getting 5 chucks tomorrow

[racmac]

Yeah - dh has just finished getting ready the shed/run for them and will collect tomorrow. Im completely new to this so any advise/comments would be great.

We have an old shed that we have secured and put hole in side with a fenced run of a size of about 20ft around it.

We will be getting 5 chickens and they will be on soil in the run and will put some straw in the shed? We have put some old boxes down inside the shed for them to sit in.

What else do i need to buy? I can feed them scraps - how much do they eat? Can you overfeed them?

Where will they lay eggs - inside at night im guessing? If they have been moved will they lay straight away or will they need time to readjust?
They are all about 12 mths old - not sure what they are - bantams i guess
We have a dog - Im hoping he will keep the rats away.
How often do i need to clean them out?

Lots of questions

Do they have perches in the shed? they will need them to roost on at night.
I clean my two sheds out thoroughly every week but keep a small spade to sift out poo every day (which then goes on the compost)
they need to eat layers pellets of mash and will want a supply of this all day. I give mine scraps in the afternoon so that they've had a good fill of the pellets in the morning. They drink loads of water and need fresh daily. I use apple cider vinegar to keep worms away.

some will lay straight away, others might be stressed by the move so will go off lay for a week or two.

they can't eat raw potato as its toxic.

umm - can't think of anything else to add to my essay

Thanks
How much apple cider vinegar do you use?

Do they need grit as an extra to the layers pellets of mash.

Do you feed them all day? or just when you get up and let them out in the morning? Do you throw the food on the ground or in special container - food inside or out?

When you lock them up at night do you put water in the shed as well?

Can they eat the potato skin?

apple cider vinegar, something like 10mls to 5L (I have to check the bottle!)

yes, they need grit for digestion and also oyster shell to keep shells on their eggs healthy and hard.
pellets need to be available to them as required and you can buy the proper feeders to put it in. I keep the food under cover in case it rains.
when they are locked up i don't have water in their house, last thing they do before bed is have a big drink and with all the perches it would just be spilled.
yes can eat potato skin so long as its cooked.