Fabergé Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Less than 2 weeks now until delivery of cube & 4 hens... Anyway, at the moment the only other item being delivered is food. I'm considering adding some other items to the order which I've seen discussed on the forum & would appreciated some feedback on how useful the items are & whether they'e used frequently enough to justify having them all straightaway. 1. Grit 2. Aubiose/hemcore 3. Diatom 4. Red mite powder 5. Spice 6. Apple cider vinegar Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 None are really essential straight away, but all very useful to have. There's nothing worse than waiting for your chooks to arrive, so you may as well shop for them! I have most of those and use them all (only one I've not tried yet is the cider vinegar). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Firstly welcome aboard and congratulations on the cube and 4 chooks - you will be addicted before you know it! I would go for all of the products you have listed except apple cider vinegar - personally i would swap this for Citracidal as i feel it lasts longer. You will also need a camera so we can get to see your new cube and girls in all their glory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 A 'treats' bowl is useful. Mine have quickly learnt that nice things come in the blue bowl (for the blue eglu) or the orange bowl (for the orange eglu ). They then race into the run to get the treats and there's no problem herding them in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 1. Grit Yes, I would get some of this and add to the feed. 2. Aubiose/hemcore I don't use this although other folks say its really good. 3. Diatom Never heard of it - presumably its diatom shells and has a similar function to grit? 4. Red mite powder I'd only get this if I found red spider mite - and luckily I haven't in 4 years of having chickens. Keep 'em clean! 5. Spice I use this in curries but not for the girls 6. Apple cider vinegar Just recently got some of this to keep down algae in the drinkers that I use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Diatom is an alternative to red mite powder - it kills bugs, and I use it on the ends of the roosting bars after cleaning the Eglu. I don't think you'd need both, but I might be wrong! Aubiose is, in my view, absolutely essential - others on here will also sing its praises. It keeps the run dry, soaks up poo in some magical way, and generally makes the run look nicer and smell cleaner - you do need to rake it out every so often and replace, but I wouldn't be without it. Grit - I add a bit to every feed, although I believe pellets have some grit in, and if your girls are able to free-range they will pick up grit from the garden. I don't use spice or cider vinegar. One thing that's not on your list, that I strongly recommend, is garlic powder - it makes the poo smell less. Do post some pictures of your girls when you have them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Wow you are prepared! Your chickens are going to love you! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Most of these products are available from farm/horse feed supply type shops a good bit cheaper. I bought a huge tub of Diatom (I put some in the feeders as a wormer and dust it on the girls) for £20 - if I'd bought the same amount from the Omlet shop it would have cost £250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 I would also order an extra set of roosting bars - it makes life much easier for me to put the spare set in the cube, scrub the other set and leave it to dry in our outhouse. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share Posted October 14, 2007 There is a horse accessory/supply store nearby (what are they called?? Never been into horses) which I may have look around. (i just associate accessories with shoes & hand bags! )Seems logical to make use of local businesses where possible. Thanks everyone for your comments. I'll probably get some of those items straightaway, then play it by ear. Counting down the days now.... Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share Posted October 14, 2007 Helen, I did also think of getting the extra roosting bars, but OH insists he will make some. He wants to do the man thing & had some wood left over from making new racks for the airing cupboard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Mine also said that - and owning a business thats full of wood I took his word - 6 weeks later I got fed up of waiting and ordered the extra set AND paid delivery Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted October 14, 2007 Author Share Posted October 14, 2007 I'll let you know how it goes with the roosting bars Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
