Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Sarah B]

Hello All,

 

It's been a while since I posted but I am a little worried about the welfare of my hens now that there is not much sunlight left. Apologies in advance if this has been posted before but I had a look through the last couple of pages and couldn't find anything relating to my q.

 

My 2 girls have a run out period when I get home from work at the moment where they have exercise and treats. I get in at 5.30 and shortly there will be no daylight then so I guess they will put themselves to bed before I get in, this means they will be in the run all week Mon to Fri with no treats and no run around exercise. As they are not used to this is it cruel? I like to give them greens everyday, should I now pop these in before I go to work? I know you are not meant to give treats before 12 but I dont want them missing out. Maybe a hanging food ball?

 

Also, we used to move the Eglu and run everyday but OH has got fed up with a destroyed lawn so we now just have 3 places for the run which we change around on a weekly basis. As you can imagine these areas are devoid of grass. Im worried about them pecking in this sort of soil that obviously has a certain amount of poop. Is there something I should be putting down re the acid soil?

 

Oh it was all so easy back in late Feb when they arrived!

 

Be very grateful for advice, thanks.

 

Sarah

Edited October 14, 2008 by Guest

[jackiepoppies]

Hi Sarah,

 

As I am still new to chook keeping, I don't know the answer.......BUT......I am sure Egluntine will be here soon, and she will advise

 

Good luck

 

Jackiex

[Barkisland]

These are interesting questions, to which I would also like the answer.

Also, I'd like to rather cheekily add on a question of my own which has been troubling me greatly. Is there anything I can do to stop their water freezing solid in the depths of winter? (apart from bringing it inside at night, obviously?) My bird bath often freezes solid again within half an hour of me defrosting it, and I'm really worried my chooks water will be the same.

[Busybird]

The chooks will come to no harm confined to the run. If you are worried then put a few 'objects of interest' such as a raised branch for them to perch on.

 

When you give treats is up to you. Giving only in the afternoon is recommended to maximise egg production as they need their pellets or mash for this. They will be fine with no treats but if you want to add interest to their diet you can give them earlier in the day so long as you don't overdo it. Too many treats could affect their health but this applies whenever you give them.

 

Add garden lime to the mud in their run to neutralise poos. Lots of folk on here also use Stalosan F to disinfect it.

 

There is nothing you can do to stop their water freezing in winter which is why it is so important to go out and break the ice on the drinker on cold mornings. By the time it gets this cold chicken wake up time is more civilised so this is not too much of an issue

[Hen Watch]

Hi Sarah, I got my hens in Spring 07 and was worried about my first winter. But actually it was OK.

 

Yes they free range less, but they don't seem to mind. I ensure they have a perch (broom handle through the bars), a dustbath and greens to eat. In deepest winter I have to make sure mine are shut in their run by school pickup time at 3pm, as when I get back by 4pm it is dark and the girls have taken themselves off to bed.

 

When mine are confined to the run all day, I will put in "green stuff" in the morning before I go out ie. brocolli stalks, cabbage etc. But I don't give them what I would call "treats" like corn, cooked pasta, rice etc until evening as I find that too many of these types of food reduces laying.

 

Last Summer I did the same as you, moved the eglu regularily. But come winter, we just stuck to one position on the lawn. Put 1" deep Auboise bedding straight on the grass (which died off), covered the run with shower curtain. Auboise soaks up poos amazingly and only needs changing once a month (and composts well). Then in Spring just re-seed one strip of grass whilst you move them round the rest of the garden as before. I intend to do the same this year.

 

As my routine is to shut the eglu door at night, I don't find it a problem renewing frozen water every morning as I open the eglu door. I don't recall any days last year when the water froze over during the day - but then I am in the mild South East.

[Janty]

They will be fine inside the run. You only have two so over-crowding won't be an issue. The only problem that I had last winter was that I was miserable. We had to keep ours inside the runs as we had bird flu restrictions. At one point I was only seeing them briefly in the mornings when I let them out of the cubes. They were all tucked up inside when I got home from school.

 

[Sandychick]

Mine will be in the run Mon - Fri once the clocks have changed at the end of the month. I am hoping that they get used to being in the run during the week and I will give them some extra time out at weekends. I think looking for eggs in the dark while they are asleep should be entertaining!

 

The only thing that does worry me is a very cold winter and the water freezing while I'm at work. It is unlikely as winters don't seem to be like that anymore. I don't want to be caught out though so I am thinking up a way of slowing the water freezing I have some sketchy ideas but I'll let you know if I come up any that might actually work!

[KAZAROO]

The chooks will come to no harm confined to the run. If you are worried then put a few 'objects of interest' such as a raised branch for them to perch on.

