At long last, going to collect chooks tomorrow!

[MarmadukeScarlet]

I am now panicking!

I have a few embarrasing questions...

Do I have to put a drinker inside their house for when they are 'in bed' or will one outside in run be enough?

I have galvanised feeders and drinkers, do I really put feed in them or should I scatter it around to give them something to do?

[tortoiseSHELL]

ONe in the run will be fine.

Definitely put food in the feeder, if you want to scatter something, give them some corn in the afternoon. What is the run on? If it's on the grass then they will scratch around in the grass to their hearts content!

[MarmadukeScarlet]

Yes it is on grass, although it is a permanent site as the run is 9 x 18 and is screwed to sleepers which have wire on them that goes 2 feet + into ground as an anti fox device!

They will be allowed out into the paddock when we are in the fields grooming, mucking out etc but rather alot of foxes around here.

I was considering hemicore for the run, but not sure of its benefits, but I realise my run will be a mud bath within days - although the run does have a clear plastic roof, but my DH and pal forgot to seal it on so it leaks at the joins - it is a poultry protection pen actually the set up at the bottom of the page is similar to mine.

Also what food scraps do they like and how much can they have without getting a compacted crop (?) I know they like sweetcorn and pasta, my DS is a fussy so and so we allways have food leftovers.

Raw carrot, parsnip peelings go to ponies and bunnies, raw cabbage and broc go to buns, bread, cake, biscuits go to ponies but what about all the cooked veg that my fussy DS leaves can the chooks have that?

We are leaving now so we can be the first ones there!

DD is beside herself and DS keeps clucking!

[tortoiseSHELL]

The only thing not to give them is potato peelings. Otherwise, chuck the lot in!

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Ofcourse we all know that Defra say livestock should not be given any kitchen scraps... but mine love rice, pasta, raw broccoli & cabbage hung on a hook in the run and any form of sweetcorn. If you give it to them from late morning onwards they will have enough hard food/grit in their crops to avoid impaction. About half a colander of rice/pasta scraps is fine for 3-6 birds, they can have as much veg as they'll eat - too much and they'll trample it into the ground and you'll soon learn how much to give them.

Do not give them meat scraps though, particularly chicken. It's bad practice.

I do have a small water tower in the main hen house and a larger 'trough' in the run but my growing-on chick & pullet pens only have water in the run and they seem OK.

lol @ your clucking DS. Have fun!

[tortoiseSHELL]

cooked ones are fine, I think it's just raw ones that can cause problems.

[MarmadukeScarlet]

Soft fruit is good? I have an overripe half melon they can have.

The girls are now here and have been named Bluebelle and Amber (obv), the fenning cuckoo is Posy and the Coral Nick is Blossom.

I am going to add to my flock when I can get them either 2 heritage skylines or legbars and a Marran

The DC wanted to have a picnic lunch in the hen run and refused to come out!