[newChickenMummy]

Hi everyone, we've had our girls for 3 weeks now and love them to bits, no eggs yet though    I just have a few questions to ask.

I give them an ounce each of pellets in the morning and whatever scraps we have each day, plus any caterpillars we can find on our broccolli  :happy: is this enough each day? I'm worried we aren't giving them enough to eat

Also, what is the best thing to put on the bottom of their run? They've already scratched up all the grass and so I put some straw down today but one of them keeps getting it stuck on her beak and earlier she was eating some of it  she is a little dumb bless her the others seem fine with it lol

Other thing I was going to ask was where everyone gets their poultry supplies i.e. shavings, poultry shield, pellets etc. I've looked on a few websites but the postage seems rather a lot. Does anyone know of anywhere reasonable or anywhere I can go to in the Ipswich, Suffolk area?

Thanks
Liz 

[chickenlady]

Hello and welcome!!!  i would give them free access to layers pellets all day! they then take as much as they require and you just top up the feeder when required! cant help with feed/bedding supplier in you area though! would love to see piccies of your girls! 

Debbie

[newChickenMummy]

Thanks for your reply, I did think of doing that but they eat everything in sight am just worried they'll eat the lot or do you think that's only because they aren't getting enough?

Will post some pics of them later (not very clear ones as they always seem to look away lol), hubby built a new run for them last week so will post pics of that too! 

[chickenlady]

They wont eat the lot! but will eat as much as they need! the pellets have everything they need to lay strong healthy eggs! if you limit them, you could end up with problems from thin shells to no eggs at all! the layers are a balanced feed! i get through a 20 kg bag a month between 10 hens!
Debbie

[goodegg]

chickens love to scratch about in the soil and have a dust bath thats why they are doing the digging in your run do they free range or are they just in the run they probably need more food thats why they eat everything in sight

[newChickenMummy]

Ok thanks I'll try it tomorrow and see what happens  . Can I still give them greens and scraps though? I feel bad I haven't been giving them enough, do you think they'll be ok?

They are only in the run, we have a temporary run which I put them in sometimes usually when i'm cleaning them out but thats about it. I have left some dirt uncovered in their run so they can have dustbaths, do you think I should take the straw out? I was just trying to keep it clean as its already very muddy lol!

Trying to post some pics on here, anyone know how to do it, just keeps saying I've exceeded the size 

[Vember]

Hi NCMummy

Welcome to the Hen House

I'd definitely leave food down all day, they wont eat for the sake of it promise Make sure they have access to grit and oyster shell too as grit helps grind up the food and oyster shell helps with egg shell
Still give them the greens but don't over do treats like pasta or bread

What size is the run they are in?

Photo's I find the best way is via photobucket set up an account it's free then copy and paste the img code into the reply box

Sarah

[newChickenMummy]

Here are some pics of my lovelies and their new run, the light one is honey, the two browns are Mrs Butterfly and Fluffy, Honey's about 3 weeks younger than them 

[newChickenMummy]

Hmmm that didn't work at all, i'll try photobucket thanks!

[newChickenMummy]

All that did was post the links, can anyone tell me how to post the actual pics??

[newChickenMummy]

Think It's sorted now newchickenMummy  ~ Vember 

[newChickenMummy]

Arghhhh I give up with the bl**dy thing!!! 

[snowflake]

try this link for stockest see if one in your aera

http://tools.dodsonandhorrell.com/stockists/

they look lovely

[Vember]

Arghhhh I give up with the bl**dy thing!!! 

Hi NCmummy

The code you need is the bottom one on photobucket that says IMG Code next to it, if you copy and paste it on to your reply it will show as {IMG}http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/bla bla bla{/IMG} In your reply box.
But the { } bits should actually be [  ]. 
Then when you press preview you will be able to see the picture

Hope that makes sense Somehow I doubt it I have ways of making people more confused  

Sarah

[henrietta5]

What fabulous pictures and a lovely set up - although with all those great plants in the background I bet the girls will be planning an escape in their direction !