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Chicken keepers

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Help for newbie please!

8 replies

bobstersmum · 11/05/2019 20:14

I have wanted to keep chickens for a long time, we have a huge garden but just never taken the plunge. However I have bought a hen house and small run and I'm going to pick it up tomorrow! I plan to get fully chicken ready before I even think about getting any birds but to be honest the more I read the more complicated and scary it seems! Can anyone give me an essential checklist please? I plan to create a larger moveable run I have lots of wood in the garage I just need to buy some wire netting, the hen house is a really good sturdy one so I'm happy with that. Any advice to get started would be really appreciated!

OP posts:
bobstersmum · 13/05/2019 14:23

Well I visited our local poultry farm this weekend they gave me some good advice. However I have been told of a local hen rehome this coming weekend for ex battery hens, so I have put my name down for 3!!

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PostNotInHaste · 14/05/2019 20:32

I’m only a couple of months in but will have a go. Can relate to the reading getting scary! For feeder I have a metal treadle feeder in the hope it will deter rats. Really pleased with it as holds loads so I don’t have to top up much and it stays nice and dry. I’ve a separate smaller one which has mixed grit in and a hanging water container . I got a small dog kennel so they could have a dirt bath when wet, they ignore that.

Galvanised metal bin for food storage, Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Stop (not used yet), bag of corn, bag of layers pellets, mixed grit, bedding, diatomaceous earth , Smite and Vanadine was my shopping list.

Noticed Flyte so Fancy have tarps to go on bottom of coop and I had something similar so have used this. Plastic tray under perch acts as poop tray. Each morning I take the poo out using plastic bag and put in lidded bucket, takes a minute . Then every so often empty bucket into an empty feed bag and am leaving them to compost to use on garden later. When do a full clean I just pull the tarp out. Read about a Diatomaceous Earth slurry made of Vanadine, DE and a dash of washing up liquid mixed to batter consistency and painted in coop. Allegedly this helps protect against redmite for several months.

My run isn’t movable and grass now gone so put hay in it, old leaves, grass clippings and weeds from garden. It has some things to sit on and an old pallet propped up with log under they like for shelter.

Have an auto door opener which is great until yesterday when it got stuck, didn’t open and I thought they were in the coop laying eggs (all 3 like to go and sit in nest box together sometimes. Thought they were being a touch noisy and then realised they were locked in. Daily routine is poo pick at some point in morning, sort water if needed, collect eggs, then chuck corn later in day or give bits and pieces - melon seeds were today’s treat but I do this later so they fill up on pellets first.

I had to block nesting box off at first as they started to sleep in it and put plastic eggs in when they started laying. They are very good at going in to bed and get themselves up and fed once door opens in the morning.

Hopefully some one who knows what they are doing will be along soon. They have been great fun and I didn’t realise they had such different personalities.

bobstersmum · 14/05/2019 20:45

That's brilliant thank you for your reply! So do you think it's been easier than you expected? And do you have any sort of enclosure or are they totally free range in your garden? And any sign of Mr Fox yet?

OP posts:
bobstersmum · 14/05/2019 20:46

@postnotinhaste

OP posts:
PostNotInHaste · 15/05/2019 07:54

Yes it has been easier. I have an enclosed run with some quite strong mesh over it. It’s not ideal though as big enough for them to stick their heads out, not good if Mr Fox turns up. No sightings as yet but he was lurking by friend’s chickens round the corner so around,

The key things that have made it so easy are the automatic opener, the treadle feeder, and tray under the perch. I haven’t done anything as yet this morning apart from look out of window to check they’re out. Was going to clean quickly but they’re in coop so laying I think and don’t want to disturb them so pop out later collect eggs and clean quickly in one go.

They have free ranged a couple of times but only when we are there. First time was fine, second time 2 were rubbish about going back in. My Omlet fencing isn’t tall enough to contain them, thankfully it was second hand. They have a vet student who needs chicken handling practice coming today, could be interesting Grin

PostNotInHaste · 15/05/2019 07:59

There you go, cap pic of nest box action. Ones out, grey one laying now I think with white one next to her. She lays a bit later in the morning but like's to go in with others

Help for newbie please!
bobstersmum · 15/05/2019 12:57

Sounds fab and lovely pic! I am really excited I think just see how it goes. I've just been and got some mesh so going to try and fashion some sort of outdoor area for them, although held up really because middle child has come down with chicken pox! Of all things!

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PostNotInHaste · 15/05/2019 16:45

Oh no and how ironic ! Hope they’re not suffering to much. I have been building chicken hospital and one of mine is isolation as she seems to have a crop problem, not sure if it is sour crop or impacted crop but it’s huge and yellow fluid came out of her beak when she was picked up. She’s actually very perky considering and one of the others is more upset about the whole thing than she is.

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