting my first chicks THIS week. I am very excited and torturing my poor husband with chicken facts.
I bought:
2 buff brahma bantams
1 welsummer bantam rooster

2 EE's
2 golden cuckoo marans
2 silver cuckoo marans
2 salmon faverolles
and 1 salmon faverolle rooster.

I bought the roosters for hen protection. I want my girls to roam my 5 acres free range in my yard. Since I live in the country in New England-- hawks are an issue. Do you think the 2 roosters will be enough to protect our 10 ladies?
I'm not moving them outside until 8 weeks so they are big enough to defend our girls.

Also, besides electrolytes and keeping the brooder at 95 degrees is there anything else I can do to ensure all my chicks live?
I can't wait for all the beautiful colored eggs! I want my chickens to be sweet, kind, and cuddly.

Seasoned chicken owners: you'r advice is MUCH APPRECIATED! Thanks _ Jess

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

I am getting my first chicks THIS week. I am very excited and torturing my poor husband with chicken facts.
I bought:
2 buff brahma bantams
1 welsummer bantam rooster

2 EE's
2 golden cuckoo marans
2 silver cuckoo marans
2 salmon faverolles
and 1 salmon faverolle rooster.

I bought the roosters for hen protection. I want my girls to roam my 5 acres free range in my yard. Since I live in the country in New England-- hawks are an issue. Do you think the 2 roosters will be enough to protect our 10 ladies?
I'm not moving them outside until 8 weeks so they are big enough to defend our girls.

Also, besides electrolytes and keeping the brooder at 95 degrees is there anything else I can do to ensure all my chicks live?
I can't wait for all the beautiful colored eggs! I want my chickens to be sweet, kind, and cuddly.

Seasoned chicken owners: you'r advice is MUCH APPRECIATED! Thanks _ Jess

Well, first things first. Make sure that the chicks have adequate food and water. You can also put a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar, it is filled with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Also, keep the brooder clean from an overload of manure. To ensure the chickens drink water, put a few marbles in the water, this way the chicks will peck at the marbles and at the same time drink water. You can also give them treats, such as grass. Grab some grass with the roots and dirt attached, they will love you. I think that is about it, you sound like you read every article on the internet and checked out every chicken book in the library.

Hope this helps.

 

[JessMorris]

I have tried to real all that I can to ensure my girls and boys live a safe, happy, and healthy life. I really appreciate your advice with the vinegar, I bought that chick electrolyte powder and plan to put that in. The vinegar is a great idea too though. I love your idea with the marbles, I'll get on that. Thank you so much OreoPlymouthRock!

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

I have tried to real all that I can to ensure my girls and boys live a safe, happy, and healthy life. I really appreciate your advice with the vinegar, I bought that chick electrolyte powder and plan to put that in. The vinegar is a great idea too though. I love your idea with the marbles, I'll get on that. Thank you so much OreoPlymouthRock!

You are very welcome. I used the ACV with my chickens when they were chicks, it helped them a lot! Good luck with your first flock of chickens!

 

[Tomhusker]

I recommend getting them to use water nipples asap. Saves time and water. Easy to train, especially young ones.

 

[JessMorris]

Thank you Tomhusker! I bought a water dripper with the nipples but its large. I'm scared it will fall down in the brooder and crush my babies . Do they sell tiny ones?

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

By the way, Welcome to BYC!

 

[JessMorris]

I just heard that racoons can be a real problem. Does anyone know if those predator guard night lights work? If so, do you have 4 on all sides on your coop.
What do you do to protect your chickens from nasty beasts?

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

I just heard that racoons can be a real problem. Does anyone know if those predator guard night lights work? If so, do you have 4 on all sides on your coop.
What do you do to protect your chickens from nasty beasts?

Raccoons have never really been a problem for my chickens. We did have a raccoon who came around and dug around our yard. The lights do work, but they can be pricey. I suggest making sure there is not an opening in the coop that is bigger than an inch. An inch is big enough for a raccoon to stick it's arm in and wring the neck of a chicken. I line the coops with heavy bricks and rocks to prevent predators from digging under. You can also put netting underground. I hope this helps.

 

[keesmom]

Raccoons, foxes, Coyotes, fishers, mink, weasels and numerous hawk species are all a possibility here.