[Pepperpincushion]

So, I have the coop, run, drinker, feeder, pellets, food storage on the way, grit, woodshavings and Haynes manual! Going to get the chickens on Saturday but a few things I'm not sure on;

1) I'm putting woodshavings in the nest box, but do I just leave the floor of the coop bare? (It has a metal lined, pull out tray)

2) Is whole wheat or corn better or is there no difference?

3) Is it OK to do the baked and crushed eggshells instead of oyster shell? Any more detail on how I do this and how much I should give them?

4) What are the essentials of first aid? Gentian violet sounds like it would be useful?  Anything else?

5) Anything else I haven't thought of?

Thankyou! 

[ktc]

I'm replying with the benefit of 2 1/2 weeks' experience so I'm sure someone better qualified will come along soon!  My ladies are getting a small handful of wholewheat and corn as an afternoon treat but being fed on pellets all day.  Think the pellets (layers or growers depending on age) are better for them but they love the wheat and corn.  I also hang some greens in their run for them to peck at.

I think lining the floor of the coop with shavings or something else is good for insulation especially while the nights are cold.  Someone suggested newspaper under the shavings but my hens simply shredded it !

Hope you enjoy your new friends - they're addictive. 

[Lindeggs]

Congratulations on your soon-to-be chickens!

1) I'm putting woodshavings in the nest box, but do I just leave the floor of the coop bare? (It has a metal lined, pull out tray)

You will need something on the floor of the coop to make it easy to clean.  More woodshavings will do nicely.  This insulates it as said by ktc and also makes it much (much!) easier to clean their droppings off.

2) Is whole wheat or corn better or is there no difference?

Again I'll go with ktc here.  You need a properly formulated food as their main diet - usually in pellet form but there are others available.  Both wheat and corn can be fed in tiny quantities as treats.  If the chickens fill up on them they will be missing out on the other nutrients in their main feed.

3) Is it OK to do the baked and crushed eggshells instead of oyster shell? Any more detail on how I do this and how much I should give them?

Assuming your chickens are already laying (or just about to start) most of the calcium they need is already in their food.  It's usually recommended to give them extra shell grit (oyster or eggshell) in another container so they can just take what they need.  So the quantity will depend on how much they choose to eat - just keep topping up the container when it gets low.

Personally I use crushed sea-shells but the instructions I've seen on here for egg shells are just to wash them and bake them (to kill any germs) and crush them (to make the bits unrecognisable as egg shells and small enough to swallow).

4) What are the essentials of first aid? Gentian violet sounds like it would be useful?  Anything else?

Sorry, can't help you with the first aid question

5) Anything else I haven't thought of?

Just to re-check your coop and run again for any gaps they can squeeze out of, and be really sure it's predator-proof!  Good luck!

[Pepperpincushion]

Got some Marriages pellets so that's sorted 
Will put the woodshavings in the main coop as well then.

[compostqueen]

The equine bedding is very good in hen houses as it absorbs urine and smells. Wood shavings won't do that unfortunately

The brands I use are Aubiose and Hemcore which I found to be preferable to Easibed

[cejx]

purple spray will be your best friend - particularly when they are sorting out their pecking order.

[Robster]

Congratulations on the Hens.  It'll be great fun.  First I'd say relax the girls will be fine and they are very forgiving.  I would give crushed oyster shell and wash out and crush the egg shells and put on your compost heap.  Just to avoid egg pecking.
I'd feed a pellet most of the time and give them kitchen scraps and some table left overs.  No too much as its not balanced and knocks them off lay sometimes.  Corn I save to throw in the coop as a treat for scratching around.  I use straw (£5 a bale) as a bedding and have used shredded paper (when I was out of work) all go well in the compost.  I would also layer some paper in the droppings tray as its easier to scrape into the compost.  Have fun you've got some fun ahead