Prolapsed vent - am I getting it right?

[mictogirl]

Just got my girls today and already I have questions, despite having read a lot on this forum already - doh! Could anyone help answer the following?

 

1) Not sure they've ever been wormed - can you tell me where I can get some Flubenvet (is that what it's called?) ?

 

2) I bought a big bag of layers pellets for them, but have also been given a big feed bin's worth from the couple we got them from. My bag says best before mid-December, does this mean I should throw it away if the hens don't get through it by then? Or is it like human food, where it doesn't mean it's going to poison them or anything, just that it might not be as nutritious? I don't want to waste food, but then I don't want anything bad to happen to the hens either!

 

3) What do you use in the nest box and around the perch? I've been given sawdust and straw and have made up their house the way they are used to it apparently - sawdust and straw in the nest box and just some sawdust under the perch, I guess to catch poo?

When this runs out, should I look into using something like Auboise / Hemcore etc instead? Or is that stuff only for the bottom of runs etc? I'm confused.

 

4) How do you pronounce Auboise?? Is it 'Awe-boys'? I don't want to look an idiot when I ask for it at the horse feed place

 

5) I am trying to convince hubby we need some of the movable netting from Omlet to protect the veg patch next year but he's having none of it and want to build some sort of permanent fence around the raised beds instead. Can any of you wax lyrical about why the netting is so good so I can use your arguments to convince my other half??

 

I'm sure there were more questions, I may be back....

 

Thanks in advance for your help! It was so cute watching them put themselves to bed (in the snow!) earlier after a lovely afternoon's chickening around and I shall be eating our first egg for my breakfast tomorrow. It's all so exciting

 

Laura

x

[atsw]

Hi Laura and welcome to the wonderful world of chicken keeping . I can't answer the first of your four questions because we have an Eglu, but don't worry, there's loads of very Knowledgeable people here, so someone will be along in no time who can.

 

However, with regard to question 5, about the movable fencing, you'll certainly need something, if your prize veg or spring bulbs are not protected they will be eaten or dug up, make no mistake .

 

We got wire fencing from Wickes (the builders) and some green posts from Homebase. Works well and we can protect different parts of the garden, depending on what needs to be kept out of harms way. At the moment we're using it to keep the girls off the patio (nothing worse than stepping out in the early hours to open up the Eglu door with slippers on your feet and stepping in something squidgy ). Pictures here show how we control where the chooks can and can't go.

 

Oh, and don't plan to do anything tomorrow, you'll spend the whole day watching your new editions .

 

Andrew

[Redwing]

Great pics Andrew

 

Hi Laura, I can answer some of your queries.

 

Aubiose - there was recent debate on how this is pronounced, general concensus was oh - bee - ose but someone is bound to disagree! (as someone who can speak a bit of french this goes against what I personally think but it seems to be recognised if you mention it in a horsey shop so why rock the boat? )

 

I used to use this in the nestbox and under the roosting bars and it is very good. I use aubiose mixed with woodchips in the run and lots of people use aubiose only with great sucess - if you use it in the run make sure the run is covered as it absorbs lots of water!

 

Sawdust takes ages to compost and aubiose composts very quickly so that may swing it for you. Sawdust is also dusty so I guess it isn't a great choice, if you don't move to aubiose perhaps try dust extracted woodshavings instead.

 

I bought some Omlet netting today, its still rolled up but will be christened tomorrow, I have seen it in Christian's garden and it looked great, seemed well made and sturdy and was easily moved so that sold it to me!

 

Congrats on your new chickens and welcome to the forum

[smanners]

Hi Laura,

 

The Omlet netting is second best thing after a cube! Our chooks dug up all our snowdrop bulbs to create their dust baths within a week of getting them before we got the netting.

Now we decide where they wander and have partitioned a patch of garden for them to free range in. It's so easy to use and can be moved soooo easily. We have one naughty hen who still gets out by flying over though but we don't really mind that.

I got Flubenvet easily on line from http://www.wormers.co.uk or petmed but you can google 'poultry wormers' and search around for best buy.

 

Haven't used aubiose yet so can't answer that question but I have straw in the nesting box

Good luck with your new additions and watch out chickens are very addictive

[Egg Lou]

I think most have been answered for you but just in case I'll pop my two pence worth in

 

Just got my girls today and already I have questions, despite having read a lot on this forum already - doh! Could anyone help answer the following?

 

1) Not sure they've ever been wormed - can you tell me where I can get some Flubenvet (is that what it's called?) ?

 

Petcare or Hyperdrug can supply this but if you have problems pm me your address I'll pop some in the post if it helps as have half a pot and it lasts ages!

