New to BYC

[Willowspirit]

hi! Welcome! I don't think hardly anyone would think you put the chicks out too young at all. Some folks here brood their chicks outside from early on and mama hens take them outside right away.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[Meatpies]

Glad you've joined!

 

[N F C]

Thanks for joining us!

 

[carolehodge]

Hi I am new to this group but not new to having back yard chickens. Thought we were going to retire from raising chickens when the kids left home. The last one left 6 years ago. My 3 remaining girls are 8 years old. We really miss the fresh eggs and are tired of spending $5 a dozen for cage free organic eggs. My new babies are now 5 weeks old and I moved them in the coop with the old girls this weekend. I have 10 babies. Started with 12. 1 died at just a few days old and 1 was lost to a hawk last weekend. I have 2 buff orpingtons (my favorite breed) and 1 of each of the rest; Silver cuckoo maran, black splash andalusian, Road Island red, bared Plymouth rock, Easter Egger, Splash Java and a White Leghorn. I hope to get a good variety of egg colors and shades. We have installed a homemade hawk deterrent system. We strung disposable pie pans with reflective tape on both sides all over the yard and the chicken run. So far it seems to be working. They will remain locked in the chicken run for at least another week before we release them to free range. The 3 old girls are not happy about being cooped up. I have been giving them extra treats to sooth their nerves. Today is day 2 and they don't seem quite as annoyed. I know a lot of you will think I put the babies outside too soon. I live in GA and our days and nights have been super warm. We are all much happier with them out. Well, all except the 3 old girls.

 

[carolehodge]

It is a little cool tonight. It is the babies 3rd night in the outdoor coop. Went to check on them to be sure they weren't too cool. One of my older hens, the queen had 3 babies under her wings keeping them warm. I guess the family has finally bonded!

 

[carolehodge]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck with the hawk deterrent system. Once they find a food source they can be relentless.

 

[carolehodge]

So far so good. We have seen him in the woods across the street but he has not ventured back in my yard. We have 50 pans strung with fishing line all over the yard. My yard is heavily wooded too. Hopefully he will just move on to the hay field behind me and eat the baby rabbits and mice like he used to.

 

[carolehodge]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Sorry for your losses. I hope the deterrent system works. I've not read of them working for long before the hawks figure out that the shiny reflective things aren't going to hurt them.

 

[carolehodge]

I hope between them and the fishing line strung all over the yard that he will move on to easier prey.