geesus1 Posted July 23, 2006 Share Posted July 23, 2006 simple as that- soo much info on this site can i just have the quick list- ie straw or hay (which type), where do i get the grit from etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted July 23, 2006 Share Posted July 23, 2006 I get my grit from my local feed merchant. I've only ever bought the one bag and it was very cheap, about £5 for enough to last almost 18 months!. Have you decided what to do with the run area yet? Straw is better than hay as I think there can be problems with then eating hay and it being to fibreous to get broken down in the crop. I just get the stuff from the local pet shop, I guess dust extracted stuff is the best but I always forget to check. Just being nosey what colour Eglu did you go for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geesus1 Posted July 23, 2006 Author Share Posted July 23, 2006 green eglu re- where putting- going for grass first with by what looks like the ideological idea of moving it about, our lawn is no means prestine- and i am not bothered that half of it will be in bad shape, if it all goes wrong- i quite like the chicken wire under the run idea- we'll see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted July 23, 2006 Share Posted July 23, 2006 Make sure you buy Barley straw. It's not dusty like the rest. Other people use shredded newspaper, Aubiose (from horse sort of shops: Stops the poo from smelling), or nothing! Mine used to turf out the straw and paper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted July 23, 2006 Share Posted July 23, 2006 Have you got Omlet chickens coming on Tuesday too? If you have, I guess you'll get some feed with them. If not - you'll need some chicken food. Growers or layers, depending on chickens age, and pellets or mash depending on preference. In due course you'll need other things too, but foods pretty important for day 1! (And water of course!) If they're young chickens you may not even need to line the nest yet (some people never do), and newspaper is fine for the poo tray. So straw isn't essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geesus1 Posted July 23, 2006 Author Share Posted July 23, 2006 chickens coming as well all very new to this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted July 23, 2006 Share Posted July 23, 2006 Your chickens will appreciate a dustbath area in the run. A shallow tray eg cat litter tray filled with dry compost or dry play sand. They will make their own dustbath if they are allowed to free range in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geesus1 Posted July 25, 2006 Author Share Posted July 25, 2006 Ant & Dec arrived today at 8.30 shame as i wanted to be around today- but alas I owe, so off to work I go. Expect the panic around 6pm tonight steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Cooks Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 I did nothing the day my girls arrived! Just sat in the garden and watched them......which is what I've been doing since! Had mine 10 days now and love them to bits - even though we're still making friends. Hope you have fun, and if you need any advice this is the place to get it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 Don't forget the water. Richard T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parmaviolet Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 Something that is very handy is the snack/treat. June and Audrey loved their run on the first day we got them, but they were a bit confused at bedtime (they'll want to go bedbyes when the light starts to go, about 9.15ish here) and they just stood around not knowing what to do. Of course, they'd never slept in an Eglu before, so didn't realise that that's where their bed was. We used some sultanas to entice them in. I put my hand through the egg port and put a couple just inside the door of the eglu. This did the trick. You could use raisins/sultanas, sweetcorn, a bit of cooked pasta etc, if you have the same problem. They soon got the hang of it and went straight in on the second night. These days they take themselves of to bed at the right time, even when we have friends over for BBQs with music and all the outdoor lighting on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geesus1 Posted July 25, 2006 Author Share Posted July 25, 2006 came home first egg waiting fantastic !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 How cool is that well done Ant and dec karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
