4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[dippy bird]

So folks, need loads of advice on looking after them and preparing for their arrival.Firstly - what feed do I get them, my girls are on layers pellets, but I am wondering if the ex bats will need food with more vitamins? Also, feeders - I use the plastic ones with the little sections in that you guys were talking about last week, will these be ok for the new girls? Now to bedding, I want to keep them warm and snuggly, will straw be ok for them or would you suggest something else? I don't want to take any risks with these new girls. Thanks all!!

[Space Chick]

OK Dippy bird, you will get an info pack when your local co-ordinator contacts you. However, to help you prepare now, you will need:

 

Layers Mash - They haven't had pellets ever, so need layers mash to start with. I have had my ex batts for 6 weeks and I am gradually moving them from mash to pellets, they are now on a 2/3 pellets, 1/3 mash mix. I gave them nothing but mash for the first 2 weeks, then gradually added and upped the pellets. Next week I plan to go to a 3/4 pellets, 1/4 mash so hopefully when this bag runs out, I won't be buying more mash. Allen and Page do an Ex Batt Layers Crumb which is the same as mash, and this has extra nutrients in it for ex batts. My lot (all of them) have the Ex Batts Pellets as the pellets I use.

 

Lifeguard - It is a bit expensive, but its a really good tonic to add to their drinking water.

 

Limestone Flour - I found the the shells on the eggs of my ex batts were really brittle, so I add limestone flour into their feed

 

Mealworms - Live or dried, sprinkle them in the run, it'll help to teach them to forage, and also they are high in protein so will help them to re-feather.

 

The feeders you have bought will be perfect.

 

As for bedding, if your run is covered I would use a horse bedding like hemcore or aubiose.

 

Finally, don't panic!! You'll be surprised how hardy these girls are. The first week or two is a challenge but once they realise that they are chickens they are no different to look after than other girls. My 3 are happily integrated with my other girls (except my 2 newbies) and dustbath and scratch around with them, and are fab

[Chook n Boo Mum]

When I got my batties I was recommended to fill the eglu poo tray & nestbox with straw, though I fell out of love with that idea very quickly as I found I had to change practically all of the bedding to remove the poo of a morning, rather than just the poo & a little of the hemcore which I now use

 

I had a flat tray of mash always on the go for them so every one could reach without having to s"Ooops, word censored!", with a cage cup of corn, a cage cup of pellets and a bowl of warm mash porridge...sometimes with extra corn, mealworms & sultanas .... replenished during the day as necessary (it was -4 on our collection day I was reminded on Saturday, and our batch were the worst condition she'd seen in a long time !!), after 2-3 weeks I added pellets to the mash to see what their reaction was & they snaffled them happily. I also had two different water containers as I wasn't sure which they would be used to. Try & make sure they can't tread on the edge of the containers & tip them up, they are very easily freaked by bowls jumping up to attack them ...sorry it's not really funny, but comical to watch them sidestepping etc to recover

 

Mine were quite badly bruised after being dragged from the cages, so I added arnica pillules and rescue remedy to their water for the first few days, not sure if it worked, but it made me feel better . After that I added apple cider vinegar.

 

Good luck with your new babies, they are such special little girls as any battie-mum/dad will tell you

 

Sha x

[dippy bird]

Thanks folks, my hubby has just gone off to Preston to take a client out to lunch and told me to get on with building the coop! Watch this space.......

Forgot to say, the run isn't covered and they will be on grass until I integrate them with my other ladies.Keep trying to get hubby to put a roof on the big run that he has made for the original girls, but he is saying that it's too big a job and will cost too much money I'm sure I will get my own way at some point - I usually do..

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Even just a tarpaulin or shower curtain would be better than nothing, especially for the batties, they will possibly be oven-ready so won't have the protection of feather which the other girls have

 

Sha x

[dippy bird]

I have built it! OMG am so chuffed with myself Who needs a man?? Just have to figure out how I am going to get it out of my kitchen and into the garden

Am sure we can find something to cover the small run for the ex bats until they feather up, bless them.

[Redwing]

I love that - you'll need to take a window out to get it out

 

Space Chick did a similar thing recently, I think the enthusiasm takes hold and the thought of measuring the item and the door apperture seems irrelevant

 

Well done and it sounds like you have everything else sorted

[Chook n Boo Mum]

sorry, but that's just what I would do

 

Sha x

[dippy bird]

I do have a few screws left over.... and never even thought about measuring the width of the coop to make sure I could get it out!!!

[Falkor]

I always have screws left over when i build a flat pack....I am sure they just throw a few more in at the factory

 

Well done for building it on your own!

 

Any pictures of it stuck in the house?

[poachedegg]

Well done on your DIY - hope you get it out of the house ok!

[dippy bird]

It's kinda wedged in

[Space Chick]

 

Space Chick did a similar thing recently, I think the enthusiasm takes hold and the thought of measuring the item and the door apperture seems irrelevant

 

 

I did Redwing is completely right about the enthusiasm taking over and sense like measuring goes out of the window

 

I built my Walk in Run extension (ie my rabbit run) in my living room. I was very very proud of myself until I realised that I couldn't get it out of my back door.

 

I had to take it apart and re-assemble it in my Walk in Run

 

I feel your pain Dippy Bird, the moral of the story, You live and learn

[dippy bird]

I (We) managed to get it out of the door(well double doors),OH was pretty impressed and didn't fiddle too much with it (he can never leave anything alone ),so anyhoo, it's all set up in the garden and just waiting for the new little ladies to join us on Saturday.My other girls were very interested in what was going on,they kept running up and down in their run checking out what we were doing - aren't chickens nosey??

[whoopsie]

I am planning to use a cat box with a temporary run round it while i integrate my 2 new girls. will this be ok??

[poachedegg]

I (We) managed to get it out of the door(well double doors)

 

Phew!

[sparkysmum]

Am hugely impressed Dippy with your coop building - have you thought about making it a business Well done for rehoming ex batts, despite having posh birds, I love my batts - feisty, independent ladies, but always wanting to be with you. You will love them.

[Jools]

I am planning to use a cat box with a temporary run round it while i integrate my 2 new girls. will this be ok??

 

That sounds fine provided they have some shelter from the weather. I'd also recommend moving their temporary sleeping quarters somewhere weather and fox proof overnight though.

 

Good luck with the introductions!

[Chicken Shirl]

Well done Dippy Bird. The coop looks lovely. Pure luxury! Those ex batts will be in heaven.

 

Can't wait to see piccies. So excited for you

 

I use a cat box for rescued chicks. They are fine in it inside a run. Good idea to raise it off the ground on some bricks.