debbie26pet Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 im really sorry for all these question sat min but need to have the right head on when my new arrivals come ive read alot over the site last few days and notived lots mentioning grit pellets garlic powder etc. can this all be mixed in in one load say a big metal bin with he pellets add the powder, shells,limestone flour etc. also when i get my coop and run will i be best giving it a clean with red mite its a wooden one new one, ive to put my name on waiting list for a eglu, so sorry for more question but thanks for all helping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 we clean the eglu's weekly. After we've cleaned it we sprinkle some red mite powder in the little gaps and and crevices and over the roosting bars. We have been doing this for nearly 2 years as a preventative measure and we've never had red mite *touch wood* Poultry spice is good to go in with the pellets, its a good supplement and keeps hens healthy. Im not very accurate when i measure it, i just sprinkle it in with the pellets when i fill up the feeders and swirl it around so it coats the pellets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 (edited) You can mix everything together. However, I don't give them the same additives such as pPoultry Spice every single day, I vary things according to what I feel is necessary at the time. I prefer them to help themselves ad lib to grit and so keep a pot of it in their fenced off area. Re the redmite powder, I should dust it into any crevices and onto the roosting bars, particularly the ends. I also put a dollop of it into the Aubiose which I put in the nesting box. Edited February 2, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 im really sorry for all these question sat min but need to have the right head on when my new arrivals come ive read alot over the site last few days and notived lots mentioning grit pellets garlic powder etc. can this all be mixed in in one load say a big metal bin with he pellets add the powder, shells,limestone flour etc. also when i get my coop and run will i be best giving it a clean with red mite its a wooden one new one, ive to put my name on waiting list for a eglu, so sorry for more question but thanks for all helping just mix the food as and when you need it. We mix it fresh each morning; some pellets (or mash in my case) a tbsp of garlic powder, a tsp of poultry spice, a tbsp of oyster shell. They have seperate pots with poultry grit in. We've also started adding about tbsp of limestone flour to the mix too as we've had some thin shelled eggs. Then they get extra treats later in the day, today they've had 2 big corn on the cobs and some dried meal worms. You don't need to clean your coop staright away if it's brand new, just mix some diatom/red mite powder in with the bedding. We use aubiose as bedding and in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 I put mixed grit in a spare "peanut" feeder for them to help themselves, and since my girls have the toughest eggshells I've ever encountered, I guess they must eat it! Garlic powder is really only necessary in warmer weather to deodorize the droppings, though it doesn't hurt to put it in anyway. About once a week I give them a porridge of layers mash and something nice (banana or tuna) with a bit of poultry spice mixed in, and put a tablespoon of unrefined cider vinegar in their water. Really, except in hot weather (like the time I lost two chooks in the space of a month) they're not terribly delicate and don't need that much mollycoddling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 ... and put a tablespoon of unrefined cider vinegar in their water. , oh yes, i forgot, we do that too,it's a good antibacterial tonic and it makes their gut acidic and unfriendly to parasites (but don't rely on it to keep them worm free). The last few days they had a few drops of citircidal in the water instead as shalott was coughing a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 I would say the essentials to get before they arrive are feed, drinking/feeding bowls, red mite powder. Some Auboise/Hemcore would be nice. All the rest get at your own pace. You can mix everything up in one big tub but I find my lot leave the grit if I mix it with pellets. So they have grit separately. GARLIC POWDER - My lot have layers pellets mixed every day with a 2/3 teaspoons of garlic powder. In Summer it really helps but not so essential in winter (but I still carry on anyway). Initially I put 1 tsp in thinking they wouldn't eat it (you will know what I mean when you smell it, it will knock your socks off). But now I just chuck a load in and they eat it all. MIXED GRIT (WITH OR WITHOUT OYSTER SHELL) - When you let them free range, they will pick up grit from your garden. But I find in winter mine free range less with the shorter days. So I put a handful of mixed grit in their run daily and it all seems to go. I buy mixed grit just from a normal pet shop and it comes with crushed oyster shell already in it (but don't get the really fine stuff for budgies). If it doesn't have oyster shell in it, buy it anyway and bake and crush up your own egg shells. POULTRY SPICE - mine get it now and then. I mix a bit (tells you how much on the tub) in with their wet treats (so mashed potato, cooked rice, cooked potato skins etc). I don't bother putting it in with dry treats. So my lot get it once (maybe twice) a week. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (Pet stuff NOT from the supermarket) - I've only just started giving them this in their water after reading this forum. Mine have survived without it so far. I do one week on and one week off - not sure if that's right though. It does something to their guts to help prevent worms. But it is not a wormer as such and I've just decided to worm mine for the first time with some medicated powder after 9 months of having them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 I keep our pellets (mixed with garlic powder & poultry spice) in a fairly big plastic box (couple of quid from Dunelm Mill) in the kitchen . I probably wouldn't mix a whole bag into a bin as it might get stale & if you have problems with mice/rats that might encourage them . My box does us a few weeks then I fill it up from the large bag I keep in a metal bin in the shed. I give them mixed grit in a separate pot left permanently in the run - that way they can get at it when they want and you can see when they need more. Here's our box - and that bottle isn't what it looks like , it's apple cider vinegar . Easy to add a squirt to the glug. (Needs to be easy as OH does the morning feed/water ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 ... and that bottle isn't what it looks like , it's apple cider vinegar . not something to keep the foxes away then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
