Single hen

[SillyClucker]

Thought I'd run this by you guys, your comments on 14. please!

 

Clicky

[Egluntyne]

Opinions differ.

 

This one seems to be the latest, along with flint grit, not mixed poultry grit.

 

I would go with whatever works for you.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Nice and easy to read and quite entertaining but I don't like the oystershell comment . That's what my girls get .

 

Also, I really don't like the little comment at the bottom .....

 

We don’t like forums (where every Tom, Dick or Martha proceed to make guesses, or recite the many myths that surround us).

[Chook n Boo Mum]

In his defence, the chap who owns SPR is extremely knowledgeable about all things chook. He is very happy to answer any questions you may have either in person or on the phone, a friend of mine has even had him visit her house to check on her hens.

 

Like everything, opinions change as time goes on, and advice is just that - advice not set in stone & most people can make their own judgements once it has been offered.

 

I do agree with ANH re the forum comment; if it wasn't for this forum, I would be in the dark about all sorts of matters...not just chook!!

 

Sha x

[mostin]

Interesting reading.

 

Don't like the forum comment .

 

I wonder if there is any proof anywhere of this new research. As a scientist I always like to see the evidence and read the papers .

[jomaxsmith]

I think poultry centre people can be very anti Forums as they often only hear the horror stories. The chicken guru at my local poultry centre (Thornes) regularly trots out his mantra during talks of 'don't ask for advice on the internet' based on one of their customers who was advised on an internet forum to dose her hens with salt for some problem or other.

 

Generally, though, that page does give some interesting and useful information. I was surprised at having the houses light as I thought they needed to be dark to avoid pecking and encourage roosting. The oystershell thing I'd heard, not in that detail but more that it was not necessary and proper hen grit was the right thing to give.

 

Jo

[miffy]

Interesting link, thanks!!

I am paticularly interested in 4, i didnt know about the height issue . Is that true about layers pellets?? I have always given ours layers pellets and am worried that may be why our girls are pecking and feather pulling so much.

[The Dogmother]

It's the first time I've ever had that one

 

There's a new idea or theory every week it seems

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'd forgotten about the layers pellets comment . Mine have had nowt but that for 18 months and have never had a cross word .

[jomaxsmith]

Is that true about layers pellets?? I have always given ours layers pellets and am worried that may be why our girls are pecking and feather pulling so much.

 

I've heard that before, and it's the advice given by my local poultry centre - using mash keeps them occupied as it takes much longer to eat than pellets. Mine have always been on mash so I've no experience of pellets, but I've never had pecking/boredom problems (touch wood, )

 

Jo

[The Dogmother]

Hmmm, another daft one ANH - if your hens are inclined to peck each other, it's usually because they are either bored or over crowded. The recommended solutions are to reduce the head count and to give them distractions like pecka blocks and hanging cabbages.

 

Mash or meal does keep them busier, but pellets don't make them peck... unfortunate wording I feel.

[SillyClucker]

Interesting replys!

 

Frankly I don't think enough is known about chicken keeping because even the general vets struggle with general diagnosis. My opinion on forums is that they are a good practical knowledege base but a concensus should be taken before a decision is made on treatment or husbandry. Thing is about chickens is that symptoms with respect to ailments can often be misinterpreted and could be normal chicken behavior.

 

If you look at the whole website the chap who set up SPR must have a great deal of knowledge with his level of experience. At the end of the day it is up to the individual to judge what is right and what is wrong. As a chicken keeper I often feel a little at odds when things go wrong and any information is better than nought!

[Hen Watch]

Interesting his views on pellets and crushed egg shells..... mine get both !

 

But then the other info is very useful for beginners. He clearly knows his stuff.

 

I suppose "non blogging" folk may be wary of using forums. Although I have to say that everything I know about chickens has come from this forum alone and also the experience of keeping them.

 

The Chicken Clinic on this website does say :"advice given in this section of the forum is based on the experience of forum members and what they have learnt from books, websites and other people. It should not be regarded as professional veterinary advice"

and I have to say that sometimes I have posted what has worked for me and then seen more useful posts on the same thread as to what has worked for others. It helps me and I am constantly learning.

[redfrock]

I must admit David from SPR centre is extremely helpful and knowledgable. We got into conversation via email recently after I had to ask him about our order (we get our marriages premixed with flubenvet from him). I guess it is each to their own but I certainly wouldn't trade this forum in for anything!

 

I think he is getting on in years and has a lifetime of experience behind him, but as with anything, what one person says is gospel, another will disagree (and I don't agree with all his ideas, buts others are spot on for me)

[The Dogmother]

Exactly. It's up to the individual to pick and choose which advice they take.

 

I am lucky; my vet is the country's leading poultry expert and has given me a wealth of good advice over the years.

[TAJ]

Let's give the chickens some credit mine get mixed grit, with added oyster shell - they pick out what they want when they want it and don't eat it at other times.

 

Tracy

[miffy]

 

perhaps we could have a section on the forum, and invite "experts" to submit one off or occasional articles. Probably wouldnt work as we couldn't pay them...but just a thought

 

edited to add;

 

12 our girls love to forage on a pile of grass cuttings, dont appear to have problems, should I prevent them from going in there??

