New chicken mama w/14- 5 week olds in NW GA.

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Shiner19

Chirping
Aug 4, 2023
22
103
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I have 14 - approx 5 week old chicks acquired from my daughter who was surprised with 20 babies one day coming out of her barn. She has about 40 chickens, 4 roosters that free range on 10 available acres during the day and coop up at night. I live in house on 5 acres adjacent to hers. Her chickens often visit my place. This is my first time owning my own flock. We plan to free range ours during the day as well. My chicks are close to fully feathered and are crowded in the brooder box which has been outside under my deck. I planned to transfer them to a chicken tractor today to keep them until we get a coop done. It is raining today and probably next several days with low's dipping to 66 ish. Is it ok to put them out on wet grass now? I stopped the heat lamp several days ago and low's have been 68-70. I look forward to learning from this group.
 
Kiki said:
I would have put them out weeks ago with those temps....can you cover the tractor so it doesn't continued to get wet under it?

Welcome to BYC.
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Yes, I have a tarp to put over the tractor so I can keep rain off them but the grass is very wet right now. We have lots of predators - coyotes, raccoons, fox, feral and domestic cats (have 2 of our own), dogs; although the tractor will be in our yard, our fence is very low so anything can get over it, and I plan to put motion sensor light. The brooder box has been totally in the shade the entire time.
 
Shiner19 said:
Yes, I have a tarp to put over the tractor so I can keep rain off them but the grass is very wet right now. We have lots of predators - coyotes, raccoons, fox, feral and domestic cats (have 2 of our own), dogs; although the tractor will be in our yard, our fence is very low so anything can get over it, and I plan to put motion sensor light. The brooder box has been totally in the shade the entire time.
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How much longer until you finish a predator proof coop?

Lights aren't going to prevent any hungry predator.
 
Kiki said:
How much longer until you finish a predator proof coop?

Lights aren't going to prevent any hungry predator.
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The chicken tractor is pretty safe we believe - wrapped in chicken wire. Our ground is very hard - lots of rock so little chance of anything digging under. Our beagles often will warn us too if they sense anything outside. Understand about the light - just an added deterrent. I worry most about the racoons and cats and think though they would have to work hard at getting in and likely our dogs would sound off alarm. We are converting an existing 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 shed to coop and will have 8' tall run around it. Probably can get it done in a couple days once we start.
 

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