Our hens are here :)

[Hensfunny]

Our hens arrived last week and we adore them, they are 16 weeks. It took about two days to settle in but seem little more confident now, they are still confined to a run but we are hoping to start letting them free range in a week.

We are feeding them layers pellets and a bit of corn in the afternoon. Should we be giving them oyster shell now and grit?

Cleaning wise we have straw underneath them and thinking about brushing out once a week and giving them fresh straw...does that sound ok?

Red mite deterrent we are thinking about putting a bit of DE down weekly after brushing out and a little in their dust bath too. My only worry is that they might rustle about in the coop and flap about in the dust bath and breath in the dust. I know I'm sounding very precious but love these little things.

I've also been reading that a bit of garlic and ACV will deter red mite? Does anyone give this?

[NecesitoDormir]

It depends on what type of housing they are in and how often they are roaming.

Hens are great. :)

[Hensfunny]

They are in an old shed (half concrete/half wood) about 3m x 2m and their run is about 8 meters long. We will allow them to start roaming in about a week for 6+ hours a day.

[beachyhead]

We put Diatom down sprinkled about and then put the fresh bedding on top, once a week.

All sounds perfect... Hens are fab!