SOOO Many Newby Questions!

[yellowherb]

I live in Florida too I put my chicks out at about 2 weeks old just because of our heat wave! I think it was warmer outside than in, even with the mama heating pad or light.

I put them straight onto grass and it's so cute to watch them running through it and hiding behind larger weeds. It took them a while to get used to being outside but they are quite happy with it now.

Welcome to BYC

 

[ChickyMama1220]

who got in so much done in the two days we worked on it I'm so excited to get it finished so I can put them out there!I know there are cats in the area and have seen raccoon Prints around should I bury something so they can't get in?

I had thought about putting a box with sand out there! what kind of sand do you use?

Yellowherb where in florida are you? Ive been trying to find some more ornamental (pretty) chickens but dont know where to look. Something super friendly!

 

[GitaBooks]

Burying some fencing about a foot into the ground should prevent most predators from digging in.

 

[yellowherb]

@ChickyMama1220
I'm on Lake Okeechobee, Ft Myers side. Not a lot around my area except meat or egg type birds so I had to order in the more ornamental chickens as eggs and hatch them. I have 4 buff polish, 4 sultans and 1 gold laced polish so far. Just chicks though, 6 months for eggs At least haha! But I will be the only one in at least a 50-75mile radius raising those types that I know of.

Look into Sultans, I hear they turn out to be super friendly and highly ornamental.

 

[ChickyMama1220]

Gitabooks we (rough) finished our structure tonight! (2x 12+ hr days of work) and got them in it! Theyd been in that tote long enough theyd said. haha i love it!

Thats awesome yellowherb i will def look into them! Im a little south of sarasota 20 min ish. About an hour ish north of ft myers and im the only one i know within about 30 miles thay has chickens at all. But lots of city folk here so there could be other back yarders like me around here that i dont know of.

 

[ChickyMama1220]

Now this may be a stupid question but the ants wont bother them right? Theyll eat the ants? I noticed them going after the mosquitoes flyin near them which is awesome! What do you do about the food with the ants? How do you keep the ants from getting into it?

 

[GitaBooks]

Fire ants can be a problem for chickens. You can read more about getting rid of those elsewhere.

 

[yellowherb]

Yeah I've noticed more and more fire ants heading towards my run and the food the chicks scatter. I cant really bait those since the bait looks like chicken crumbles. Luckily (for me) my coop is moveable, so I'll relocate it.

The chickens seem to have no interest in fire ants at all. They must taste nasty or sting when they try to eat them.
I think I know roughly where you are ChickyMama1220 I used to work in PG and my son was born in CH. If that's about where you are, we really are not all that far apart. I have family still in Arcadia.