 

When you give treats is up to you. Giving only in the afternoon is recommended to maximise egg production as they need their pellets or mash for this. They will be fine with no treats but if you want to add interest to their diet you can give them earlier in the day so long as you don't overdo it. Too many treats could affect their health but this applies whenever you give them.

 

Add garden lime to the mud in their run to neutralise poos. Lots of folk on here also use Stalosan F to disinfect it.

 

There is nothing you can do to stop their water freezing in winter which is why it is so important to go out and break the ice on the drinker on cold mornings. By the time it gets this cold chicken wake up time is more civilised so this is not too much of an issue

 

You could put a tennis or ping-pong ball in the water? But you must still check it as they don't carry bats in winter time It just means that the water wont freeze solid....

[farmerJules]

The chooks will come to no harm confined to the run. If you are worried then put a few 'objects of interest' such as a raised branch for them to perch on.

 

When you give treats is up to you. Giving only in the afternoon is recommended to maximise egg production as they need their pellets or mash for this. They will be fine with no treats but if you want to add interest to their diet you can give them earlier in the day so long as you don't overdo it. Too many treats could affect their health but this applies whenever you give them.

 

Add garden lime to the mud in their run to neutralise poos. Lots of folk on here also use Stalosan F to disinfect it.

 

There is nothing you can do to stop their water freezing in winter which is why it is so important to go out and break the ice on the drinker on cold mornings. By the time it gets this cold chicken wake up time is more civilised so this is not too much of an issue

 

You could put a tennis or ping-pong ball in the water? But you must still check it as they don't carry bats in winter time It just means that the water wont freeze solid....

 

i seem to remember this method...albeit with a tennis ball....working a treat in my pond when i was a young un

[Barkisland]

Thanks I will try the ping pong ball method. The chooks may well be getting up at a more civilised hour, but I will still be going to work at the usual time ie; before light, and not home til after dark. I live in the Grim North, where on occasions we can have sub zero temps for several days at a stretch. Oooo, can hardly wait

[Egluntyne]

They will be fine in the run.

 

Why not cover it and put some Aubiose down for them to scratch in?

 

A bit of garden lime sprinkled onto the floor will freshen up the earth a bit and will help tone down any pooey whiffs.

 

I chuck half a cabbage into the run on days when mine can't free range, to give them something to do and to provide them with some greens.

 

You can buy a product to prevent bird baths freezing, but I don't fancy the chemical aspect of it for the hens so haven't used it.

 

I just trudge up the garden with a jug of hot water and pour it on top of the ice.

 

Mind you, now that I have relocated the hens to the top end of the garden, it is a bit of a schlep, especially at 6.30am in piggyjimjams so I might give the tennis ball idea a whirl.

 

I didn't find that ping pong balls stopped the water freezing.

[Sarah B]

Thanks for all your help, some interesting points here. My girls already have a perch and are covered so I guess all I need to worry about is the garden lime and possibly a layer of aubiose on the floor to make things more interesting.

 

Can you put the lime down and let them on the area straight away or do you have to wait for it to 'work' for a bit first?

 

I will try the ping pong balls in the glug. I'm guessing the tennis ball is for the super glugs?

 

Sarah

 

Oh forot to ask, do you get this garden lime at any garden centre? Is there anything I need to look out for or is it all pretty standard and how much do you put down? Thanks.

[stoice]

I just googled this...

http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?topGroup=138&subCat=0&subGroup=2178

 

Don't know if it's any good though

[Egluntyne]

Oh forot to ask, do you get this garden lime at any garden centre? Is there anything I need to look out for or is it all pretty standard and how much do you put down? Thanks.

 

Yep. Not very expensive.....it has to be GARDEN lime and not builders.

 

I just chuck a couple of handfuls about. Not very scientific.

[Mutrix Farmers]

The thought of the girls putting themselves to bed before I got home from work was bothering me too. They have greens most mornings so I will have to be disciplined and do this every day. They used to have a perch but didn't use it so I took it out. And I will put a dust bath in the run again.

 

I read somewhere that glycerine in the water stops it freezing, but I don't know how much to put in. Any ideas anyone?

[Sandychick]

I just googled this...

http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/product.aspx?topGroup=138&subCat=0&subGroup=2178

 

Don't know if it's any good though

 

Hmmmmm This looks quite good. I think I will try and find some info on the ingredients to make sure there isn't anything strange lurking in there, but claims to be chemical free. A bit pricey, but it would only be needed for the coldest days so would probably last the winter.

 

Thanks Stoice

[cathybc]

Mind you, now that I have relocated the hens to the top end of the garden, it is a bit of a schlep, especially at 6.30am in piggyjimjams so I might give the tennis ball idea a whirl. quote]

 

 

glad I am not the only one that wanders down the garden in my night stuff! Dare I ask what piggyjimjams are exactly ???

