Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: stamford on July 28, 2008, 09:18
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Hi, Just getting in my provisions at the moment and making sure I have everything before I get the girls ! How long will a 5kg Grit and 5kg of oyster shell last ? Should I be looking at bigger quantities or not really ?
Also, I'm buying my feed in 20kg bags ( Allen & Page ), is this OK ?
Thanks again for the invaluable advice
Cheers for now
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That sze bag of grit lasts me a while and as for food, how many chooks ya gettin :?:
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That sze bag of grit lasts me a while and as for food, how many chooks ya gettin :?:
Hi Jelly, Looking at 4 to start with
Also, I'll be ordering online and looking at www.ascott.biz are they reputable or are there any more good online suppliers I can try ?
At the moment, I need to order :~
Allen & Page Layers Pellets - 20kg
Allen & Page Mixed Corn - 20kg
4 Litre Drinker
3kg Feeder
Oyster Shell - 5kg
Grit - 5kg
Essential wise, is that it for starters ?
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That will last you quite a long time Stamford. As essentials go I would say thats it but for future get yourself some wormer, chook house cleaner and for minor cuts I personally use Tea Tree cream from boots but others on here use purple horsey spray. I cant recommend anyone else to try as I dont live in the UK anymore :D
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That will last you quite a long time Stamford. As essentials go I would say thats it but for future get yourself some wormer, chook house cleaner and for minor cuts I personally use Tea Tree cream from boots but others on here use purple horsey spray. I cant recommend anyone else to try as I dont live in the UK anymore :D
Thanks for the info Jelly, where in SW France are you ? I'm spending 10 days in Normandy next month, whats the weather like normally ?
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We are about 8 hours or so south of Normandy so perhaps you could pm Normandy Mary :wink: the weather down here is fab, normally about 5 degrees warmer than the north of France and between 5-10 hotter thank uk in the summer. Also, not so rainy, when it rains it rains but not ALL the time :D
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Sorry to bump this up a bit - So where do you all get your feed from ? Local suppliers or Online ? I would prefer a good online retailer if available, any suggestions ?
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I ordered mine from a local pet shop who offered me the big bag for about £11 or they'd sell it to me in smaller bags for a small premium. I took the smaller and haven't got through a whole bag yet.
Rob 8)
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I would find a local retailer if I were you. Feed sacks are heavy and expensive to move around by carrier so you'll probably pay more.
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I would find a local retailer if I were you. Feed sacks are heavy and expensive to move around by carrier so you'll probably pay more.
Been quoted £4.95 for delivery which I thought was quite acceptable due to the weight
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:shock:
I've just had a look at their prices! I would definitely find a local retailer!
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:shock:
I've just had a look at their prices! I would definitely find a local retailer!
:oops: Really
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Hi Stamford, I can recommend Ashurst Farm in Leigh, just south of Brockham. Not too far for you.
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Hi Stamford, I can recommend Ashurst Farm in Leigh, just south of Brockham. Not too far for you.
OK Thanks WhatCameFirst, I'll look into them :D
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I get my shell & grit loose by the lb at an independent pet/horse supplier.
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I buy mine by the kilo at a pet suppliers. Am thinking of trying crushed eggshells - anyone tried them?
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Always seemed like a bit of a faff to me. Just been composting them.
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That's what I usually do but they are so lovely and I wondered if the composition of them made the calcium easier for the hens to absorb (?)
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:?:
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OK Ive done some searching today and basically cut my initial feed bill in half so far !! Does anyone heard or know of www.greenmule.co.uk ?
They do Allen & Page growers pellets for £8.49 for 20kg, does this sound reasonable :?:
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I get my feed from a local pet/garden/farm supply store that buys and mills their food locally. Grit comes from the river near my place (rough quartz/granite sand that I bake in the oven to kill nasties before I give to them). I have been giving baked egg shells rather than oyster shell, but I may switch. I've seen all-round foods that have oyster shell and grit included. What do you all think of that option?
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That would be a good option it it is their only source of food. If they range at all then a calcium supplement like oyster shell should be available for them.
A laying hen requires 3g of calcium per day. That's quite a lot !
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Stamford, do you have a Pets at Home or Kennelgate superstores near you? They both sell layers pellets, layers mash and mixed corn. Last ones I bought cost me £6.50, for a 20kg bag.
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I ordered some feed from Ascot before i read this topic :(
Not heard from them yet tho so maybe problem with order . I hope so then I can get feed locally. :wink:
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That's what I usually do but they are so lovely and I wondered if the composition of them made the calcium easier for the hens to absorb (?)
adding a little cod liver oil to their feed once a week (tsp I believe?)will help them absorb the calcium :lol:
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Stamford, do you have a Pets at Home or Kennelgate superstores near you? They both sell layers pellets, layers mash and mixed corn. Last ones I bought cost me £6.50, for a 20kg bag.
Hi PJM - Not sure, will do a quick google to find out but on off my hols tomorrow so have to act quick as I'm getting our chooks a couple of days after getting back !
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Just done a very quick search - Kennelgate ( website under construction ) and Pets@home ( Cant find anything regarding Chickens, except Chicken flavour dog/cat food :shock: :shock:
I'll order my first batch through Greenmule and see how it goes. :wink: