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cazza

I'm new at this and need some advice!

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hello, we're about to get our 3 chickens (next saturday) and need some last minute tips from experienced owners!

 

We live in an urban area with a tiny garden and have 2 very young kids. I've been reading bits of the forum for a while and am overwhelmed with the amount of information! Can anyone give a basic list of essentials and tips for a small garden and what we should expect!

 

thanks,

 

very excited and nervous, caroline :?

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Welcome to the forum Cazza :D . How exciting - at least you don't have long to wait now!

 

Here is a quick list off the top of my head but TBH you'll pick up more information by continuing to read the forum (although it can be difficult to wade through :roll: ).

 

All you really need to begin with:

  • Layers pellets
    Dried corn
    a metal bin to keep them in (to keep rodents out)
    Poultry grit/oystershell

You can add some or all of these at a later date:

  • Garlic powder (keeps poo smell to a minimum)
    Poultry Spice (for general hen health)
    Diatom (to prevent red mite & for hen health)
    Red Mite powder (to treat red mites)
    Apple Cider Vinegar (deters parasites in the gut)
    Citricidal (treatment for snuffly hens)
    Flubenvet (for worming)
    an extra set of roosting bars (so you don't have to wash & dry a set in a day)

Keep your girls in their run for the first 5 days or so so they develop their roosting instinct.

Train them to learn that humans = treats (try half grapes, raisins, dried mealworms, etc).

Handle them once they've gone to bed - bring them in the house for a cuddle, lets you get used to them & they are docile and sleepy so don't mind.

 

I'm sure there's more - someone will add to my list no doubt (or correct me if I'm inaccurate) :wink: .

 

Good luck - let us know how you get on and don't hesitate to post questions, we like to help newbies (we were all one once!)

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Hi Cazza, not long now! Don't forget:

 

Bedding - Aubiose or Hemcore or something similar

and chickens!

 

That really is more or less it! Everyone then has their own variation on things.

 

Of course you must have a chair and a camera handy to sit and watch, altho with two little ones you'll probably not be sitting down a whole load!

 

Mrs Bertie

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Hi. Ain't "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here has done a fab list and I've got everything on that list now. But I got it gradually over the months after I got the chooks.

 

For day 1 all you need is feed (layers pellets) and a water container.

 

I would say my first 4 purchases were :

- Auboise (or Hemcore) horse bedding. Fab, fab stuff for the run, the nest box, bit in the poop tray if it's an eglu. Buy from a horse supply shop.

- Mixed Corn for treats (I've got a 25kg bag and they get a little handful)

- Garlic Powder (from a horse supply shop)

- Mixed Grit (get some from a pet shop)

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ignore that! posted question at same time as other very comprehensive reply. I'm going to have to be quicker than that!

 

Ok, another question. Everyone who isn't into chickens just keeps saying to me "but they poo everywhere". What's the reality on this one?

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Honest answer........... yes they will poo everywhere they go.

But trust me, when they arrive, you'll be smitten and you end up in poo conversations on this forum.

 

My chooks have their own bit of garden and I am so sad but I actually enjoy going out each day, bucket in hand whilst the chooks follow me round the garden, and I collect poo for the compost bin.

 

The Auboise/Hemcore on the ground in their run (say 1 inch deep) soaks up most poop and you change it 4/6 weeks or so.

 

In Summer, it's even easier, as poop disintigrates when you blast it with a hosepipe. The lawn really greens up after that....

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OK, so I know what I need to get and to expect lots of poo, but what about letting them out in the garden on their own? We're just getting the basic eglu, but I plan to let them out all day (I'm a stay at home mum).

 

- Should I always be in the garden with them when they're out?

- We've got a conservatory, would it be OK for me to sit in there while they're in the garden on their own?

- If a fox came, how much time would I have to dash into the garden and scare it away?

- If I was in the garden with the chickens and needed to go to the loo, would I have to round them up, put them back in their run, go to the loo and them come back and let them out again?!!

- Will it be easy to get them back in their run?

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- Should I always be in the garden with them when they're out?

It depends on where you live, and whether there's a fox around. I don't dare let mine out without being in the garden, but that's because I had a narrow escape. There are people here who leave their chooks out whenever they are at home, and don't have a problem.

 

- We've got a conservatory, would it be OK for me to sit in there while they're in the garden on their own?

Fine, although you will find them tapping on the window!

 

- If a fox came, how much time would I have to dash into the garden and scare it away?

Seconds. It depends if you have a lot of shrubbery and whether it could sneak up without being seen - it will move as fast as a cat can.

 

- If I was in the garden with the chickens and needed to go to the loo, would I have to round them up, put them back in their run, go to the loo and them come back and let them out again?!!

 

Again, it depends. I would, but that's because of experience. If a fox is around, he may wait for just such an opportunity - sorry to be woolly about this, but you have no way of knowing if there is a fox in the vicinity. Urban foxes are unbelievably bold, and just knowing you are in the house won't necessarily scare them off.

 

- Will it be easy to get them back in their run?

Yes! get them used to treats like raisins, mealworms or corn; have a noise or a call, I shout 'chook, chook' and rattle the mealworm pot; use a dish that they get to recognise, and they should come running!

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thanks so much for all this advice, I'm so excited about the chickens arriving I feel like a kid on christmas eve!

 

I said we had two young kids, they're both girls aged 3 (evie) and 7 months (lilah). I've heard mixed reports about how chickens are with children, my friend had to get rid of hers because they kept pecking her toddlers fingers until they were bruised! Evie is pretty tough though and not really a girly girl (happier playing in the mud). Obviously this is a bit late to be worrying about this as the chickens are coming on saturday, but a bit of encouragement would make me feel like we're definitiely doing the right thing! (I seem to know quite a few people who aren't very positive about us getting chickens!)

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Don't you worry :). All the nice people will be positive and supportive :lol: . Ignore the rest :evil: .

 

I have 3 girls and they've never pecked me. If I feed them from my hand they peck for the food but it doesn't hurt at all. I suppose you might be unlucky and get a "pecker" but there's as much chance that you won't.

 

Re foxes, I let my girls out when I'm in the house. I try to stay in the kitchen or computer room (which look onto the - very small - garden) but I have been to the loo, nipped upstairs, answered the phone, hung up washing etc while they're out. I have a good view of the main way foxes could get in so I just live in hope they don't come calling when my back's turned :? .

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ive had lots of chickens and never had one that pecks fingers. mine only peck if theres food in your hand and they are such a good aim that they wont hit the skin.

also, with the fox situation, mine free ranged in teh garden for about 6 months before a fox turned up and got 2 of them. now i let them free range in a small area next to the house when im at home and theyve been fine (fingers crossed). i only shut mine away when no ones in the house. it all depends on how bold the foxes are.

 

theres lots of ways to deter foxes though, you could do some of these as well if youre worried. human hair and male urine etc.

 

good luck, you'll love chickesn, they are simply the best pets.

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