4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[henny penny]

Hi Just wanted to say got my new chickens. We finally chose A white Sussex, a cuckoo maran and a rhode island red. Thy are lovely and so much more calm than my previous chickens ( who incidently have settled down on the farm under the firm eye of the cockeril- one is now broody!).

We have had them for a week -and the cuckoo maran has started to lay this week too.

Thanks for all your helpful postings on which breeds to get-

Just as a quick thought -the chap we bought them from advocates using hay in the nest box and using layered mash (not the pellets)- I'm not sure about the hay as the girls seem to try to eat it. I just wondered what other people thought?

 

 

CIMG0244 and CIMG0245- havent quite got the hang of posting photos yet!

Edited April 29, 2008 by Guest

[Christian]

Now, did you go to Worldwide Poultry??

 

That is where Cinnamon and I got ours from (separately - I don't want to start rumours )

 

Yes, he did mention hay, but I won't use it. Heard of too many horror stories with impacted crop. As he raised his hens on mash, that is what I now use and my girls do prefer it. They spend ages feeding, but it is messier.

[Tara.F]

is it hay or straw that harbours nasty spores?

can't remember

I use shredded paper in the nest and aubiose everywhere else.

 

as for the mash....I much prefer pellets. Less messy (and when they make a mess with mash and it gets wet, it goes really smelly)

what do your other chooks eat?

[Christian]

Sorry henny penny, i have a memory like a goldfish!

 

I answered your post about WWP a while ago

 

He says that mash is for chickens and pellets are for ducks. He is very knowledgeable but can be rather set in his ways at times.

 

I am pleased i took out the newsletter scheme as it means that the mash is sent out with Flubenvet mixed in already.

 

edit -he recommends 'finest quality hay' he says that contains no spores. I tried it for one night and it was eaten by the morning Not worth the risk in my opinion.

[henny penny]

Yes I did go to worldwide poultry. We felt he wasnt going to let us go home unless we took out the "newsletter" with its six monthly flubenvet and mash etc!. The chickens are lovely tho' and so much more placcid- although i do miss my naughty girls! but I knew it would take a while to build up a rappor!

I think we will give the hay amiss and go back to the paper shredding for the nest box.

I quite like the fact that it takes ages for the birds to feed ( although messy) much longer than the pellets!It gives them something to do!

We let them out for the first time yesterday to free range but were not keen on us trying to stroke them so will have to work on that!

They are also so much quieter than the other chickens but it is still early days!!!!!!

[Christian]

It does take them ages to feed and I think that helps with boredom.

 

I got a light sussex and a cuckoo maran from him. Winifred my sussex is the 'demo' chicken at my hen parties and is normally very placid. Elsbeth the maran has had 3 days off laying since November.

 

Glad you like your new hens

[henny penny]

Ron at Worldwide also said that I shouldnt use mixed grit or oyster shell and that I should use flint grit? anyone got a comment on that?

[henny penny]

Hi Ive just managed to put two photos on the gallery of my new chickens-CIMG0244

and CIMG0245

[Egluntyne]

Lovely.

[MedusA]

They look lovely girls. I think your cuckoo maran is especially pretty.

[LJ's Chooks]

gorgeous!!

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Beautiful girls henny penny.

 

Like the eglu colour too!!

[Cinnamon]

Yes I did go to worldwide poultry. We felt he wasnt going to let us go home unless we took out the "newsletter" with its six monthly flubenvet and mash etc!.

 

I am less than impressed with the newsletter & Flubenvet etc.

I was told by Ron that I would get the Flubenvetted feed with nesletter 5, but there is no sign of it despite 3 phone calls & 2 letters. I have now asked for a refund of my £50

 

BUT then hens are lovley there & we are really happy with them.

 

have you noticed how he sells all the things he recommends (& says that you can't get them anywhere else?)

[henny penny]

Hi did feel afterwards that I had been fleeced. The chickens are lovely but I'm not sure the hard sell on all the various items was necessary and I will certainly do what I feel is right and not what he felt I should be doing!

I do have lovely calm chickens. I just hope that the flubenvet etc arrive when expected - it wouldnt be good for business if customers werent happy!!!!!!