What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Gashead]

Hi

 

Our new eglu and chickens arrived today! Yay!

 

I have a few questions that I am sure you wise people out there can help me with.

 

I have the pellets from Omlet which is obviously their main food and I understand that you only give vegs\greens in the afternoon. However I also have some corn. Do u use this like a treat and give in small doses (in the afternoon as well) or is it ok to mix this in with the pellets?

 

I have also bought some grit. How do u guys use this. Mixed in with the pellets or seperately? How often do u give it to them?

 

When do u worm your chickens? Would it be necessary to do this now?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Poached]

hi

 

 

 

1.yes you should only give it in small portoins or no

2.i give mine grit in a small saucer every day

 

 

 

 

josh

[The Dogmother]

Welcome to the forum Gashead and congratulations on getting your chooks.

 

I have the pellets from Omlet which is obviously their main food and I understand that you only give vegs\greens in the afternoon. However I also have some corn. Do u use this like a treat and give in small doses (in the afternoon as well) or is it ok to mix this in with the pellets?

 

You use the corn sparingly as a treat in the afternoon - it is very useful for training the chooks and getting them into the run at the end of the day. Too much though and they will get fat and not lay.

 

I have also bought some grit. How do u guys use this. Mixed in with the pellets or seperately? How often do u give it to them?

 

You should mix the mixed grit in with their food, some people like to serve it in a seperate pot, but it's not necessary.

 

When do u worm your chickens? Would it be necessary to do this now?

 

I would worm them once when they are new and not laying, then worm routinely twice a year and in between if you suspect that they might have worms. Flubenvet is best used for this.

 

These and loads of other questions are answered in the FAQ section of the forum - a good browse there will answer most queries

[The 3 D's]

Hi

 

1. Yes i only give mine their greens in the afternoon so they only eat the pellets in the morning.

 

2. I only give them a handful in the afternoon (they would eat it all day if they had the chance). I sometimes mix it in with their pellets as they are not keen on them, and a bit of corn makes them more attracted to it.

 

3. I mix my grit in with the pellets as mine would never really eat it seperate.

 

Hope you enjoy your chickens, they are great animals and you will soon want some more!

 

Matt

[Hen Watch]

Hi and congrats on the new arrivals.

 

1. Treats I give sparingly and only late in the day. Mixed Dried Corn - I personally don't mix it with pellets, but instead use it as a bribe to go back to the run. Half an eggcupful thrown in their run and they ALWAYS go back to their run after free ranging, never fails.

 

2. I have a separate grit pot (a plastic one you get from the pet shop for parrots) and they just help themselves.

 

 

3. I worm my chooks with flubenvet every 3 months, but if your girls are new and from Omlet I shouldn't think they will need worming straight away.

[Egluntyne]

 

I have the pellets from Omlet which is obviously their main food and I understand that you only give vegs\greens in the afternoon. However I also have some corn. Do u use this like a treat and give in small doses (in the afternoon as well) or is it ok to mix this in with the pellets?

I wouldn't mix it with the pellets. They are clever enough to extract only the corn and leave the pellets. The corn isn't as nutritious and should only be fed in small amounts as a treat.

 

I have also bought some grit. How do u guys use this. Mixed in with the pellets or seperately? How often do u give it to them?

 

I don't mix it with the pellets, I give it to them in an a separate pot. They know how much they need and sometimes will tank up on it massively.

 

When do u worm your chickens? Would it be necessary to do this now?

 

You shouldn't need to do it just yet. I'd wait till Spring. I worm mine routinely every 3 - months as they range on the same piece of land.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Can't add to the excellent advice above, but wanted to say congratulations on your new eglu and chickens . Have you decided on names yet?

[Gashead]

Hi

 

Thanks for the all great advice and congrats.

 

We have a gingernut and a pepperpot. They are called Rita and Mavis. Rita is the ginger one of course! This may need some explanation if you aren't a corrie fan!

 

Just another quick question. With vegs do you cut them up small about the size of pellets or do you just give them in any size and let them peck?

[C&T]

For mine, it depends on the veg.

 

At the moment they have a whole (small) raw cabbage hanging in their run, which they enjoy pecking at quite happily. Good as provides them with some greens, lasts for getting on for a week, and it gives them something to do when they are shut in their run and we're at work.

 

Other veg, like carrots, they will only eat if cooked and cut up... and Cauliflower leaves, well they have to be blanched... And Pea shoots have to held up so they can pull the leaves off, they don't like them on the ground... You get the picture...

 

For me, their tastes have also changed as they have got nearer to laying - so try them with whatever you have, and see if they like it! You'll soon find out what they like and don't like...

[Redwing]

 

2. I have a separate grit pot (a plastic one you get from the pet shop for parrots) and they just help themselves.

 

.

 

Hen Watch - I love the way you have got the shade over this pot, mine gets full of water so I will be nicking your clever idea!

 

Congratulations on your new chickens Gashead - you chose great names for them!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Great names (Corrie fan here!) .

 

Hen Watch - I love the way you have got the shade over this pot, mine gets full of water so I will be nicking your clever idea!

 

Another tip (I pinched from an Omleteer) is to heat up a skewer and melt about 3 or 4 small holes in the bottom of the pot. That way any water drains out but the grit doesn't .

[Julia W]

Just read through all these posts and found them very interesting. Loved the idea of the pot for the grit and immediately went out to see if I could buy one. Unfortunately I could only get hold of a stainless steel one so can't punch the holes in it (though I'm sure my husband will find a way if it fills up with water). My chickens arrived on 16th October and at least one of them has started laying which is very rewarding. I did keep chickens a good few years ago and keeping them again has made me realise life just isn't complete without chickens. Even on these very cold mornings, going up the garden to let them out into their run is such fun and I often go up and have a chat with them. No I'm not mad, I just love my chickens like all of you out there.

[Falkor]

 

2. I have a separate grit pot (a plastic one you get from the pet shop for parrots) and they just help themselves.

 

 

Why didn`t I think of this!??!! It is so obvious!

 

I went straight out to the pet shop and it was 99p well spent. It is in the dry under the shade, the ladies won`t do a tap dance in it and send it flying and doesn`t take up run floor space.

 

Hen Watch u r a genius!

[Plum]

I just tied a flower pot to the run for the grit and put a couple of stones in the bottom so the grit doesnt drop out.