badgerbluebadger Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 I now have my lovely girls and despite a few troubles getting them to bed everything seems fine. My first question is at the moment they are not eating many of their layered pellets or veg treats they just seem happy to eat grass and bugs - once the grass runs out and I create a perment run do you think they will be more interested in their food? The second thing is I have brought the following items I would like to now how to use each one, when to use them and how often I need to use them. Chicken Spice Bokashi Active Diatomaceous Earth Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Thank you again for all of your support you have given me - I now wished I had got the girls a long time ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 oh well done! I think we were all out getting chickens on Saturday I think the spice is a tonic - I think you give it when they look a bit under the weather and when they are moulting, the lady I got my chickens from said don't use it all the time or they build up an immunity to it apparently?? The bran is a handful (scientific mind!) per grub and I think some people put it in the poop tray too..... The apple cider vinegar is a splash per glug a couple of times a week I haven't got any DE but I think it has lots of uses I dare say that everyone will have different ways of using these products and will all have their own slant on things! We are all learning lots arent we?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 My first question is at the moment they are not eating many of their layered pellets or veg treats they just seem happy to eat grass and bugs - once the grass runs out and I create a perment run do you think they will be more interested in their food? If your girls are not yet laying then they'll not eat as much. Once they come into lay they'll eat anything and everything (Little gannets) The second thing is I have brought the following items I would like to now how to use each one, when to use them and how often I need to use them. Chicken Spice - I just sprinkle a quarter of a teas spoon into their mash/pellets whenever they are moulting or a bit under the weather. I've also put it into a bowl with mash/pellets and water to make a porridge. They love Porridge. You can also sneak in limestone flour if your girls have softie egg problems, cod liver oil, pro-biotic yogurt, oats, mixed corn, raisins, swwetcorn, mealworms. Pretty much anything. Bokashi Active - i put a handfull into the grub every time i fill it. (literally as much as my hand can grab from the sack if that helps) You can also get it pre-mixed into layers mash from wiggly wigglers. Bokashi is also something that gets added to their porridge mix at treat time. Diatomaceous Earth - I sprinkle this liberally about their house every few days and thoroughly dust their house into every crevice when they're cleaned out. A clean dry decorating brush is good to move it about. (I have a wooden house and am paranoid of red mite infestation!) I also try to dust my girls under their wings and around vent whenever they let me. Easier said than done! I tried put some DE in a washing up bowl with dry soil, sand, compost and wood ash for them to dust bathe in and dose themselves but the little minxes ignore it and prefer to dig a hole but this often works with other forum members birds. You can also add to their feed if you want. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar - I give a scientific measurement called a 'slosh' to their drinker (A large red/white plastic drinker not a glug) every couple of days. Hope this helps. Enjoy your girls. I like their names, any pickies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted October 13, 2008 Author Share Posted October 13, 2008 Thank you both for your advice - I know this sounds silly but does anyone have pet insurance for their chickens? If so where and how much. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 I wouldn't bother with pet insurance for chickens. They're classed as 'exotic' and it cost a fortune. There were a couple of previous threads about it. here's one of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted October 13, 2008 Author Share Posted October 13, 2008 So proud of the girls tonight - with the aid of a touch they put themselves to bed!!! Hopefully no more climbing in the run and popping them to bed myself!! More ideas welcome for the use of my chicken items Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted October 14, 2008 Author Share Posted October 14, 2008 Help please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Hi I haven't used chicken spice or apple cider vinegar. Bokashi bran I put in feed and on floor of cube as others have suggested. One good tip I got on here was to put the DE in an empty talc container, you can then puff it into all the crevises in house after cleaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumpty Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Hi One good tip I got on here was to put the DE in an empty talc container, you can then puff it into all the crevises in house after cleaning. That's a really handy tip, saves you sprinkling handfuls about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
