I've been wondering for a few weeks now,how will the chooks cope with their first winter, not only them but am I doing right for them as this is my first venture into poultry. I got them in May this year POL so I'm a bit apprehensive if the weather turns really bad. The 5 of them appear to be in really good condition at the moment. I keep feeding them layer pellets adlib,and late in the afternoon I feed them cooked veg the same as me and my wife have for our lunch,we always cook more than we want so theirs always some left over,with this I mix about 5ml of cod liver oil,how often a week would you recommend this. On the odd days I do'nt have veg,I cook then diced carrot and swede and also sweetcorn which I purchase from my local Farm Foods freezer supermarket its very cheap 75p for a 750grm bag,they love it I feed them about 8oz between the 5 of them. I also add apple cider vinegar to their drinking water,again can I feed this every day? I mentioned in a previouse posting that I had fitted an automatic pophole opener again I emphasise what a great device this is,o k its not cheap but I consider it worth every penny especially now the cold dark mornings are with us. I've read with great interest on this forum, many threads,some being slightly controversial,one that especially comes to mind is regarding lighting. At first,with being a novice keeper I did'nt know what to think ,because lighting the the coop was something I was considering. Well a while back I purchased a system from Rooster Booster and the outcome as really surprised me at the way the chooks have responded to it.I have placed the main light in the inner coop run,with an extension light in the 8ft run that I built onto the main coop, At this time of the year the light is set by the manufacturer to come on at about 3am, the pophole also opens at this time on the light sensor.The first morning it was set,I got up at 3-30 to check,and yes all 5 were scratting about in the shavings I let them out in the outside run when its daylight about 7-30. What surprised me is when it starts to get dark in the afternoons,obviously at this time of the year no 2 days are the same,e.g. today in Nottingham it was a lovel'y bright sunny clear,bitterly cold day,so they did'nt go into the coop till about 4-15pm but yesterday it was very dark and raining on and off all day and they went in at about
3-15pm,now here's what really surprised me,although the lights were on, on both days the chooks ignored them and went staight up onto the perch and thats where they remained. There is'nt lighting in the perch area,but like I've said there is in the run below and the lights are set to go off at 8-0pm the pophole also closes at this time.So to me this proves the chooks have a mind of their own.The main reason I fitted the Lights was because I did'nt like the idea of them being on the perch from 330pm to 7-30am. As for egg production I got 4 yesterday,2 today,a month ago I was getting 5 most days. A long posting I hope you find it interesting. please reply to my request re;feeding cod liver oil and cider vinegar
Best Wishes Edward