Hi, I have questions!

Date sort Score sort
AmandaAdora

AmandaAdora

Hatching
6 Years
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
7
I am not sure why I feel so nervous to post, everyone here is so friendly! I just know so little about all of this even after the almost 2 months it has been since I first started devouring all of the information on this site. I want to thank everyone who contributes here, your knowledge and experience have been greatly appreciated as I have prepared to start my little flock!

I live in Memphis, TN and I plan to keep no more than 4 hens in my smallish fenced backyard. I have a small coop and run ready to go, but I plan to start with chicks so it will be a while before the coop gets use. I do have a salt water pool tho, and I have not seen any comments about chickens and pools. I plan to let the hens out to roam during the warmer days when my family and I will be spending lots of time outside and I will be able to make sure they are safe. But should I be concerned about keeping them away from the pool? Will they try to drink the salt water? If they were to fall in, they would be able to get themselves out, right? I just don't want it to be hazardous to them.

I have a HUGE spider problem. I know that chickens are great for pest control, but they won't have access to the front yard and only parts of the backyard. I do have a guy that comes monthly to treat for spiders (and only finally after 18months of treatment, I see a noticeable decrease in the spider population inside). Of course I want everything to be as safe and healthy as possible for my flock, so it goes without saying that I won't continue treating the backyard once they are out there, but can I safely continue treatment in the front yard? Or is it possible that they might be able to keep the spiders in check without having access to the front? Am I just asking silly questions?? Also, I get lots of wasps in the summer... is that dangerous for the chickens or do they eat wasps too?

I super appreciate any help and advice you guys have for me! Thanks for taking the time.

Cheers,
ac
 
Chickens do not like to get wet usually avid will stay away from bodies of water except to get a drink from the edge of a pond or puddle... So I bet after they see the water in your puddle is no good they won't check again
 
Hello and welcome to BYC
frow.gif
I would suggest putting a little fence up around the pool, just in case.
 
Greetings from Kansas, AmandaAdora, and
welcome-byc.gif
! Pleased you joined us! Your chickens will take care of your spider problem, that's for sure. The pool would concern me. Not sure how big or how deep it is but I'd worry about them drowning if isn't a way from them to crawl out. As far as them drinking it, unsure. I like the fence idea if possible as well. Good luck to you!
 
Thanks so much for the warm welcome and insights. I will see about putting up a fence or other barrier. I hope they will learn to stear clear of the pool anyway, but I would much rather be safe than sorry.

Another question, when I move them into the coop I have read that I need to keep them in the coop for a few days at first so they learn that it's home. Does that mean not even letting them out into the run? I don't want to misunderstand and keep them literally cooped up if I don't have to. At the same time though I do want them to know where their home is.

Thanks again for all the help!
 
You can let them out into the run, but don't let them free range for the first week. Let them get into the routine of going into their coop at night first.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom