Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[badgerbluebadger]

I have had confirmation today from my local council that there are no bylaws and its fine for me to have my two hens. I have got a small garden which is why I have opted for two rather than three. I have also decided to have the in one place and was looking to get the link board - does this work well or do you need the extension kit for an extra £9?

 

I am due to get Sam and Ella (chosen at random from work colleagues ideas of names) on 11th October but I will be giving Omlet a call to add bits and bobs to my order. Below is my list and costings:-

 

 

2x hens, & starter set £369.99

Run Pegs £16.39

Food Ball £2.00

Link A Board - Area 3.5m by 2m £39.50

Link Board Extension Kit £9.00

Chicken Spice 450 gms £4.00

Mixed Chicken Grit 1.25kg 34.50

Bokashi - Active 1kg £4.10

Verm-X for chickens £9.97

Red Mite Powder 500g £8.50

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar - 335ml £5.90

Delivery £25.00

 

Total £498.85

 

Are there things I have missed or don't need?

 

Thanks Jo

[chelsea]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the eglu.

 

I also started out with a Sam & Ella

 

I would recommend a good sturdy bin/metal bin for your feed onto your list. If it were me I would do away with the Verm-x and get Flubenvet wormer instead (of course entirely up to you).

[badgerbluebadger]

where can I get Flubenvet wormer ? can I still eat the eggs when I use it?

[chelsea]

I got mine online

 

There is no egg withdrawal with flubenvet.

[jlo]

Can't really offer any advice on whether you need anything more but just wanted to say .....love your avatar!

[Steve.]

I'd skip the Verm-X if you are going to get Flubenvet . Horsie places that do chickens sell it, and it's also available from www.wormers.co.uk

 

Instead of Link A Board I got some Wilko lawn edging. Stuff still gets kicked out but it catches most of it. It covers the grass that grows through the skirt so it looks good anyway!

 

I think three hens is a better idea ... if one pops it's clogs its an ardous process to introduce a new chook.

 

Actually - s"Ooops, word censored!" all that - get a cube - it takes less room than a Eglu

 

The other bits and bobs look fine. I if you look at the posts under my username I recently asked many of the same questions as I've just gone through the same process.

 

Don't listen to me as I was originally going to get a Eglu with three hens and ended up with a Cube with 8 hens ...

[Christian]

 

I think three hens is a better idea ... if one pops it's clogs its an ardous process to introduce a new chook.

 

I have to agree with Steve, many get 2 chickens, but 3 is a better number

[alih]

flubenvet would definitely be better than vermex and yes, I would get 3 as well - I started with 2 and one died after only 3 weeks

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I would agree with the advice to a) get Flubenvet and b) get 3 girls .

 

I take it layers pellets are part of "the package"? Otherwise, you've got all the essential there - although have you decided on your floor covering? Loads of people use Hemcore, Aubiose or Easibed which are all horse bedding.

 

I also use Diatomaceous Earth but it's up to you whether you get that. It's very good for treating red mite but in an eglu with plastic roosting bars you're unlikely to get red mite (although it's not impossible ).

[jlo]

I think that I should have read this forum more before getting my two girls! Feeling quite inadequate now!

[Purplemaniacs]

Hi Jo, I would agree with others don't get Verm-X, buy Flubenvet instead, we bought Verm-X when we bought our eglu and have never opened it, read posts on here and bought Flubenvet.

 

If you can I would go for three girls, we got two from Omlet as we knew we were going to add two more.

 

Chrissie

[SnowWhite]

Save on the run pegs. We have a rablu and just use metal tent pegs to pin it down, they work just as well and cost a fraction of the price. I recently bought 20 for 99p in Tesco of all places!

[finger lickin good]

Hiya, if you are just going the eglu with the standard run you probably won't need the link-a-borad extension kit. Ours eglu and run fits fine just in the full 3.5m x2m link-a-borad. You only need the link-a-borad extension if you are getting the run convertor to make the run longer.

 

Enjoy the chickens, had ours 6 weeks now and can't imagine life without them

[Egluntyne]

I agree with those who advise getting three hens.....and I wouldn't bother with the Verm-X either.

 

Also You can get a massive sack of Mixed Poultry Grit from an agricultural merchant/smallhoder shop for a fiver, so I wouldn't pay £35 for it.

[MedusA]

I agree with all the previous advice:

Three hens rather than two (if you can)

Flubenvet rather than Verm-X

Aubiose (or similar) to put in the run

A large sack of grit will last for ever and is much cheaper in the long run as it doesn't "expire"

Personally I did get the run pegs and they are really good, but tent pegs would probably do the job if you're on a budget.

 

Otherwise you seem to have the basics covered.

 

Good luck but be warned - chicken keeping is very addictive. I started with 2 Omlet girls in an eglu 18 months ago and now I have a large walk-in run, 2 eglus and 7 hens!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Didn't notice the grit price . You definately don't have to pay that much . I got mine from Ebay.

 

Also, the Apple Cider Vinegar looks pricy for that amount (I think, I'm not good on quantities ). Have a look in your local horsey shop where you should get a bigger container for the same price. You need to get unrefined ACV, not the stuff they sell in supermarkets.

[Steve.]

I got my AVG from a horsie place (Countrywide) and my grit from a Pet Supermarket, £7 for 20kg.

 

I think there are cheaper places for most bits but it's good to start off with what Omlet offer as it's all in one place!

[koo2cat]

A friend of a friend of mine has two children called Sam and Ella - quite alarming that they didn't think that one through - much more apt for chickens!!!!!

[badgerbluebadger]

Thank you everyone for your help - I will going on chicken shop this weekendn - there is an error with the grit price - sorry omlet!

 

I will be only getting two chickens as I work until 5pm it will be darker in the winter so my girls will only be able to free range at the weekend. By only have two there will be more room!

 

I will look at wilkos to see about the edging - but as I am in the city I don't no any horse places near me - any online shops?

 

I think I will see what I can get outsiode omlet then anything left over I will go to omlet for!

 

Thanks

 

Jo

[Ain't Nobody Here]

but as I am in the city I don't no any horse places near me - any online shops?

You'd be surprised . I live in a city but there's a horsey place only a few miles from me on the outskirts. It's worth looking in your yellow pages .

[badgerbluebadger]

done all my orders now just have to wait!!!!!! two weeks!!!

[Boybeck]

hi badger

 

I have three ISA Browns in my eglu and standard run and the space is absolutely fine. I was worried about three being too much but they don't looked cramped at all.

[chickensuep]

I have recently bought the link board and got a good tip from this forum. Set it out 1m at the eglu end 4m sides and 2m door end. This gives you enough room to open the door and pull out the tray at the other. It looks ok to as it matches the shape of the eglu and run. I also thought of buying a cheaper alternative but glad I didn't. It's really easy to put up and looks good.

[badgerbluebadger]

got most things from omlet - as things are cheaper on other websites but you have to pay for the dellivery so its works out easier to have one order with omlet!

 

I think two for now is fine - perhaps I will get more when I have more room!

 

man I want them now!