Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Isabel]

Me again with more questions! Mostly house-keeping this time. How often should I change the bedding in the hen-house. Ours is a wooden coop and I don't have the perching bars in at the moment as I have read that young chickens shouldn't use them (something to do with development of a bone in the leg) so they're sleeping on a nice thick layer of Aubiose on the floor of the house. The house was sprayed with Poultry Shield before they occupied it and the beddding sprinkled with Diatom (although they did have fun pecking at that ). I had thought I would clean the whole thing out once a week and replace the bedding. However, after 4 nights of use and being 'mucked out' each morning, the bedding is really clean and it seems like a terrible waste to chuck it. What does anyone recommend? Do I change the entire lot once a week/fortnight/month or scrub house out and put old bedding back in each week but change the lot on a monthly basis ... or something else.

 

Secondly, feed. Are there any particular brands or suppliers which are recommended. The girls are on growers at the moment. I've been trying to get some corn locally (I want to get them used to coming to me before I let them loose in the garden and need treats!) but cannot find it for love nor money (I'm in N. Ireland). Have been looking on-line and would am trying to find somewhere without extortionate delivery charges. Recommendations would be appreciated.

 

Finally, Nigella (Orpington) is still loosing quite a few feathers - mostly small fluffy ones. Is this normal at 14 weeks (going by Tom's guess at her age rather than the breeder's 8 weeks). She's eating, drinking and boy is she pooping, seems healthy to my amateur eye and is becoming really friendly. Should I worry? Have tried to look for lice - can't see anything but will try to get hold of her and examine her bottom (did I read that on another thread) tonight when I'm putting them to bed.

 

Thanks!

 

Isabel

[Plum]

I don't clean the nestbox very often. They don't poo in it and I sprinkle diatom. No sign of mites so the answer from me is every couple of months.

[jess1merlin]

I would recommend Garvo feed, have a look at their website and see if there is a supplier near you.

[Isabel]

Thank you both ... am looking at Garvo Feed website now. Plum ... what about the poo tray? It's really clean with the aubiose - no stains on tray as yet. Do you reckon I can apply the same cleaning schedule to it if the Aubiose isn't soiled or wet? Just lots of diatom inbetween times?

[Plum]

Well I have newspaper in my poo tray and it gets filled well and they aim between the trays and all over the bars so I empty it every 2-3 days and wash it weekly and spray with poultryshield.

I guess if you haven't got the bars and have deep auboise which you can keep clean you can work out your own routine that suits but just remember that mite will infest it if you aren't careful so I would use diatom and keep a good look out.

Lucky you having such clean girls, I'm too mean to use auboise in the poo tray.

[Isabel]

Thanks Plum ... think I'll be a bit less generous with the Aubiose in the poo tray & clean weekly like I'd originally planned ... I do not want red mite!!

[The Dogmother]

I do a big clean weekly, spray with Total Mite Kill, then powder with Buz Busters anti-lice/mite stuff.