[Olly]

Grass cuttings - or very long grass - aren't recommended as they can swallow long strings of it and get bunged up.

 

My hens live in a Cube (no window); they have aubiose, not wood shavings; they get pellets, ground-up eggshells and oyster grit, and they get fed kitchen s"Ooops, word censored!"s (vegetables only, and no salt or dairy). I must be doing something right however as they are now into their third year and seem perfectly fit and healthy!

 

An interesting item, but as others have said, fashions change in these things. The best advice I have had has been from this forum.

[chickenanne]

Actually, I kind of agree that often on forums people do give advice based on what they've read/heard or with limited information about the situation. often people make comments to posts to show support etc rather than to offer really strong and definite advice, You do have to read advice critically etc, but surely that's just common sense?

[doodles]

I bought 2 of my girls from the SPR centre in September and have been following the advice from their sheet about not giving oyster shell. However, since about December time, they have slowly been experiencing feather loss underneath and on their sides and over the past couple of weeks there have been a few softies laid. I don't think its a moult and have looked at all the usual problems (lice, mites, worms, pecking) and have also taken the worst affected one to see the vet (who provided some spot on for them all even though he couldn't see anything on them, did it as a general precaution) - I was intending to post on the forum once I had tried everything (still waiting to see if various solutions are working!) but I'm starting to wonder if the lack of oyster shell is contributing. They've been having oyster shell for a week now so I will have to wait and see if this makes any difference

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It'll be really interesting to see your results .

 

My girls certainly seem to pick all the oystershell out of their grit pot and leave most of the grit so they must think they need it . If I don't notice or fill the pot up soon enough, I'm pretty sure the eggs get thinner.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I bought 2 of my girls from the SPR centre in September and have been following the advice from their sheet about not giving oyster shell. However, since about December time, they have slowly been experiencing feather loss underneath and on their sides and over the past couple of weeks there have been a few softies laid. I don't think its a moult and have looked at all the usual problems (lice, mites, worms, pecking) and have also taken the worst affected one to see the vet (who provided some spot on for them all even though he couldn't see anything on them, did it as a general precaution) - I was intending to post on the forum once I had tried everything (still waiting to see if various solutions are working!) but I'm starting to wonder if the lack of oyster shell is contributing. They've been having oyster shell for a week now so I will have to wait and see if this makes any difference

 

Hi Doodles, slightly off topic, which vet do you use? I'm just south of Chichester & use Pet Doctors, not needed to take them to see the vet yet thankfully, just wondered who you use & are they "chook friendly".

 

I've always put limestone flour in my chooks food & when I ran out for a week or so, we started to get softies. Within a few days of re-instating the LF, the softies stopped. Could be a coincidence, but I stick with the LF now! Mine just have the flint grit rather than oyster shell mix.

 

Many thanks

 

Sha x

[PurpleTree]

I must admit David from SPR centre is extremely helpful and knowledgable. We got into conversation via email recently after I had to ask him about our order (we get our marriages premixed with flubenvet from him). I guess it is each to their own but I certainly wouldn't trade this forum in for anything!

 

Hi, I just had a look at the Marriages pellets with the Flubenvet mixed in. That seems like a good idea to me. Have you used it yet? I presume you give these pellets for the 7days then revert back to your non-medicated ones? How long is the expiry date on the bag? As you only tend to worm them a couple of times of year would the pellets last to use them the next time? (Did that make sense) Obviously only having 3 chickens they wouldn't go through a 20kg bag of pellets in 7 days!

[redfrock]

I must admit David from SPR centre is extremely helpful and knowledgable. We got into conversation via email recently after I had to ask him about our order (we get our marriages premixed with flubenvet from him). I guess it is each to their own but I certainly wouldn't trade this forum in for anything!

 

Hi, I just had a look at the Marriages pellets with the Flubenvet mixed in. That seems like a good idea to me. Have you used it yet? I presume you give these pellets for the 7days then revert back to your non-medicated ones? How long is the expiry date on the bag? As you only tend to worm them a couple of times of year would the pellets last to use them the next time? (Did that make sense) Obviously only having 3 chickens they wouldn't go through a 20kg bag of pellets in 7 days!

 

I worm my girls every 3 months because of the amount of free ranging / wild birds. I had 10 (now 15) chickens so it works out easier for me to do it this way! It costs £17 for a 20kg bag - £6.50 of this being the delivery cost. I have been doing it this way for the last 18 months or so and find it a god send! Now the million dollar question - the expiry date. This has been a problem lately. Apparently Marriages only make them in small batches. Sometimes I can use them for 2 lots of worming, other times only once. What I would say is to not order them until you are just about to worm - they normally arrive within 48 hours. Also see if there is anybody you can split the cost with - that would be the best way (not something I have managed to do yet). I do exactly as you say - nothing but these pellets for 7 days - no treats and minimal free ranging to ensure they are eating their full ration, and then back to normal pellets etc. I like the fact that I know everybody is getting properly wormed. I haven;t found anywhere else where I can buy these. I've asked Marriages themselves and I've asked my local feed places but without success.

 

Once all 15 of my girls are in lay I will be getting through about 20kg of feed every 2 weeks anyway . My orginal 10 get through about 20kg every 3 weeks

 

Hope that helps

[PurpleTree]

Thanks for that, very useful.