[Ma Lowe]

Hi all,

I am just trying to get a list together of the things I need to get before we get any hens. We are thinking of having  4-6 hens and wondered what size feeders and drinkers we would need. Also how big a bag of Layers pellets should we buy and do they have a long or short shelf life and the same with regards to the corn mix?
What is the best thing to store the food in.
Any other advise would be greatly appreciated too please.

Many thanks

[beulah59]

we've only had our ex-batts four days ... but the smaller drinker and feeder are too easily toppled. So we've bought a couple of large, heavy dog bowls to use alongside the larger feeder and drinker ...

[Ma Lowe]

Thanks beulah59.
I don't want to go and buy the small ones only to find I should have had the med or even large ones. I am thinking maybe bigger is better that way they have plenty of food and water and I don't have to keep refilling

[joyfull]

Please change your water regularly though so that you don't get green algae, don't let the feed get damp as this promotes mould.  joyxx

[Ma Lowe]

Please change your water regularly though so that you don't get green algae, don't let the feed get damp as this promotes mould.  joyxx

Hi joyfull
So would it be better to get the smaller feeder & Drinker so that they are changed more often??  How often do you refill the food and the water in a day?

[joyfull]

I have several water containers dotted around (have 12 chickens and 2 cockerels all free ranging) and the water is changed daily. My feeders are (again several) are either the ones with top hats or are placed undercover to prevent rain getting in (this ensures their food is kept dry) and placed away nightly to help keep rats away. They are then topped up in the morning. Every week I wash all drinkers/dishes out with a solution of vanodine disinfectant. If any feed gets damp I throw it away. The type of feeders you choose to use is entirely up to you - the ones of mine undercover are just shallow dishes - some people use saucepans, pot dog bowls (nice and heavy), cat litter trays etc. The water dishes can be shallow buckets (£1 from our local £1 type of shop), dishes, mushroom shaped water drinkers and for mine I have just ordered from a company called solway feeders (thanks to Grannie Annie for the recommendation) two 15 litre barrel type drinkers which is enough for mine even on the hottest days - should summer ever return  .  Joyxx

[Ma Lowe]

Thank you that is really helpful, 

[GrannieAnnie]

We have a collection of different feeders and drinkers from when they are chicks up to adult. 

But for most of the adult birds including our 15 layers, we have a red 12kg feeder which is kept topped up every few days and I use for them a 2 gallon half height black bucket for their water, but like Joyfull says, just make sure your water doesn't go green!

I'd say one of the 9litre drinkers would be fine for your girls like this one.

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/productsdetail1.asp?STOCK_CODE=1805

Anything too small is easily knocked over  and a feeder similar to this:

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/productsdetail1.asp?STOCK_CODE=1808

[colliebird]

Hi all,

I am just trying to get a list together of the things I need to get before we get any hens. We are thinking of having  4-6 hens and wondered what size feeders and drinkers we would need. Also how big a bag of Layers pellets should we buy and do they have a long or short shelf life and the same with regards to the corn mix?
What is the best thing to store the food in.
Any other advise would be greatly appreciated too please.

Many thanks

Poultry food is usually only sold in 20kg bags which, with my 6 hens, a bag lasts almost 4 weeks (I've got 3 Black Rock, 1 Bluebell and 2 Sussex white)  I also have a bag of mixed corn (20kg) which is sometimes given as a treat at the end of the day, unless theyve had apples, bread, tomatoes and other fruit.
Bags of food should be kept in rodent proof bins, either metal or the big heavy black plastic ones.
I never put food or drink outside, it is always in the chicken house so they go in to feed and drink, otherwise the wild birds help themselves to the food and it also attracts rodents, which are also around during daytime as well as during the night.

[colliebird]

Anything too small is easily knocked over  and a feeder similar to this:

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/productsdetail1.asp?STOCK_CODE=1808

I hang my drinkers and feeders on chains from the roof to keep the hens from chucking the shavings into them.  Finding drinkers full of shavings is a nuisance and water had to be changed several times a day.

[beulah59]

Please change your water regularly though so that you don't get green algae, don't let the feed get damp as this promotes mould.  joyxx

Hi joyfull
So would it be better to get the smaller feeder & Drinker so that they are changed more often??  How often do you refill the food and the water in a day?

Get the bigger feeders but don't fill them right up?

[dizzylizzie]

Hi , i have 6 chickens, and 3 medium feeders spread around so they would all be able to feed without problems. i only put a small amount in, but keep and eye on i. this cuts down on the amount that gets thrown out, if it run out i just simply top it up. it means i can put clean food in and wash the feeders daily without having loads of waste

[grumpydad]

we have layers pellets and mixed corn in seperate metal bins in the shed, with lids on.

1 water and 1 feeder hung from the roof of the run (which is covered), so the feeder can be lifted and hung up overnight to stop vermin.
seperate feeder and water on the floor at the other end of the run, feeder is one of the ground bird feeders, so it can be lifted up at night.
2 feeders and water, so that the birds can always have access when one is feeling a bit stroppy and hogging one of the feeders.
seperate water outside in the garden for when they are freeranging.

i was advised not to put food in the coop when i started keeping chucks.

if possible raise the coop a couple of feet, it stops rodents living underneath, and give a place for a dust bath.

if you have a shed nearby, keep an eye out for rodents, and if possible try to keep on top of controlling them, we have had the odd one, but have always had them, long before we had chickens, it is a fact of life, they are everywhere, just keep your food safe.

martyn

[GrannieAnnie]

Anything too small is easily knocked over  and a feeder similar to this:

http://www.solwayfeeders.com/productsdetail1.asp?STOCK_CODE=1808

I hang my drinkers and feeders on chains from the roof to keep the hens from chucking the shavings into them.  Finding drinkers full of shavings is a nuisance and water had to be changed several times a day.

whenever I hang their drinkers up, they use them as punchbags!!!

that's why most of the girls hae the half height buckets outside!

[grumpydad]

grannie,
you are breeding chickens not boxers............

lol

martyn