List of things I need for the new arrivals!

Dannii · « **on:** June 15, 2008, 21:39 »

Hi!

As you may have gathered by my other posts my hens are arriving this week and am hoping to have everything organised beforehand!! (I'm so excited!)

The enclosure is completely built, the coop is nearly built (by professional chicken people

) and I am getting wood chips delivered this week...all be it A LOT OF WOOD CHIPS - if any of you in the Herts area wants some please let me know!

So I have tried looking for lists of all the things you need for your new arrivals but they all seem to vary so from the top of my head (not very reliable!) I think I need:

Layers pellets
water & food feeders
red mite treatment for coop (recommend a brand would be fab!)
cabbage (to hang on a string for the little darlings to jump and peck at!)
something to put inside the coop and nest box...hay? is that best?
cleaning fluid for coop (what do you recommend to clean it with?)
grit & flower pot to put it in
something for them to have a dust bath in (cat litter tray?)
What do you use for them to have their dust bath? can u use sand?

ok! cant think of anything else at the moment!! also I want to know if anything in the garden is poisonous to chickens obviously I know chemicals are but in regards to fruits and plants etc i have apple & plum trees also in their enclosure (and going all around the garden is a grape vine) plus lots of plants & shrubs magnolias etc

Thanks for all your help!!

Dannii

mumsy · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2008, 21:52 »

Hi
Sand is absolutely fine for their dust bath, but soil is great, many use cat litter trays but mine bathe in the dry soil in their run under cover, I add soil & sand to the hole

Chopped, dust free straw for the nest box, or shavings, not hay.
Oyster shell mixed with the grit.
There are plenty of products about to treat/prevent red mite. Google it
I also use a louse powder to dust them with & a seperate powder for their
bedding.
A wormer will be needed too.
It will all fall into place..........I know how eggcited you are

Good luck Dannii, & don't forget the pics when they arrive.

Foxy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2008, 22:50 »

I would spray the henhouse when finished as a preventative -lots of people use Poultry Shield.
A good powder is Diatom or Mitex the same thing. You can use this both in the nestbox, perches and the birds themselves. Give them a dusting when they arrive just to make sure they haven't got any "unwanted guests"

mumsy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2008, 20:43 »

I forgot the mixed corn for late afternoon treats.........
& lots of spare time to sit & watch them........

treacleminer · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2008, 20:59 »

Sounds good. - but avoid hay for nest boxes/ floor - think it can contain spores which aren't good for them.. I use wood shavings - by in a big bag from farm supplies etc.
Enjoy your chooks - they add a certain 'something' to the garden!

poultrygeist · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2008, 21:04 »

Hi Danii,

We use wood shavings in the coop and straw in the nest box but you'll see what you prefer.
For the dust bath, you may find a lsightly deeper tray, maybe a plastic storage box, is better as the contents won't be thrown across the ground so easily

They do tend to flick it about a lot.

If you get Poultry Shield for cleaning, you'll want a sprayer for it. It needs to be diluted first. Diatom/Mitex sounds brilliant though we haven't used it.
There's been a few threads about plants and it seems that they'll decide for themselves what they can and can't eat but the CAN list is a lot longer. I would guess if any grapes, apples or plums fall off, they won't have a chance to hit the ground.

Enjoy yourself.

Rob

peggyprice · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2008, 22:41 »

Spare batteries for your camera. We require LOTS of pictures

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List of things I need for the new arrivals!

Foxy

treacleminer

poultrygeist