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simones1chicks

simones1chicks

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Hi,
I am new my names Simone, I recently got some chickens almost 2 weeks ago. I originally had 6 then got rid of 3 and bought 2 EE's. I have a cocin, 2 EE, either a red sexlink or dixie rainbow, and a black australorp or possibly anything else that looks like that chick. I have recently also had a bully one of the EE's who has been split up from the other for about the day after I got those 2. I now am moving them into a quick scrap fence build in the garage. And plan to build them a coop outside in 2 weeks. One question I have is my dad always fertilizes the yard, but he put down for the first time bug killer because we have ground voles.... And they love the grub that lives under out concrete slap. I was wondering if that is to dangerous to let chicks out util the yard has gotten a lot of rain and sprinkler used. I also heard that if you have free range chickens which we live in the city so we can only have six do they go after the voles in the hole and peck at the tunnels under ground? Thanks and also my chicks I don't handle often except when I clean the poop off there butt otherwise I only pick them up when I clean the brooder and they always chirp like I'm killing them and run away will they become more calm when I move them into a 8x4 foot inclosure in the garage where I can sit on the ground with them? And if 2 of my chicks are roosters do I need to get more chicks? I will post pictures when I get on my phone thanks a lot !
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Congrats on the new chicks! I wouldn't let them onto the grass for a while after fertilizing. Let the stuff wash off and sink into the ground as it could be toxic to the chicks. Chickens have been known to eat mice, but they won't necessarily go digging into vole holes. I wouldn't worry about the voles.

Chicks are naturally afraid of the big hand that comes into the brooder. It will do them some good for you to handle them often to tame them up a bit. They will be much friendlier to you as they grow. Get that bond going between you and them. So pick them up, hold them, get them out on the living room floor and sit down with them. This is a wonderful way for them to bond with you as they will stay with you for protection. Taming them up helps too so that when they are adults and you do need to handle them, they are not terrified of you. Helps to hand feed them in the brooder as well so that the big hand is not so scary.

If you do have more than one rooster in this bunch, you will probably want to rehome one of them. You don't have to keep any roosters if you don't want to. And you can keep just 2 chickens if you prefer. The proper ratio of rooster to hen is 1 roo to 8 to 10 hens.

Good luck with your new chicks! Feel free to ask questions around the forums and welcome to our flock!
 
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I forgot to add that my city only allows hens so any roosters would have to go. But I did put a tarp down in the garage for easy clean I will have to add photos of my shack of a large chicken brooder.
 
Hi Simone, welcome to backyard chickens. I wouldn't let your birds out after any soil/lawn/ treatment till after a good rain. Any poisoned animals that surface may also be eaten by chickens and they could die from it.
 

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