rufusrooster Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Hi guys, my 1st venture into poultry keeping and im after advice, ive been reading the forum for a week or two since i ordered my . im never gonna read the hundreds of pages of advice, my head is spinning already. my & run will be on b&q hardwood chips and hopefully the hens will get freerange of the garden whenever possible depending on how things go how much damage can 3 hens do ? here we go with a few questions... 1. mixed corn, how much and how often ? 2. mixed grit, how much and how often ? do i mix it in there pellets or put in a seperate dish ? 3.stalosan f, how much and how often do i put it/mix it with the woodchips ? 4.easibed, i am intending to use this in the nestbox and possibly on the woodchips if they need drying up a bit, do i use it under the perches in the and if so how often will it need changing ? the video clip just shows the tray getting emptied of poo, nothing else. 5.apple cider vinegar, how much and how often do i add it to the water ? 6. what other food additives do i need to treat/prevent worms/disease ? 7. and finally, for now anyway, getting hold of some pol hens doesn't seem as though its gonna be that easy, not round here anyway, can anyone reccomend anywhere near Hull, say a 40 mile radius. cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Welcome to the forum . As luck would have it, we have today added a Shopping List for Newbies to the Chicken FAQs . It may answer some of your questions. For those questions which might not be answered there: Mixed corn - I give mine a handful once a day, late afternoon. Too much can make them fat and may reduce laying. I put grit in a coop cup and keep it topped up at all times. They help themselves and seem to know when they need it. Stalosan - I sprinkle it liberally in the run every 3 months when I do a cleanout. I put sheets of newspapers under the poo tray. ACV - I add a squirt to their glug every day. Some only give it occasionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 Hi Rufus and welcome, Im fairly new myself so wouldnt want to point you the wrong way re most of your questions. I however live in North Ferriby near Hull and I had to go Storrs farm near sheffield and Outgate poultry in north lincs for my hens, both have web sites and a good choice of hens so maybe worth a visit. Good luck anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rufusrooster Posted June 16, 2009 Author Share Posted June 16, 2009 Hi Rufus and welcome, Im fairly new myself so wouldnt want to point you the wrong way re most of your questions. I however live in North Ferriby near Hull and I had to go Storrs farm near sheffield and Outgate poultry in north lincs for my hens, both have web sites and a good choice of hens so maybe worth a visit. Good luck anyway thanks, outgate poultry was top of my list (by a long way) of the few ive found locally, really impressed going on there site, i have emailed them but have been told to ring nearer the time as "hens are in very short supply at the moment" he didnt say why. my is due on 2nd July so hoping to pick up my hens early the following week, what breeds did you get and how are they doing ? if he has them i was hoping to get an Amber, a Speckledie and a Black Rock, but knowing my luck none will be available at the time. just wish i could find more options but i'll give them a ring at Storrs, thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigopurple Posted June 16, 2009 Share Posted June 16, 2009 1. mixed corn, how much and how often ? mine get a handful every day, the kids like sprinkling it in 2. mixed grit, how much and how often ? do i mix it in there pellets or put in a seperate dish ? i did have a seperate dish of mixed grit but that has been liberally scattered all around the run by one of them tipping the pot so I am leaving that for a few days. 3.stalosan f, how much and how often do i put it/mix it with the woodchips ? i was going to do this every few months 4.easibed, i am intending to use this in the nestbox and possibly on the woodchips if they need drying up a bit, do i use it under the perches in the and if so how often will it need changing ? the video clip just shows the tray getting emptied of poo, nothing else. i am not using anything on the tray at the moment, as long as i do it every two days its ok 5.apple cider vinegar, how much and how often do i add it to the water ? i am not using this at the moment 6. what other food additives do i need to treat/prevent worms/disease ? i used some flubenvet on mine and it has worked a treat. 7. and finally, for now anyway, getting hold of some pol hens doesn't seem as though its gonna be that easy, not round here anyway, can anyone reccomend anywhere near Hull, say a 40 mile radius. cannot help on this one sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 my & run will be on b&q hardwood chips and hopefully the hens will get freerange of the garden whenever possible depending on how things go how much damage can 3 hens do ? ... Depends on what you'r garden is like: size, and what plants you have. They are pretty destructive and love scratching and nibbling new shoots. If you ahve enough space it won't cause too much of an issue. Otherwise I'd consider restricting them into one area... here we go with a few questions... 1. mixed corn, how much and how often ? I avoid this in the summer as it's too "heating". In the colder weather then a handfull or two, in the late afternoon, if you're around. 2. mixed grit, how much and how often ? do i mix it in there pellets or put in a seperate dish ? Grit: constant supply, doesn't matter if you keep with pellets or separate, it'll get scattered all over the run anyway! They'll scratch around and find it. 3.stalosan f, how much and how often do i put it/mix it with the woodchips ? I never use it: I do dig the run out properly occasionally, and keep it clean the rest of the time. 4.easibed, i am intending to use this in the nestbox and possibly on the woodchips if they need drying up a bit, do i use it under the perches in the and if so how often will it need changing ? the video clip just shows the tray getting emptied of poo, nothing else. I would think replacing the woodchips with easibed might work best, when the woodchip is a bit tired /dirty. It's a good idea to clean the run fairly regularly (though I don't use stalosan f)... 5.apple cider vinegar, how much and how often do i add it to the water ? I used to add it daily, but now I never bother, and haven't noticed a difference. 6. what other food additives do i need to treat/prevent worms/disease ? Flubenvet, but otherwise they just get treats, pellet, and grit. 7. and finally, for now anyway, getting hold of some pol hens doesn't seem as though its gonna be that easy, not round here anyway, can anyone reccomend anywhere near Hull, say a 40 mile radius. Sorry - no idea! Maybe try Practical Poultry (magazine) which has a breeders directory page? cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_blackwell1 Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 Apple cider vinegar? Why would you feed your chickens that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
