[Ceramictiler]

Hi guys and girls. Im new to this so any help would be great. Just got 5 hybrid pullets. Should have done this years ago. Anyway where is the best place to get my pellets from is there any decent shops online anyone could recommend. Any tips on getting a start up kit. Do I need cider vinegar mite spray etc. I have some pellets and grit and some corn nothing else. Sorry forgot I live in reading Berkshire.

Thanks
Adam

[coopready]

hi adam take a ride into sherfield on loddon where you have scats with a good amount of all you need and reasonably priced to compared to pet shops in the area 

[bantam novice]

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum 

[Ceramictiler]

Nice to be here. Am I the only one who has fallen for these feathered characters. After only three weeks they have become part of the family and we get egggggs

[hillfooter]

With 5 hens you'll need about 4.5kg of pellets a week for a hybrid assuming little or no free ranging.  Find a good local feed merchant and buy in 20kg sacks.  Mainstream manufacturers branded feed is best,  assuming your birds at 16weeks or within spitting distance use layers.  If you have pellets, mixed poultry corn (including flaked maize), and either mixed grit or insoluable grit and oyster shell separately, you have all yoi need.  Don't bother with sprays and powders or supplements.  You can add anything else as you sneed them or see fit to use.  I never feed things without a reason and I never give supplements as a routine feed.

Feed pellets on an ad lib (constantly available in daylight hours as well as fresh water renewed each day.  A handful of corn per bird in the EVENING.  Grit available separately all the time so they help themselves as needed.  That's all you need.  The very ocassional treat or food scraps (it's illegal to feed anything which has come from your kitchen if you are giving/ selling the eggs to others).  Definitely no meat.

Decide on your Red Mite control methodology to start in early March next year you probably won't see any untiln next year at the earliest now.  Diatomaceous Earth is probably worth using for two reasons Red Mite and it helps on wood coops to prevent droppings sticking and they dry and can easily be scraped off rather than washed.  If you want to use a detergent for cleaning use cheap washing up liquid with a slurp of household disinfectant.  If you don't mind spending more Poultry Shield is well respected.

Best of luck
HF

[Ceramictiler]

Great advice many thanks

[bantam novice]

Nice to be here. Am I the only one who has fallen for these feathered characters. After only three weeks they have become part of the family and we get egggggs

Welcome to the addictive world of chicken-keeping    You are in good company here