What are these l brackets for

[mrsatroy]

I just purchased a Cube after much homework and investigations. I haven't gotten my hens yet as I still feel I am not fully prepared. I have some basic queries which I hope people might be able to help me with. I am planning to keep my coop/run in the same spot in the garden, the supplier of the cube suggested play sand as a good layer on the ground - has anyone else used this or is there a better option? Is regularly sprinkling the ground with something like Stalosan sufficient to keep it healthy? What do people use when they do their weekly coop clean in terms of disinfectant? And once clean what do they use inside as regards Diatom etc. I'm a little confused over all the products for lice/red mite prevention etc. Also what products do you use directly on the bird for lice etc. and how often? How often do hens require worming and what do people find to be best? I'd like to go as natural as possible but not compromise on the animals health. Do wormers have a withdrawal period? Lots of posts mention things like garlic, cider vinegar, poultry spice and again I'm a little confused by all of these - do you give them all the time or just on occasion? What do you do if a hen goes broody? I have only 1 cube do do I need a cage or something if I have a broody hen? And finally (for the moment) should I wait until I can get my run extension for my cube+2m run before I get my chickens? I was planning on 4 and there's no way the 2m run is sufficient even if they do get a chance to FR. Sorry for the basic questions but I'm on a steep learning curve here!

[counturchickens]

Hello and welcome to the forum. We too have a cube, and keep this on woodchip (not bark) I use bio dry or nettex weekly then change the chips every 6months, they then make a good mulch for the garden. When I clean the cube I use specialist poultry cleaner, but I am sure others will have recommendations!

We've never had lice or red mites, so I can't advise on that. You can add apple cider vinegar to add to their water once a month or so, but they need to be wormed with flubenvet probably every quarter.

Good luck!

[Simondegaris]

What I would suggest is homework! I get my chickens on Saturday and I have brought books, trawled the Internet and talked to people to get the information in preparation for getting them so I know that I have a basic knowledge. Omlet do some books or have a search on amazon, or even just spending time on the Omlet forums reading would give a general idea....or even omlets step by step guide to chicken keeping!

 

Good luck!

 

[LolaLayla]

Hi, you will find a lot of good advice on here. That being said I am sure we all do something a bit different to each other and some folks use some products and some others. I have been greatly helped by the more experience keepers on the forum. I have 2 eglus as my Silkies and Isa Warrens are not able to live together. You asked about broodiness. My Isa Warrens (standard hen) have never gone broody and I do not think they will. However my Silkies make it an art So I have the 2 extremes. It can be a hassle and starting out I would go for hens that do not have the tendency to go broody.

I use a material called Rapport in the eglu tray which is good for absorbing liquid and then 'poo pick'. I also put some Diatom powder in this incase of any nasties. I powder the girls with it about once a fortnight. Puffing it under the wings, neck, vent and underneath. I also puff the Silkies topknot. Your hens will like to dust bath too which helps them get rid of any bugs. Mine free range and make their own dust baths but I know some folks have specially made ones for their girls.I check my girls regularly for lice/mites but (crossed fingers) they have not had any signs of infestation. I do not regularly add anything to the water but put grit, oystershell and limestone flour in with the layers pellets to ensure hard shells as we had a problem with that a one time. You asked about worming. Flubenvet is the most popular wormer. I buy Marriages layers pellets with flubenvet already in the pellet. I find it easier than trying to mix the right amount in. You worm the girls for a week every 3 months. You can still eat the eggs I am sure others will be along with more advice. Good luck

[Purplemaniacs]

Welcome to the forum

 

You will find lots of information on the forum, I found it so helpful when we started out. If you can't find an answer if you post the question someone always knows the answer.

 

If you are going to keep the cube and run in the same place could you pave the area. I had an eglu and run on soil and then on slabs and it is so much easier on slabs with Aubroise or Easibed on the ground, you do need to cover the run though.

 

Flubenvet is a good wormer and on the standard dose you can continue to eat the eggs.

 

It depends on which breeds you decide upon as to how likely you are to get broody chooks. If you can pick up a second-hand dog crate it is useful for poorly chooks and can also be used as a broody cage if the need arises.

 

Chrissie

[good_egg]

Hello

 

I haven't had my hens for long and I think I have a very similar set up to you! I have a cube and a run extension and three hens. Our cube is in a static position and we let our hens out to FR every evening and for longer at the weekend (in omelet netting at the mo while we replace a fence!). I started off with them on woodchip but it was a bit fusty so have them on easibed (horse bedding, like small woodchips and ace for dust baths) and I love it - we have the plastic cover over one side and top of our run and find this keeps it dry enough. We are going to move onto a concrete base so that we can sweep out every so often as we have on membrane just now and I keep raking through it (oops). I change the run flooring about every 4 weeks and poo pick usually thoroughly at the weekend and sporadically to get the big bits as they FR in the evening. I use nettex sanitiser twice a week and rake it in as I am a bit OCD and liek the smell.

 

In terms of what to give the girls, when it comes to worming I learned the hard way that natural does not work. Lots of people use VERm-X but on here most people prefer Flubenvet as the Verm-X doesn't work. We had to worm our girls 2 weeks after using it and used marriages pre-medicated pellets with flubenvet and there were worms in their poos.

 

We feed Omelet feed just now, but am rotating every sack to see what I like best. If you are trying to be natural you might want to watch out and get organic food. We put apple cider vinegar in their water at the weekend and have been adding tonic as our wee one is moulting and our big girl is limping. I have also got citronella as they sneezed a bit when we first got them. I would recommend getting some nutri-drops purely so that you feel you can do something if a girl looks a bit under the weather. We give them mixed corn in the evenings (from our hands) and they always have a tub of mixed grit. Also a range of vegetable entertainment as it inspires me (sweetcorn swingball, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, grapes and even half a grapefruit and melon!)

 

Think that is all. Oh, apart from someone told me to give them taost and marmite when they arrive as the vitamin B is good for them after stress!? Hope you enjoy, my advice would be dive in - you can research for ever (I did) and then a different problem will arise. Everyone on here is lovely. We have a cat carrier for vet trips and no one is broody yet (touch wood).

[mimi5]

Hi and welcome!!

 

I have been keeping my pekin gang for nearly a year now. I had done some research and reading and got all I thought I'd need and 3 pekin girlies!!! Yay......but it has been a journey and a steep learning curve!!!! I had a wooden coop to start off with.........never again! Best chicken equipment I've invested in is my cube & 1 metre extension....I LOVE it!! I move mine around the lawn and the pekins love it!!! It is SO easy to move and clean!! ( They and I didn't like the ladder, but covered it in garden netting with cable ties and it's great.)

 

You will find people have different ways of doing thinks and alot of things are personal choice/preference and what works for you!!!!!!! But this forum is absolutely great when you need ideas/advice!!!

 

My suggestion for you would be go on a chicken keeping course! I wish I had!!!! Belated, but I am going on a course in sept!!! "How to avoid the vet!"

 

Once you get your chickens you will get a feel for things and there's nothing like experience!!!!!!

 

Best wishes and happy chicken keeping!!

[mrsatroy]

Thanks so much for all the replies and info! A lot to absorb! One of my biggest problems seems to be that here in Southern Ireland we don't have the availability of products like you do in the UK. No hemp bedding available, can't buy pellets with Flubnevet already added have to get it from a vet! That said I'm learning!