sally7216 Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Hi - just wanted to ask what health products should I get in advance as there seems to be so many on the shop page here is there any must have's? Also can you advise the best food to get in advance to please. Thank you and hope to be on here a lot more once my chooks arrive end of April Sally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Welcome to the forum, Sally . To be honest, you don't really need any health products at the start and lots of the things you can buy are only needed when a hen has a problem . Have you looked at the "Shopping list for newbies"? That lists all the things you can buy (but don't think you need to buy them all). Take your time, once you are used to your girls you'll have a better idea what you want to get. I would just get layers pellets (assuming your girls will be at point of lay) at your nearest stockist so it's easy to get the same thing again when you run out . Keep us posted on what girls you get (and we require photos ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sally7216 Posted March 17, 2010 Author Share Posted March 17, 2010 will definitely post photo's and thanks for the tips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Hi Sally and welcome to the forum. How exciting, new chickens You do only need layers pellets to start off with but if i can make just one suggestion, it would be to get some garlic powder to put in the pellets. When you first get your girls they will smell, but after 4 or 5 days of eating food with garlic powder in, the smell will go away, honest! The garlic neutralises the smell. Good luck and let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 When I got my first girls I asked the same question and I think the thread is still around somewhere with all the items needed. I will see if I can find it. Good luck, chickens are addictive you know!, 2 girls??? you wait till the bug hits you I always said ooh only two... I am soon to go up to 7 and thats low compared to some.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 with all the items needed. I will see if I can find it. Good luck, chickens are addictive you know!, 2 girls??? you wait till the bug hits you I always said ooh only two... I am soon to go up to 7 and thats low compared to some.. Whatya trying to say eh? eh? Yeah, I know, I went from 5 to 11 to 16 to 21! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Ok so i need to ask a qick daft question here... How much garlic powder do you add??? And do the chooks get put off by the smell... Our garlic powder stinks!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 You don't want cooking garlic powder . Get the stuff designed for horses - it comes in a big tub and is much cheaper. It's not an exact science, I just chuck a few good scoops into the box I keep the pellets in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txswanie Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 I am also an owner to be, green cube and 4 gingers. I am surprisingly nervous. I am in Southern California and we get a lot of coyotes and raccoons (reason I bought cube, seems safer) I am just at the stage of buying supplies and getting the ground and fencing prepared. When you say the chickens will smell, do you mean the actual chicken or the poop? I will go and get some garlic powder from a feed store. Do I also need to start worming soon? What do you recommend in the way of toys? This is such a new and different experience for me and to be quite honest I am scared. I feel silly about it but I am sure its the same for all the newbies and I will settle down and enjoy the experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Welcome to the forum, Txswanie . We've got a few American members now so you might get advice from them about your exotic (to us!) wildlife . Chickens themselves don't smell (in fact, I like to have a little sniff of them when I cuddle them, they smell really nice ). Their poop can smell bad though, especially the sloppy ones they do occasionally . Garlic powder really helps combat that . You won't need to worm them immediately. Most folk seem to do it every 3 or 4 months. For entertainment, perches and branches for them to play on are good as are hanging veg up for them to peck at. It's quite normal to feel nervous but once they've arrived you'll see how easy it is . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ's Chooks Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 It's so lovely to hear excited newbies... Between new forumers and my very own CoF Mallion, I haven't once looked at buying new chickens this spring (err not much anyway ) good luck everyone and welcome to the forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
