omg........ im soooooo excited!!!!

Congratulations    
How exciting for you. Have to say I really like getting the eggs though  Currently trying to find which breed of duck lays blue/green eggs as thats what I would like next

    sorry about that rob!!!!

do you recommend wood chippings? currently the base is a concrete slab (ex greenhouse base) it would have taken forever to get rid of that, but we have some super compost (garden is full of it) and sand, should i put some of that down as well to encourage them to peck around for worms etc?
and we put a roof on it too, thanks to you lot!!!

ps how big do the feeders and water holders need to be for 5-6 hens?
 thanks sorry to be a nuisance!

I haven't bothered with straw, i did at the beginning (only 2 months ago, suuuchhh an expert now NOT!!)  I just use wood shavings.  You can get it in huge bags that they use as horse bedding.  It's much easier to poop a scoop with that.  I go through the coop every day with my marigolds picking up the poop ( they are very good girls and it's mainly under their perches) then i do a full clean out and scrub every second week.  i would also get some red mite powder and some poultry shield for cleaning the coop with and some apple vinegar to add to their water for conditioning.  Chech with the person you are gettin them from on their feed as they might not take to something different.  Good luck, they are lovely animals, mine already respond to clicking fingers and a 'what;s this?'  you'll be suprised how fast they'll run for something tasty.  Oh and greens too, just bog standard spring greens or cabbage or even grass clippings go down a treat

  ive been cracking the whip on hubby and hopefully the runs door will be finshed tomorrow! (or else!!!)good luck stamford!