[Pixiewish]

Looks like I'm getting my hens in August so I wonder if you lovely people can review my shopping list and point out anything essential I'm missing.

Coop
Run
feed bin
Feeder
drinker...I believe the mushroom style ones freeze a lot in winter? and is plastic or galvanised better?
bedding for floor of run (will be on concrete)
?bedding for nest box? what is best for this and should it be different from main run flooring?
Layers pellets
tray/plant pot to act as dust bath with soil/compost/sand mixture
Diamatous earth stuff for mites/lice to go in dust tray/bedding
disinfectant ?stalosan f/poultry shield
apple cider vinegar
flubenvet wormer
treats such as mealworms and corn.

I think that's all i can think of.
Grit
Oyster shell

[jhub]

Hello
purple spray to disguise any wounds incurred from pecking order disputes. Chickens tend to to go into attack mode if they see red.
Jane

[Fisherman]

Hemcore is good for the coop bedding and nest boxes. It can be bought from horse feed suppliers.
Frontline for kittens / cats is good for external bugs. Search the site on how to use it. Best to buy it on-line as its cheaper.

Play bark chippings is good for a concrete run so I believe.

When you get your birds I would treat them in the first couple of weeks with Flubenvet and Frontline. Probably best not to use them both at the same time.

Poultry shield is a good disinfectant.

The following may help: -

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=75787.0

Enjoy

[helens-hens]

Its good that you have decided to go ahead and get some hens - I am sure you won't regret it!

Re the drinkers, I started off with a galvanised metal drinker but found it quite hard to keep clean. I now have a couple of plastic ones. When its very cold make sure you bring the water in at night (nightmare to try and break through the ice first thing in the morning).

I use straw in the nest box and a mixture of straw and wood shavings on the floor of the hen house. Everybody has their own preferences but this works for me. On the floor of the hen house I also have some cheap rubber car mats topped by newspaper, this is to stop any dampness from the droppings dirtying the wooden floor.

As far cleaning is concerned when I do a thorough clean out I spray the inside of the hen house (particularly any nooks and crannies) and roof area with poultry shield which is a disinfectant as well as anti redmite. The stalosan f is great in damp conditions to sprinkle around.

You may also want to think about getting a bin or compost bin for droppings and soiled bedding (depends what you intend doing with it).

If you haven't already it is also worth having a pet carrier in case you urgently need to separate one or take one to the vets.

Hope this helps

[Pixiewish]

Thanks for the replies. Couple of things to add then.

Already have a compost bin, but what would be the other options for disposal?

have 3 cat carriers for our cats and I have read they are fine for transporting chickens.

i'll have a read of using frontline, seems convinient as we already have it for the cats.

[grinling]

You are not permitted to sell excess eggs if using frontine, I use louse powder.
Do not use hay only straw. I line the nest boxes with newspaper before putting in straw. I use a plastic water feeder and food feeder, both are hung to stop mice/rats, water feeder is replaced in winter with a bowl.
Roof the run and make the door big enough to take the house in and out. Raise house on bricks to see if rats underneath.
Feed bin should be metal. Compost poo but bin the other stuff, I burn mine.
2 small flowerpots held in ground with spikes for grit and oyster shell.
Mine make their own dust bath.
Try to visit someone with chooks.

[Pixiewish]

Thanks grinling

Don't think we'll have excess eggs to sell anyway, but useful to know.

Am off to visit a chicken-owner tomorrow