Ariella26 Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 ....I've ordered my cube and 4m run. After previously stating it was between the purple and red, we took a vote and the kids all surprised me with being the most popular! So green it is. I've also ordered an extra glug/grub and another grub to put the oystershell and grit in, spare roosting bars as I'd read it's handy to make cleaning a bit quicker to just swap them over and then clean the dirty ones ready for the next weeks' clean. I've also ordered a eggskelter as I really like the look of them, made a start on buying disinfectant, etc, ordered a medium sized galvanised metal feed bin (which I'm told will hold 4 bags of 25kg layers pellets/mixed corn) and some citronella drops. My list for Mole Valley Farmers is all ready and I'm hoping we can get everything bought and ready so I can buy the hens in May. I've been buying little bits and bobs over the past few weeks...a dustbath, mirror, cage for fresh veg, a terracotta pot for the bottom of the ladder and another as a stool, etc, and we've been saving all the scratched DVDs to hang up as boredom busters. Now it's all starting to feel real! Would anyone be able to recommend how much woodchip I'll need to cover the 4m run please? The run will be going on concrete slabs and will be covered with clear tarpaulin over the top and down one side for the summer and down both sides for bad weather and the winter. The sides will be tied up when it gets really hot to allow plenty of air flow. What sort of depth should the woodchip be to allow them plenty of depth for scratching about? Hubby's going to make a kickboard around the run when it's assembled to keep the woodchip in as much as possible and he's also going to make a few perches and maybe a swing. Poor man, no sooner does he come to the end of one list and I provide him with another!! Is it a good idea for me to worm the hens as soon as I get them or leave them for a few weeks to settle in? Thanks for all the advice I've received here so far, helping me on this exciting new journey. I can't wait to finally have everything all ready and be able to buy our new ladies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Phew, that sounds like hard work but great fun! My WIR is on soil with about 50kilos gravel and 3 packs of easibed, horse bedding. Run is about 4x3m , you won't need the gravel on concrete, so would think that 2 packs of bedding should do it. You can always add more. How many girls are you getting? I have five and they go through about 6 -7 kilos feed a week. I wouldn't try and fill that feed bin up, the layers pellets don't have a long shelf life and go mouldy at any sign of damp All sounds so exciting. I don't know how you are managing to hang on until May Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariella26 Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 I'm planning on keeping the food in the bags - I'd never reach to the bottom of the bin if the food was loose as my back wouldn't let me!! Two bags of feed with only one bag open at a time would be okay I presume? We're planning on 5-6 hens. I'm hoping that'll give them enough room to be cosy without being squashed and we'll provide perches and pots from them to sit on to give them areas to get off the floor and out of each others way as much as possible. I've been saving like mad since the early autumn as all the necessaries are costing well over £1000. I've been determined to pay for it myself and only work now and again as a holistic therapist so it's taken a while. I'm surprised at how well I'm coping with waiting but I can see an end date in sight now. May's not that far away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctors girls Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 as the run is on slabs i would go for a horse bedding base bedmax,easibed,aubiose,rapport, that type thing and if you poo pick on a daily basis and use stalosen on a weekly basis it should last a long time the thing is when you poo pick with a horse bedding it easier to see not only that it clumps together and it is easier to pick up and i agree with duncan08 two bales should do the trick and it composts better than wood chip ps dont know how you can wait till may though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariella26 Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 I was planning on aubiose but can't get it in Devon. I think I can get Bliss if that's any good? I'm going to use that in the cube. I know where I can get hardwood wood chips so thought that was the easiest option. I've already ordered Stalosan F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