 

2) I bought a big bag of layers pellets for them, but have also been given a big feed bin's worth from the couple we got them from. My bag says best before mid-December, does this mean I should throw it away if the hens don't get through it by then? Or is it like human food, where it doesn't mean it's going to poison them or anything, just that it might not be as nutritious? I don't want to waste food, but then I don't want anything bad to happen to the hens either!

 

Personally I think you could take a sensible view on this considering price of feed at the moment.. if the feed doesn't smell musty or is damp in any way then you should be ok to use for a while past sell by date although the nutritional value may be impaired... have a good sniff but if in doubt throw

 

3) What do you use in the nest box and around the perch? I've been given sawdust and straw and have made up their house the way they are used to it apparently - sawdust and straw in the nest box and just some sawdust under the perch, I guess to catch poo?

When this runs out, should I look into using something like Auboise / Hemcore etc instead? Or is that stuff only for the bottom of runs etc? I'm confused.

 

Auboise! fab stuff.. I use in run, in poo trays and nestbox mixed with shavings

 

4) How do you pronounce Auboise?? Is it 'Awe-boys'? I don't want to look an idiot when I ask for it at the horse feed place

 

Already answered as I would

 

5) I am trying to convince hubby we need some of the movable netting from Omlet to protect the veg patch next year but he's having none of it and want to build some sort of permanent fence around the raised beds instead. Can any of you wax lyrical about why the netting is so good so I can use your arguments to convince my other half??

 

Sorry don't have any but would love some!

 

I'm sure there were more questions, I may be back....

 

Thanks in advance for your help! It was so cute watching them put themselves to bed (in the snow!) earlier after a lovely afternoon's chickening around and I shall be eating our first egg for my breakfast tomorrow. It's all so exciting

 

Laura

x

 

Congratulations on your new additions.. they will keep you very busy over the next few weeks

[Sandychick]

4) How do you pronounce Auboise?? Is it 'Awe-boys'? I don't want to look an idiot when I ask for it at the horse feed place

 

I still can't attempt to pronounce this. I usually ask for "a bale of the stuff that's like Hemcore, but I can't pronounce it and it begins with an 'A' " I'm sure they think I'm a bit dim!

 

I think the feed will probably be ok as long as it is kept dry etc. If it gets a bit old but still looks and smells ok, I would use it to make pellet porrage (add some water for a mushy mess that they love). I hate to throw anything away!

 

Have fun with them

[jill the potter]

Hi, I'm a relative newbie myself and I dont think anyone on here will think your questions are daft - they've all been there!!!

 

I use dust extracted sawdust from Tesco (value range) and shredded paper in the next box. At the moment the egu is still on the grass (what's left of it!) but we plan to move them soon to another part of the garden and put them on hemcore (english auboise).

 

With regard to fencing I saw a thread on here recently about an unfortunate incident where a chicken died when it got stuck in the 'omlet' netting, so I would check that out before you decide. I use some plastic netting from B&Q about £20 for a 1.5 x 6 m roll tied to some 1"x1" stakes which means I can move it around. What you have to be careful about is 'laddering' when they go from plant pot to table to over the fence! A particular favourite is if you put the eglu too close to the fence, then it's a doddle to go from top of eglu to ..............which mine have done on more than one occasion!!! They may have small brains but they know how to use them!!!

[Egluntyne]

Just got my girls today and already I have questions, despite having read a lot on this forum already - doh! Could anyone help answer the following?

 

1) Not sure they've ever been wormed - can you tell me where I can get some Flubenvet (is that what it's called?) ?

 

You can get Flubenvet online. Am a bit confused...your signature says ex-batts....if they are newly rescued they shouldn't need worming just yet as they won't have spent time outdoors and therefore won't have had the opportunity to pick up any internal parasites

 

2) I bought a big bag of layers pellets for them, but have also been given a big feed bin's worth from the couple we got them from. My bag says best before mid-December, does this mean I should throw it away if the hens don't get through it by then? Or is it like human food, where it doesn't mean it's going to poison them or anything, just that it might not be as nutritious? I don't want to waste food, but then I don't want anything bad to happen to the hens either!

It won't do them any harm if it is a little past its "best before" date, but the vitamin and mineral content might deteriorate a little. Why not use it to make them a warming porridge on a cold morning rather than throw it away?

 

3) What do you use in the nest box and around the perch? I've been given sawdust and straw and have made up their house the way they are used to it apparently - sawdust and straw in the nest box and just some sawdust under the perch, I guess to catch poo?

When this runs out, should I look into using something like Auboise / Hemcore etc instead? Or is that stuff only for the bottom of runs etc? I'm confused.

 

I never use anything but Aubiose, but it is down to personal preference.

 

4) How do you pronounce Auboise?? Is it 'Awe-boys'? I don't want to look an idiot when I ask for it at the horse feed place

 

Oh beeose

 

5) I am trying to convince hubby we need some of the movable netting from Omlet to protect the veg patch next year but he's having none of it and want to build some sort of permanent fence around the raised beds instead. Can any of you wax lyrical about why the netting is so good so I can use your arguments to convince my other half??

