Newbie with 1 million questions

[_Kelley_]

Hi! I need your chicken knowledge...
I have raised baby chicks for a friend but never had chickens of my own. Soon, I plan on getting 3 baby chicks. I live in California so the weather is pretty mild. I'll keep the babies inside with a heat lamp for about a month or a little longer. I mean, I have experience with baby chicks up to 6 weeks after 2 weeks indoors I gradually let them spend more time outdoors safely.

We have a backyard with open grass, grass with a shade sale over it. we have shrubs and flowers and Mexican sage and lavender plants, and a patio with table and chairs. There are lots of options for places for chickens to hang out. We also have a pool with a roll out tarp pool cover. Do you think the chickens will want to hang out on the tarp pool cover? It's exposed meaning not trees or anything over it. It gets very hot in the summer (its a tarp). It seems pretty unappealing considering the rest of the yard is dirt and plants and shade and grass. The main problem with them being on it is the poop will be really difficult to clean off.

Also, we have a slug and pincher bug(earwig) problem. Do chickens eat those bugs? Can I feed them grubs from the garden?

We're getting them a coop with nesting boxes and a roost bar. and we'll put that in a larger fenced in run on the side of the house that's 5ft X 25ft, but we'll let them out in the back yard a lot.

Thanks!!

 

[RoosterML]

You’ll know soon enough about the pool cover. I would think they won’t hang out there. Your bug problem should be taken care of or reduced if you’re going to give them free range. Grubs are good.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine love grubs and earwigs. Some like slugs, others will not touch them.

With the pool cover, is it pretty secure? Are there any gaps between cover and the concrete/tile around the pool where a chicken could accidentally fall in? I'd be more worried that a chicken could fall in and drown.

 

[chrissynemetz]

They would probably prefer to hang out in a shaded area more than on the hot tarp... probably...
I have learned that my chickens want to...
dig where I don't want them to dig. Poop where I don't want them to poop.
And hang out where I don't want them hanging out.
But they're so adorable I can't stay mad.

 

[_Kelley_]

Mine love grubs and earwigs. Some like slugs, others will not touch them.

With the pool cover, is it pretty secure? Are there any gaps between cover and the concrete/tile around the pool where a chicken could accidentally fall in? I'd be more worried that a chicken could fall in and drown.

It's very secure it rolls out on a track and seals the pool, an adult could walk across it if they had to. There are no gaps. I'm just worried about them pooping on the pool cover. It might be a deal breaker, but I also don't see why they would be hanging out on it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's very secure it rolls out on a track and seals the pool, an adult could walk across it if they had to. There are no gaps.

Good to know. I doubt they'll hang out on it, but who knows with chickens?

 

[Mtnboomer]

They will love the bugs and its very doubtful they will cross that hot tarp.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have learned that my chickens want to...
dig where I don't want them to dig. Poop where I don't want them to poop.
And hang out where I don't want them hanging out.

I agree with this assessment. They do what they do, not what you want them to do. There is one way to find out if you are going o be OK with them roaming your yard, see what they do. Often what makes up your mind for you isn't something you expected. At least you have what sounds like a nice run for three chickens, just in case you need it.

Good luck and welcome to this part of the adventure.