Leicester_H Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 1. A big thank-you to Snowy Howells for inviting us round to see her chickens yesterday. Only problem is, now I am even more impatient to get mine! (Snowy - I will email you some of the pics soon) 2. Snowy had extra roosting bars which is a good idea since some can be 'in the wash' and some in use Are there any 'must have' extra's I should have delivered at the same time as the eglu and chickens (save on delivery costs - I know they're not that much but it all helps). There are a lot of items under health - or should I wait to see if/when I need them ? Still counting the day, H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 As for the health products I would wait until you need them. If you have a winter shade it will stop the run area getting wet and muddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I would recommend aubiose for the run and droppings tray, some poultry spice and lots of tins of sweetcorn in water! They love it! Would def recommend the spare roosting bars. Without sounding to doom and gloomy, I would also get a pet carry box just in case. I got one in Lidl for about £5. Just a small cat box type thing in case you need to go to the vets or separate a chicken for whatever reason. Better to have it ready, than panic should you need it. Congratulations on deciding to keep chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 One of the best thing I ever bought was a big sturdy feed bin with a snap on lid & a scoop. I would also get the garlic powder & grit (both pretty much essential) , Aubiose & maybe a spare Glug for when one is in the Dishwasher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I would add citricidal to the list. There are so many things you could get - the danger is that you will go bankrupt, especially when someone posts a 'Look what I've found' message! I got the minimum to start with, but have gradually built up stocks of other bits and pieces. I did get the netting straight away though and I think its great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 why not just bypass all the stress everyone else goes through and order two eglus. Plus chickens of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 My main recommendations would be a spare set of roosting bars - makes cleaning much, much easier! and the garlic powder, which really works. Oh - and aubiose, already mentioned on here, is fantastic, although Omlet don't sell that. The netting is great value, although it's expensive. Don't spend too long in the 'Chicken Clinic' - it's great if you have a problem, but it can make you paranoid. I was convinced my girls would be ill, but they moved in a month ago, and are thriving despite my total ignorance of things chickeny - and today I got my FIRST EGG!! can't remember the last time I felt so excited - although it was probably the day the Eglu and chickens arrived! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Glad you enjoyed your visit Hazel! Look forward to seeing the pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 hemcore/aubiose is a must for us in the eglu run. Its a horsey type bedding which comes in bales (£6.50 a bale - last for ages). It absorbs smell, poos and wet and the chickens love it. Poultry spice - comes in a yellow tub, not expsensive - its a chicken tonic powder added to their food to keep the chickens healthy, I bought a tub last september and im still using it now - so its lasts for ages ! Barrier red mite powder - comes in a white tub and sprinkle in the eglu itself to prevent red mite infestation, smells lovely and minty fresh too! if you have a farm supply store near you, you will get all of the above there As someone else said,...dont worry too much about health until the time (touch wood) that you need/dont need it. We have had our chickens since last summer and (touch wood again) no health problems at all. We have just wormed them (january) so maybe in a few months time you should think about that, but hopefully everything else will be ok. Dont be afraid to ask any questions in the future, we happy to help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I think that the others have already provided a pretty comprehensive list of things that you might need, so all that remains for me to say is good luck with them, and don't forget to come back and tell us all about them just as soon as they arrive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Hazel it might be worth a trip to Welland Valley Feeds on the road into Market Harborough. They do stock some poultry products, I know they do poultry spice and aubiose. If you want red mite powder, garlic powder or diatom it may be best to add to your omlet order to save extra postage in the future. I got citricidal from the health food shop in Wigston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Hazel i think everyone has mentioned everything i was going to suggest but your chicks will love you if you get them some mealworms! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 hee hee...the list is getting bigger I have a basket in my garage full of "chicken miscellanous" which is full of bits and bobs gradually built up over time when I spot something that might come in handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine C Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Agree with the posts - I started with just poultry spice and citracidal but have recently started to use Hemcore/auboise in the poo tray and nest box instead of shredded paper as some of mine like to sleep in the nest box. Its then easier to pick up the poo every morning before they lay with resultant pooy eggs as it acts like cat litter to absorb then the poo comes out in clumps. By the way chookie poo is a favourate subject of the forum as you'll probably find out when you get your girls - a huge variety of different types and some real experts on the forum:!: Otherwise I would do as Martin and Chelsea suggest - just get the other stuff as and when you need it. Once you have had your chooks for a few months you may want to worm them. This is a bit of a personal preference thing. Some like to worm every six months some don't worry unless there is a problem - there's no hard and fast rule. So for this there's a chemical preparation called Flubenvet or a herbal preparation called verm-x. The verm-x is more of a preventative measure given in water for 3-4 days a month whereas the Flubenvet is useful where there is a known problem but I think you won't need to think about this for a few months down the road. The only other thing I'd add is Avirpro or bokashi for diarrohea, but again you may only need to add this if there is a problem initially and both are easily available online should you need them. Anyway, hope this helps but I think the main thing is to just enjoy your new girls and collect the items you need along the way. I've just realised that I've had my first girls for a year now and no major problems and I've just added bits when needed. Good luck E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 Many thanks for all these replies. Chickens should be arriving NEXT week. I will be phoning to confirm order and add a few of your suggested extras. I hope Omlet have BOTH types of chickens in by next week as we really want one of each. Will let you know when they arrive - hopefully biggest problem will be picking suitable names for them. Currently, working names are Chickie and Boo !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah71 Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 I could have had my chickens on the 5th as they told me they would be delivering in Leicester, must be you, so could come to us too but we'll be in sunny(hopefully) Scarborough until the 7th so will now have to wait until the 27th Did think about cancelling the holiday but that would have been silly wouldn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 That makes it seem more real now - thanks for info. Cancelling holiday would have been silly but ............ Anyway, not toooooooooo long to wait til 27th H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 Did think about cancelling the holiday but that would have been silly wouldn't it Yes, but I know how you feel - I got my eglu in June then had to wait until end September to get my girls as I was holidaying in America just before then. It was very frustrating seeing the eglu in the garden - empty - .........but makes it soooooo very exciting when THAT day finally arrives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted April 5, 2007 Author Share Posted April 5, 2007 AT LAST They're here - and they're lovely. Not sure about names yet - working names are chickie and boo!! 'Chickie' is the bossy one and doesn't look like a chickie Boo will probably stay as Boo - very nice, slightly smaller and possibly a bit mad - more later (and photos) Hazel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 Great News! Can't wait to see photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 Congratulations Hazel! Boo is a great name! Perhaps the other one will have to be Peeka! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 Fab news Hazel - have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 Ooooh, they've arrived! Hope you are having fun with them Hazel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
