CannyCat Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I've just ordered my eglu (and I'm super-dooper excited, despite the "HOW MUCH?!" comments from most of my family ) Not sure when it's coming yet, but the magic 'submit' button has sparked a few questions - 1) Is it ok to feed the chickens a mix of 50% layers pellets and 50% corn? (what do you feed them?) A girl at work feeds hers 100% corn, but the omlet website advertises corn as more of a treat than a staple. 2) How much do you feed them in the way of green veggies, and do they (e.g. broccolli) need to be cooked? 3) What supplies do I need to get in, apart from straw for bedding? (I have ordered a bag of food from Omlet to get me started, and will buy from our local farm supplies shop in future... which I pass on the way to my mum's house where I can pick all the snails off her garden wall and take them home for the chooks, muah ha ha!). 4) My chicken run will be in one place for the majority of the time (my lawns not big enough to move it round all the time), and they'll be in the run a lot because I work full time. So: - How much grit do I need to give them? - How much baked shell do I need to give them for calcium? (how long do you bake the shells for?) 5) Do I need to 'worm' the chickens regularly, or just when they have worms?! Thats all I can think of for now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I've just ordered my eglu (and I'm super-dooper excited, despite the "HOW MUCH?!" comments from most of my family ) Not sure when it's coming yet, but the magic 'submit' button has sparked a few questions - 1) Is it ok to feed the chickens a mix of 50% layers pellets and 50% corn? (what do you feed them?) A girl at work feeds hers 100% corn, but the omlet website advertises corn as more of a treat than a staple. All advice that I've seen recommends a diet of mainly pellets/mash with treats in the afternoon only of corn or veggies etc 2) How much do you feed them in the way of green veggies, and do they (e.g. broccolli) need to be cooked? I give them veg in the afternoon, the only ones you need to cook are potatoes and their peelings. I just string up a few stalks and watch them peck and jump for them 3) What supplies do I need to get in, apart from straw for bedding? (I have ordered a bag of food from Omlet to get me started, and will buy from our local farm supplies shop in future... which I pass on the way to my mum's house where I can pick all the snails off her garden wall and take them home for the chooks, muah ha ha!). That depends on what you ae putting your run on. I use Aubiose in the run, nest and the poo tray. I also use garlic powder in the food. 4) My chicken run will be in one place for the majority of the time (my lawns not big enough to move it round all the time), and they'll be in the run a lot because I work full time. So: - How much grit do I need to give them? - How much baked shell do I need to give them for calcium? (how long do you bake the shells for?) That gives me the answer to my question above I would use Aubiose (from most feed/horse stuff suppliers) on the floor of the run, and bake, then crush up their eggshells for a calcium supplement and add a bit of bird grit too to help with their digestion. 5) Do I need to 'worm' the chickens regularly, or just when they have worms?! It's not easy to tell when they have worms, so most people do it every 6 months Thats all I can think of for now... I hope that these answer most of your questions cannycat, but feel free to ask more as they come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I feed mine 100% organic layers pellets... with a few treats in the late afternoon once I know they have eaten lots of pellets.... Basically the pellets contain everything your chicken needs to lay eggs. Nothing else required, but feeding the odd treat is fun! Mine get raw sweetcorn: A cob is fantastic, sometimes some cabbage leaves strung up, they love fruit, like grapes, tomatoes etc. Supplies: Not much: Lots of us now use Aubiose instead of straw...its a giant bale which you can buy from a horse type shop. It dries out the poos and lessens smell. Just sprinkle it in the tray and heap some up in the nest box. Straw is fine though...Mine ate it and threw it out all the time In theory they will get grit from the soil, but you might like to put a bowl of grit/oyster shell out for them.... Mine have got some but they never touch it! - they won't eat more than they need. You can stick their egg shells in the oven for 10 minutes or so and smash them up and add them to the feed if you like. Worming is a tricky issue as we are mainly divided on the subject: I have never womed mine, but use Diatom in the Eglu, others worm regularly. You'll perhaps have to take a look at the worming sticky.... Phew! Lots of great questions! Don't be embarrassed about asking: We were all new owners once! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Hey Clare Are we reading from the same book here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Must be Annie! Are we getting that predictable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 I'll get some aboise instead of straw, then. It wont go foisty if I store it in the garage, will it? And grit goes in a seperate bowl? What's Diatom? Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Aubiose should be ok as long as the garage is dry. It will last for ages! You can put grit in with their pellets, but I like to see if they have eaten any easily. Diatom: look here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I'll get some aboise instead of straw, then. It wont go foisty if I store it in the garage, will it? The Aubiose will be fine so long as it's kept dry - mine is kept in the shed. And grit goes in a seperate bowl? You can mix it with the food if you like What's Diatom? It's an organic 'cure-all', which aids digestion, can be dusted on for lice and mites. Information here Now stocked in the Omlet shop. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Bloomin' heck Annie, we make a great double act! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted August 21, 2006 Author Share Posted August 21, 2006 Thanks tonnes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 Bloomin' heck Annie, we make a great double act! Did I hear an echo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 21, 2006 Share Posted August 21, 2006 I've just ordered my eglu (and I'm super-dooper excited, despite the "HOW MUCH?!" comments from most of my family ) Not sure when it's coming yet, but the magic 'submit' button has sparked a few questions - 1) Is it ok to feed the chickens a mix of 50% layers pellets and 50% corn? (what do you feed them?) A girl at work feeds hers 100% corn, but the omlet website advertises corn as more of a treat than a staple. I feed mine 66% layers pellets and 33% corn in the morning. With a teaspoon of grit for each of the hens in the morning. In the evening I feed them corn too, not too much though.ONLY FEED THEM CORN ONCE THEY'VE STARTED TO LAY. 2) How much do you feed them in the way of green veggies, and do they (e.g. broccolli) need to be cooked? Brocolli needs cooking as it's quite hard. We tend to feed them leftovers in the greens department and they squabble for them in the evening as we put them in the open topped food composter. Potatoes also need cooking too. 3) What supplies do I need to get in, apart from straw for bedding? (I have ordered a bag of food from Omlet to get me started, and will buy from our local farm supplies shop in future... which I pass on the way to my mum's house where I can pick all the snails off her garden wall and take them home for the chooks, muah ha ha!). I get my supplies from Mole Valley. You need layer's mash/pellets. Corn if you intend to feed them it. Grit, and nesting material-we bought a huge back of wood shavings and mix them with shredded paper. 4) My chicken run will be in one place for the majority of the time (my lawns not big enough to move it round all the time), and they'll be in the run a lot because I work full time. So: - How much grit do I need to give them? - How much baked shell do I need to give them for calcium? (how long do you bake the shells for?) I'd suggest you keep them on a barked area if they're not going to be moved around a lot. I give mine about a teaspoon of grit each-as yours aren't free ranging give them 2 teaspoons. 5) Do I need to 'worm' the chickens regularly, or just when they have worms?! I've not actually wormed mine Thats all I can think of for now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
