Single hen

[sunshinesupernova]

Somehow, a managed to fall onto my omlet order and is coming next week

 

Wonder how that happened ?

 

Been away looking at more chooks today and have reserved for collection next week :

 

blue orpington

black cochin

partridge cochin

2 x cream legbars

2 x light sussex hybrids

 

All are pol. The cochins and orp have newly started and the rest should be anytime.

 

Fell in love with the large fowl and their feathery feet and fluffy bloomers. Iknow they don't produce so many eggs - but it isn't JUST about eggs is it.

[Helly Welly]

Well done sunshine, you certainly won't regret it. Welcome to the madhouse, i mean forum.

[sunshinesupernova]

thank you

 

can someone help me with a shopping list ?

 

grit

layers pellets

louse / mite powder

bedding

 

anything else I need now for getting started with ?

[Egluntyne]

Congratulations.

 

I would get a metal bin for storing pellets and some luggage cords to hold the lid in place.

[Christian]

Congratulations, a nice mixture of fluffy bums

[Helly Welly]

I wouldn't buy a whole load of stuff at first, you'll build up stuff over time that you need. If you buy it all now, you might end up not using something. One thing to add would be some grapes or tinned sweetcorn so that you can begin to tame your girls and get them used to you. And make sure your camera is ready.

[sunshinesupernova]

metal dustbin in the shed that used to be used for rabbit food - so that one isnt a problem. Good heavy rubber lid.

 

Thanks for that - hadnt given food storage a thought !

 

Grapes and sweetcorn I wouldnt have guessd either. What other fruit veggies do chickens like ?

[Chicky]

I give my hens cucumber, pepper and lettece. They get so excited when I take them some food out. They tend to chase me down the garden!!!

[Hen Watch]

What a lovely selection of chickens, bet you can't wait.

 

Veggies/fruit - my lot eat practically anything (not citrus or raw potato though). And I have found that (just like children) their tastes have changed in the 2 years I've had them. At first they never touched lettuce or raw carrot peelings and would only eat cooked carrot. Now they devour carrot peelings and eat hubbie's lettuce patch!!!! Silly things. Some (but not all) suggestions on here:

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=12659&view=unread#unread

 

Don't go mad buying stuff. What you've suggested sounds good. Get the rest later or when you need it. If you can get "Mixed" Poultry Grit then that's got added soluable shell (for calcium and hard eggs) but normal grit alone will be OK as calcium will be in their feed.

 

Bedding - I recomend Auboise or Hemcore horse bedding (need to keep it dry though).

 

If you are at the horsey shop getting bedding, ask them for some Garlic Powder - not essential - but a spoonful in their feed makes poops less smelly.

[Barkisland]

Mine love apples - the ex batts would have your hand off for a piece of apple

[Helly Welly]

We hang up apples by their stalks in the run, this will give your girls something to do until you can let them out. Because the apples swing all over the place, it takes them a while to devour them and all the girls get a go.

[sunshinesupernova]

I went and got some layers pellets and oyster grit tonight. Will that do ????

 

No problem with horsey stuff ( got 4 of those) - but they live outside. Plenty garlic powder around though. ANyone use Bed-Down Excell as bedding. It's chopped straw mixed with dst extracted shavings. Very absorbant and also treated with an antibacterial stuff. Smells like oranges - gorgeous stuff. I thought that might suit the chooks.

 

We don't have any paving and I intend putting the cube on the grass - which currently looks like a field. If needed I can move them to the field 3 miles down the road at a later date and they can always help dig over my veggie patch. They would need to stay in a run down there though - and the intention is that they can free range in our garden.

 

The garden is due a total overhaul this year anyway - so at the moment it really doesnt matter what they do... It's mainly grass. The borders have been a mess since we moved here and I fancy making the back half of the garden into "chicken land" and the other half the garden with some lawn and potential play / bbq area. I thought I could seperate the two sections by hedge and fence.

 

We currently have 6ft high perimeter fence - so hopefully they'll stay in our garden....

[Cooks]

yes I used Bed-Down Excell when I first got the girls, but I didn't find it lasted that well, not compared to the Aubiose/Hemcore type bedding but it's a personal choice thing, it is a lot cheaper though.

[sunshinesupernova]

do you only use the hemcore / auboise in the nest box or also on the floor of the litter trays ?

 

I was thinking of using Bed Down Excell all round as they stock that locally and was planning on putting it in litter trays too as we don't get any newspapers.

 

Auboise is VERY absorbant - but I figured the Bed Down Excell might stop them smelling.

 

How often do you clean out ?

[Cooks]

I have a walk in run so I used the bed down all around the walk in run, in the nest box, but lined poop tray with newspaper.

 

Now I use aubiose or Hemcore depending on what is in stock at the time and do the same except I also add this to the poop trays.

 

I would say cleaning out would really depend on the weather but I did notice that auibiose was far better and made cleaning out needing to be done less frequently, as I poop pick ans freshen up in the walk in very easily with the auibiose.

[Janty]

 

Been away looking at more chooks today and have reserved for collection next week :

 

blue orpington

black cochin

partridge cochin

2 x cream legbars

2 x light sussex hybrids

 

All are pol. The cochins and orp have newly started and the rest should be anytime.

 

Fell in love with the large fowl and their feathery feet and fluffy bloomers. Iknow they don't produce so many eggs - but it isn't JUST about eggs is it.

 

I know what you mean (see below) about falling in love with the large fowl with feathery feet and fluffy bloomers...me too!

 

Brahmas are also gorgeous.

 

 

Where have you ordered them from? And where in Norfolk are you as we are neighbours?

 

 

Jan

[sunshinesupernova]

they're VERY local..... 4.4miles from my front door (so satnav says). The hybrids are coming from further away (18 miles).... as I didn't take to the doorstep hybrids.

 

I live in Bunwell - NR16

 

You'd be welcome to come and visit if you like.....

[Janty]

Same here. Shame you missed our Omlet get together at our house on 15th Feb.

[Hen Watch]

do you only use the hemcore / auboise in the nest box or also on the floor of the litter trays ?

 

I use Auboise in the nestbox, a handfull scattered in the poop tray on top of a sheet of newspaper, AND one inch deep on the run floor. (Must cover the run to keep it dry). The stuff in the run stays down for 1 month.

 

Mind you, in Summer on grass you can move the run around and may not need it. But in winter with the mud and rain I find Auboise on the run floor is great since they are in the run more often and it soaks up poops fantastically well.

 

[sunshinesupernova]

Janty - wasn't a forum member back then - so definately too late. Never mind!

 

We don't have an paving or tarmac here -s o no chance of having run on slabs. Plenty o grass for the moment... .so I'll just need to keep moving it. I was thinking of using 25mm thick rubber stable mats as a base if I need too - given I have a couple spare. I could put Aubiose on top of that if I need to

 

If chooks strat really trashing the garden, they'll need to go down the field and I'll get a run extension as they wont be able o free-range there - but they can dig over my vegetable plot !