Omlet cube and run

[The_eggwards_family]

We get our girls on sunday and I was wondering where the best place is for feed, online. I was going to get 20kg of layers pellets and a smaller bag of corn/maize and also the grit. Is there anything else I should get?

 

There are one or two places locally we could buy from but I was wondering if online was cheaper. The ones on line I have found so far only do free delivery if you spend over £50, which I'm sure could be easily done

 

So........any recommendations for a newbie.

 

Thanks in advance

[sparkysmum]

Hi & welcome!! You must be so looking forward to Sunday, the day when everything stops except chicken gazing If you only have /are getting 2 hens I would get a much smaller amount of feed. I tend not to use mash/pellets any more but when I did I bought it in 4kilo bags as I felt it stayed fresher that way.

 

I would also buy poultry spice, bokashi bran, maybe garlic powder too, red mite powder (as a preventative) and a good supply of tinned or frozen sweetcorn. (totally irresistable to chickens).

 

Oh and new batteries for the camera, a decent bottle of red and perhaps some olives too...........for you of course whilst hen gazing Enjoy and don't forget to tell us all about your first day.

[Space Chick]

Where are you based? As you may be able to find a local supplier. I know a number of equestrian suppliers also stock chicken items

[Bramble]

I'm very new at this, but I would have thought that for two chickens, 20kg of food is likely to be well past it's use by date before you have finished it (I was suprised, but the "ex batt crumbs" I use are only in date until the end of October, which should be long enough to get through 10kg, but I wouldn't get through 20kg in that time). I've also noticed that on-line, when you add the postage, seems to be more expensive than local shops - I think most shops are happy to order food in for you if they don't stock the brand you want? Not sure where you are based, but Cotswold Chickens are very good (and very reasonable, price wise). Good luck!

[Patricia W]

I agree about getting a local feed store to order in for you if they haven't got what you want in stock. Postage kills te online option for me.

 

As for the list of what else to get, don't forget the Aubiose or Hemcore - much the easiest bedding/run covering to use as I found after much experimentation. As for the dilemma about how much to buy, you could do what I seem to have done - bought more chickens so I ALWAYS meet the sell buy date!

 

Tricia

[Bramble]

Ignore me, I take it all back, the bag I have is actually 20kg, not 10kg as I thought, sorry, I'm being completely dim (it's because the bag is relatively small compared to the 12.5kg bags of dogfood I buy!) It's early days yet, but I reckon my three get through about 5kg of food in two weeks, so I'll leave you to do the maths as to how much two would get through!!! Still think it's worth trying to buy it locally though!

I'll shut up and go away now!

[Mercedes55]

I'm very new at this, but I would have thought that for two chickens, 20kg of food is likely to be well past it's use by date before you have finished it (I was suprised, but the "ex batt crumbs" I use are only in date until the end of October, which should be long enough to get through 10kg, but I wouldn't get through 20kg in that time). I've also noticed that on-line, when you add the postage, seems to be more expensive than local shops - I think most shops are happy to order food in for you if they don't stock the brand you want? Not sure where you are based, but Cotswold Chickens are very good (and very reasonable, price wise). Good luck!

 

I recently bought a 20kg bag of ex batts pellets and after reading your post went to have a look at the use by date. It's the end of November and I've only used a small amount so far. I'm not really sure how much 4 hens will eat from now to November but I'm sure I'll have some left over

[Bramble]

I'm very new at this, but I would have thought that for two chickens, 20kg of food is likely to be well past it's use by date before you have finished it (I was suprised, but the "ex batt crumbs" I use are only in date until the end of October, which should be long enough to get through 10kg, but I wouldn't get through 20kg in that time). I've also noticed that on-line, when you add the postage, seems to be more expensive than local shops - I think most shops are happy to order food in for you if they don't stock the brand you want? Not sure where you are based, but Cotswold Chickens are very good (and very reasonable, price wise). Good luck!

 

I recently bought a 20kg bag of ex batts pellets and after reading your post went to have a look at the use by date. It's the end of November and I've only used a small amount so far. I'm not really sure how much 4 hens will eat from now to November but I'm sure I'll have some left over

 

I think our posts crossed! Ignore me, I'm being completely thick, I think you will get through 20kg without any problem at all before the end of November!!!!

[sage]

20kg will last my 7 girls about 4 weeks.

 

Sage

[Mercedes55]

I'm very new at this, but I would have thought that for two chickens, 20kg of food is likely to be well past it's use by date before you have finished it (I was suprised, but the "ex batt crumbs" I use are only in date until the end of October, which should be long enough to get through 10kg, but I wouldn't get through 20kg in that time). I've also noticed that on-line, when you add the postage, seems to be more expensive than local shops - I think most shops are happy to order food in for you if they don't stock the brand you want? Not sure where you are based, but Cotswold Chickens are very good (and very reasonable, price wise). Good luck!

 

I recently bought a 20kg bag of ex batts pellets and after reading your post went to have a look at the use by date. It's the end of November and I've only used a small amount so far. I'm not really sure how much 4 hens will eat from now to November but I'm sure I'll have some left over

 

I think our posts crossed! Ignore me, I'm being completely thick, I think you will get through 20kg without any problem at all before the end of November!!!!

 

Maths is so much not my thing

[Old Speckled Hen]

Is the use by date that important?

I know nutrients degrade but surely with a dry food you have a great deal of leeway even though we wicked chicken mummies don't ever ever give any extra treaty bits and pieces.

[Old Speckled Hen]

Actually. Why don't GARVO do mail order

[Bramble]

Maths is so much not my thing

 

You too, huh!! Great to know that the Tax payers' investment in my education wasn't wasted!!!!!!

[Mercedes55]

Maths is so much not my thing

 

You too, huh!! Great to know that the Tax payers' investment in my education wasn't wasted!!!!!!

 

I'm using the excuse that I was taught in Imperial at school so all this Metric stuff does my head in so everything is still feet and inches and pounds and stones in my head