 

Your girls will trash a vegetable bed in minutes and it is a heartbreaking event after all your hard work Much better to have the netting.

 

I'm sure there were more questions, I may be back....

 

Thanks in advance for your help! It was so cute watching them put themselves to bed (in the snow!) earlier after a lovely afternoon's chickening around and I shall be eating our first egg for my breakfast tomorrow. It's all so exciting

 

Laura

x

 

Congratulations and enjoy your chooks.

[Hen Watch]

1) Got my flubenvet online from Petmeds

2) I personally would still use the pellets

3) I use Aubiose one inch deep on the run floor, in the nestbox and with the poo tray I line it with newspaper and sprinkle a handful of Auboise on top, it really makes a difference.

4) Same as Egluntine says but in my local horse shop it is emphasis on the "O". Only last week I asked for it as you would pronounce it in French, they looked completely blank, and then said "oh you mean oh..bee..OHH..ze"

 

5) I can wax lyrical about Omlet netting all day long if you like. I priced up similar on other online sites and Omlet was roughly the same, but I decided on Omlet stuff as it is green and blends in with the garden and comes with extra poles which you will need. Other cheaper versions online may be orange and have bare minimum of poles.

 

I do not electrify mine, so I cut my 25m netting up. I have it as 2 sides of a square with a gap for a gate which is just expanding trellis proped up with the dustbin. The other 2 sides of the square are my fences. I find the movability great as my lot live in 3 different areas of the garden depending on the time of year.

 

I used to protect my raised veg plots but it was a real hassle getting into them to actually garden. So now the chooks just live in their own area of garden away from the veg plots in the Summer, and then now in Winter I move them so they live ON the veg plots and fertilse and scratch them over for me.

 

Green netting is easy on the eye - not invisible but close.

 

This is my "gate". I knocked 2 wooden stakes either side to give the expanding trellis something solid to rest against. However, I do use either the dustbin or garden chairs in front of it to stop it falling over, not pretty, but functional.

 

The Omlet netting has smaller holes at the bottom than the top. They do sometimes poke their heads right through to eat the grass on the other side, but always manage to back out unharmed and have never got through it. But I would say, you do need to buy cheap tent pegs to secure the netting to the ground, or they will get under it.

Here are my "prisoners" behind their netting.

[mostin]

I "adore" the omlet netting. Even though OH has already made a squirell and rabbit proof cage around the veg plot which will keep my naughty girls out, we use omlet netting too. I use it as we move the eglu every week around the garden and give them a different area of grass to trash .

 

I am also working on OH as I want to buy another length to fence of bits of my borders which they have been happily p[laying in over the winter but I don't want want them wrecking all my bulbs as they come up in the spring.

 

Because it's green, I don't notice it, and it's light enough that I can move it myself.

 

I have to use tent pegs in between poles though as my girl Shirley is an expert at tunneling underneath the net if it's too loose .

[KAZAROO]

Seriously consider the move-able stuff! I currently have no grass and not a lot left on the top end of the yard! 6 hens made short work of about 40ft.... especially in the wet weather!

 

5) I am trying to convince hubby we need some of the movable netting from Omlet to protect the veg patch next year but he's having none of it and want to build some sort of permanent fence around the raised beds instead. Can any of you wax lyrical about why the netting is so good so I can use your arguments to convince my other half??

[mictogirl]

Thanks everyone for your useful advice!

 

Hen Watch - the pics of your netting are great, thank you - since I logged on earlier on hubby's computer and left the page open hopefully he'll have a read of everything himself. In the less than 48 hrs since we've had them, he's already gone from 'they'll be fine in just the run under the ark, they don't need any more room' to drawing diagrams of how he might convert our old garden shed into a larger, weather proof run for them The snow might have had something to do with it, but I think he's been staring out of the window at them as much as I have

 

Egg count so far = 4

 

And Egluntine - they ARE ex-batts, but we got them from someone who rescued them about 6 months ago so they have been outside a while and have grown all their feathers back etc. I have no idea about worming but I guess I'd probably better do it to be on the safe side, is that right?

[atsw]

... hubby's been staring out of the window at them as much as I have

Ha, been there, done that, now more besotted with the chooks than my wife is

 

I have no idea about worming but I guess I'd probably better do it to be on the safe side, is that right?

We use Verm-X for our girls. Seems to work (not seen any signs of worms in any of our flock). Easy to administer, just a little sprinkle on their food for three morning running each month. We always try to do the 1st weekend of the month, makes it easy to remember.

 

You can get the stuff from the Omlet Shop (see here)

 

Andrew