[new_2_veg]

hi ,

ive just got the 3 bantams home and wanted to ask a few things if i may



two of them have just started laying but will the move put them off of a while?


what extras can i safely feed them? i was supplyed with some layers pellets with the birds and they have oyster grit and water in there with them.

if theres anything else i will ask as and when i think of them

please and thank-you

nathan

[Bodger]

The move may put them off their stride for a little but hopefully not for long.
My chickens get the following as extras. Bread scraps, any cooked rice that we have left over, cooked peas if we boil too many. They adore a sliced apple or pear and bananas that have gone past it.
I also feed them currents or sultannas from time to time.

[Foxy]

handful of mixed corn in the afternoons - mine love gone over cherry tomatoes - looks like they are wearing red noses specially as they run around with them!!  

[Vember]

Hi Nathan,

I got 5 new hens 2 weeks ago fetched them a good 70miles, and all bar one carried on laying! Yesterday the fifth joined in, so hopefully you wont have too long to wait

Extra's wise pretty much the same as Bodger although I am naughty and give them mealworms on occasion, not too many very high fat content. But I find they help if I want to catch one or get them in for any reason

[new_2_veg]

**news flash**


ive got a egg, how happy am i            

im in shock!




i have a problem tho as one is being picked on! i know its only been hours since i got them so will have to see how it go's


any advice?

thanks

nathan

[Viv]

Well done Nathan and your ladies. They are sorting out the pecking order and hopefully it will soon be sorted out. Once they are all in together tonight they soon seem to sort it all out. Just keep an eye in case it gets too bad.

Can we have sonme piccies soon?

[mumsy]

Now come on Nathan you know the rules.......we need piccies    

[new_2_veg]

as some of you know my bird house is on hard standing i was just wondering if i can give the hens some grass clippings to munch on?


sure i read somewhere that they need lots of greens?  not realy sure what they can have.



and one last question


one of my birds have runny poo :oops:  when i picked them up i saw that they didnt have any oyster grit and when i got them home one was having loads, could this cause the problem?  i hope its nothing major :cry:


thanks

nathan

[poultrygeist]

For pellets, they shouldn't need any extra grit or oyster shell. All included.
However, as was pointed out to me, as soon as they eat something else they need grit to grind it.

So while they're only on pellets, not a prob, but anything else, and they will need some grit.

Grass clippings. We've given ours some no probs. However, I read that the long blades can give them trouble because naturally they only nip the end of the blades off so they could cause compaction in the crop.

If they're otherwise looking and behaving ok, the poo prob isn't a concern. Just keep an eye and report back.

Rob

[new_2_veg]

i cut the grass regular anyway at the most i only cut off 10mm .

yeah they are eating and scratching round ok so will keep a eye out.

ive had another egg today quite a bit bigger than yesterdays

nathan

[Ruby Red]

You can try tying a cabbage onto the inside of the run and sweetcorn. I always have grit/oyster shell for them to use. I fasten that onto the wire inside the run, using one of those budgie half moon containers from the petshop. It stops the stuff being thrown about. I have a bag of combined grit and shell you dont need to but them seperately.