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[chickenlicken85]

Hi need some advice please, have my coop, have decided on a breed and have someone who will provide the chickens I just need to know what equipment I require. I know I need something to put their food and water in what kind of container is best? What kind of bedding do I need? What is the best product for cleaning the coop Also what is best to feed them and how much per day? Also is there anything else im not thinking of?

 

Thanks

[Chantelle]

You can get gravity feeders if you dont have the glug and grub otherwise theyll make a right mess! And it feeds them as they need it what age are the hens your getting?

I have fine chopped straw in the nesting box not hay as it can irritate them but you can get loads of different kinds but they will sleep on the roosting bars i pop a bit of sawdustin the bottom tray to soak up the droppings makes it easier to clean and dust the house with diatomaceous earth powder to keep mites at bay! A handful of cracked corn in the evening as a treat and dont forget the mealworms!! mine are only young so their on growers pellets if your getting mature hens you can pop them on layers pellets and apple cider viniger for in their wat once they start laying xx

 

Im sure thats all the basics youll pick the rest up on the way xx

 

P.s a comfy chair and a cup of tea and enjoy the antics xx

[blueandwhite]

Hi I don't put anything in the nest box except a football at night to stop them getting in their and pooing! The run is on dirt (was grass) and I rake it out every week (wish I had a better rake actually), treat with ground sanitizer (from Omlet) and throw some hay in. I have a few devices to hang e.g. apples and cabbage - both from a garden centre and a jug with grit (oyster shells etc). They made a dust bath in a big old planter I inherited with new house - was full of lovely plants for about half an hour. Oh and a powerful hose to clean up after FR. Good luck.

[Egghead68]

Enjoy your hens when you get them.

 

Aubiose is good for bedding. Stalosan-F is a good ground sanitiser. I use Virkon to clean the coop. Tower drinkers are good as they just give a shallow rim of water at the bottom which hens seem to prefer to a deep bowl. I have a trough shaped feeder as it allows them all to feed at once and also to sort through the food.

 

You'll also want grit, a dust bath and some first aid supplies.

[chickenlicken85]

Thanks for all the advice, how do I make a dust bath and do they need constant access to this? Also what do they need the grit for? Do I need to keep them out the nesting box at night then I thought this is where they would go to lay their eggs?

[Purplemaniacs]

Do I need to keep them out the nesting box at night then I thought this is where they would go to lay their eggs?

Some people let their chooks sleep in the nest box at night if they want to, others try to stop them, a football works well in an eglu.

 

When I first had mine I did try to keep them out of the nest box but now I don't worry if they sleep in the nest box I just poo pick first thing in the morning when I let then out, otherwise you get pooy eggs.

 

Chrissie

[merlina]

Re dust bath

 

Someone posted a few weeks ago that their dust bath was one of those covered cat litter trays. (sorry, can't remember who), I thought this was a great idea (otherwise they tip it over/poo in it etc)

So I've bought one - and it looks like being a great success

They prefer the old compost heap, but I've got the litter tray in the run, so it seems to be a good second best

[Chortle Chook]

Oh do say what breed you have decided on and why - very curious me.

 

- something to put their food and water in - I find the Omlet Grub and Glug to be really good. The Grub stops the rain getting in especially if you direct it away from the prevailing wind. I put them on the Omlet wire stand as I don't have an Omlet run to hook it to. That also makes it easy to carry the Grub / Glug inside at night to stop any rats getting at uneaten food.

 

What kind of bedding do I need - I'd say Aubiose horse bedding any day. You don't need much and it soaks up any loose poos making poo picking each morning really easy peasy.

 

Best product for cleaning the coop - a dust pan and brush, a sponge with a scratchy side, and DE (available from the Omlet shop) to keep mites etc. at bay. And don't forget a good pair of gloves. I love the ones on sale from Omlet and find they are warmer and last better than Marigolds (sorry sounding a bit like I have shares in Omlet, I don't honest )

 

Best to feed them - I give my chooks (I have 10 banties) an Omlet shovel (small size) of Garvo layers pellets every day. The Omlet organic food is also good if you are shopping on Omlet.

 

Is there anything else I'm not thinking of - S hook to hang up a cabbage, apple, half a cocunut; a low tub trug with about 1 inch of old compost (tipped out of a dried up plant pot or such) for a dust bath (My chickens just love this); and a camera - so we can all see your new girlies when you get them

[chickenlicken85]

Thanks so much all this advice is really helpful, chickens should be coming at the end of the month so best get cracking! Shabby chic i wanted 4 chickens and I wanted more than 1 breed so they looked a bit different after research and recomendation ive decided to go for 2 warrens and 2 amber stars. Not the fanciest of hens but apparently both are good kayers, quite docile and good around children which is what I was looking for. Once I have more experience I would like to introduce fancier breeds but I thought those both seemed good starter hens what do you think?

[Chortle Chook]

I don't know much about Warrans but Amber Stars are very pretty indeed and nice girls Both are, I think, hybrids and so will give you lots of . Where are you getting them from? I'd be tempted to get 4 different hybrids, so they really are all different. That is if your stockist has 4 different ones I wouldn't get them from different stockists or you may have problems integrating them. This is not impossible by any means and lots of people on here go through the introductions process, but perhaps it something you won't want to contend with right at the start of your hen keeping life

[Purplemaniacs]

I don't know much about Warrans but Amber Stars are very pretty indeed and nice girls Both are, I think, hybrids and so will give you lots of . Where are you getting them from? I'd be tempted to get 4 different hybrids, so they really are all different. That is if your stockist has 4 different ones I wouldn't get them from different stockists or you may have problems integrating them. This is not impossible by any means and lots of people on here go through the introductions process, but perhaps it something you won't want to contend with right at the start of your hen keeping life

Amber Stars are hybrids and vary in their colouring some very pale others with lots of darker feathers.

I too like the idea of different hybrids and ideally different egg colours too. I got my hybrids from Merrydale and they usually have a good selection of breeds.

If you need to go to more than one supplier I would get them all on the same day and put them into your run at the same time, that way they are all new together. If you get them at different times the first ones will already have made themselves at home and will object to the new comers more, introductions can be tricky.

 

Good luck with your new chooks. Enjoy.

 

Chrissie

[chickenlicken85]

Been to look round a chicken farm this morning and changed my mind a bit getting 1 warren 1 amber star and 1 bluebell x

[good_egg]

Sounds like a lovely selection! Now time for names and pics. Enjoy

[Chortle Chook]

Been to look round a chicken farm this morning and changed my mind a bit getting 1 warren 1 amber star and 1 bluebell x

That sounds like a lovely flock. All three pretty and all different. How are they getting on? Are you smitten?

[chickenlicken85]

I haventvpicked them up yet shabby. Just ordered my coop today which should arrive in a couple of days then will be collecting the hens at the end of the month when I get paid:) exciting!

[Chortle Chook]

I bet you just can't wait