[Hen Watch]

I bought a huge 10kg tub of Westland Garden Lime Granules at the garden centre and was disappointed when I realized that they were granules and not powder form. So I still use it in the compost bin to reduce acidity of the chook poop but don't use it on the ground in case they eat it (although I'm not sure if they would come to any harm if they ate calcium/magnesium carbonate???).

 

I found 2 other brands of lime by googling but not sure if they are granules or powder (J Aurtur Bowers and Gem)

http://www.gonegardening.com/xq/ASP/dept_id.30207/pf_id.991152/referer.US7NA79JPS5K8MU93X3H34BA7JSC5MNE/qx/gg_shop/product.htm

http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=R-GGL&src=froogle

http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=260&pf_id=CF0003D

http://www.dobbies.co.uk/acatalog/westland-garden-lime-soil-improver-code-glgf35.html (This one is granular)

http://www.gardencentre.co.uk/product.asp?id=3401

[jools+6]

The thought of the girls putting themselves to bed before I got home from work was bothering me too. They have greens most mornings so I will have to be disciplined and do this every day. They used to have a perch but didn't use it so I took it out. And I will put a dust bath in the run again.

 

I read somewhere that glycerine in the water stops it freezing, but I don't know how much to put in. Any ideas anyone?

ask your chemist !!!

[Egluntyne]

I bought a huge 10kg tub of Westland Garden Lime Granules at the garden centre and was disappointed when I realized that they were granules and not powder form. So I still use it in the compost bin to reduce acidity of the chook poop but don't use it on the ground in case they eat it (although I'm not sure if they would come to any harm if they ate calcium/magnesium carbonate???).

 

I once bought the granules by mistake. I still used it and it did them no harm. They largely ignored it and as soon as it rained, it disappeared into the ground.

 

 

Maybe you could put it down and then water it in with a hosepipe.

[sandyhas3chucks]

this might be a useless suggestion,.... but what about those small dumpy wide necked flasks. might warm water put in there before you folks go to work at least ensure that there is liquid water longer?

no one got kind neighbours that could pop in with warm jug at noon?

Automatic cat feeder with hot water in base.

aren't there freezer blocks that boil to heat too. there are hand warmers but they are small. Then you could put under water containers.

(all will take some juggling with stands etc.

oh & electric dog bed! they are metal water proof. peck proof. water on top of towel on top of heat pad! will look for links .,

1.45 am goig to bed to think up more perhaps useless ideas!

[Egluntyne]

glad I am not the only one that wanders down the garden in my night stuff! Dare I ask what piggyjimjams are exactly ???

 

Pyjamas!

[cluckingmad]

hi all

 

My girls are approaching their first winter with us too, so this thread has been hugley helpful - do have a related q though...

 

My beloved OH is also fed up of the lawn having areas of poo and no grass, so this week-end my job is to move the cube and run over to a permenant patch of garden with an aubiose layer to cover the ground.. have heard a lot about deep littering methods, but don't know how they work, if you need to disinfect the run/litter deep to prevent any nasties or if they are ok for the chooks to remain on the same area for any length of time?

 

Sorry for the long question, but the girls are part of the family and we're all concerned abotu making sure they get the best care going (including the OH, who frets nightly about them getting cold...!)

 

Chook Towers

Maggie

Jemima

Peppercorn

Esme

[Sarah B]

hi all

 

My girls are approaching their first winter with us too, so this thread has been hugley helpful - do have a related q though...

 

My beloved OH is also fed up of the lawn having areas of poo and no grass, so this week-end my job is to move the cube and run over to a permenant patch of garden with an aubiose layer to cover the ground.. have heard a lot about deep littering methods, but don't know how they work, if you need to disinfect the run/litter deep to prevent any nasties or if they are ok for the chooks to remain on the same area for any length of time?

 

Sorry for the long question, but the girls are part of the family and we're all concerned abotu making sure they get the best care going (including the OH, who frets nightly about them getting cold...!)

 

Chook Towers

Maggie

Jemima

Peppercorn

Esme

 

I'm going to do this with my eglu and run on Saturday. From the replies above Im going to put some powdered garden lime down and about an inch of aubiose which needs to be changed about once a month. Not sure about deep littering for the cube run but I'm sure someone will know.

 

Sarah x

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

We moved our eglu & run to permanent area at the end of last month. Put playsand down (in case of spread) & B&Q 24" square slabs. This set-up needed 20 slabs. We've probably been a bit overgenerous with the aubiose as it was the first time and laid the lot!! ( about 3" deep) but the hennies seem to love it and dig around. They are left for the day 3 days a week, are inside for the greater part of the day on the other 4 days now the autumn is here and so far have been fine when confined to the run. Hope this is useful.

 

NB. Thanks go to other Omleteers for the excellent clear plastic cover solution. We've managed to get ours to completely cover the sides, using 3 sheets 6' long and plastic lawn edging wired into place.