Newbie queries

They will make their own dust bath, they like to choose their own spot (fussy birds)!

The diatom you are talking about is the one you can use in the slurry to paint on the inside of the coop.  It is a very fine powder, loads of info on its other uses on this link

http://diatomx.co.uk/epages/eshop439661.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop439661/Categories/%22Diatom%20for%20Pests%22

Even though they say it is a natural wormer most chicken keepers still worm with Flubenvet to be on the safe side.  You can sprinkle some on their bedding and soil where they decide the dust bath is and this should help against lice.  Again it is a prevention so you may also need to treat with Frontline Kitten.

Dust bath, I use a mixture of ex flower tub peat as mentioned, river sand, (not builders sand) sieved ashes from the BBQ and a dose of RM powder/diatom. Entice them in with a sprinkle of mixed corn.
The newspaper, under the perch is temporary and goes on top of the shavings not as you mentioned under the tray.

Some people put several layers of newspaper under the perches and then remove a layer or two everyday and top up as required.

The pull out drawers are meant to be a convenience, but they are anything but (I know, I have one in my quarantine hutch).

If the drawer is metal, then you will need to cover it with something, as it will ratiate cold and can encourage condensation issues, especially in this cold weather.

Hopefully the hens will not have access to the dropping tray, and therefore it would be easy enough to open up a newspaper and take out the top sheet every day.

Ah thanks everyone, this advice is very helpful and will certainly save me one D'OH moment.....am sure i will have plenty more though hehe 

Will no doubt have some more questions over the weekend as its operation set up this weekend!

Cheers

Claire 

I was a newbie chicken keeper three years ago and the best advice I can give is 'don't worry be happy and a take it as it comes. Your chickens will soon have you trained and doing what they like!!

We bumbled our way through from the beginning, starting with 6 and we now have 10. If a problem came up we researched it and dealt with it.

Don't get too hung up about how do it. Just feel your way into it. So they long as they are kept clean, fed and watered they will reward you with eggs and loads of fun. They all have their own personalities.

If you are going to give them treats, e.g fresh vegetables etc give it to them in the late afternoon or evening otherwise they will fill up on treats and not eat the layers pellets so you will not get so many eggs. That was ine we found out the hard way.

Also get them to take the treats from your hands and get them hand tame. THis will make it easier if you ever have to catch hold of them in a hurry.

We had some right escape artists. the chief one's name  was Nutty. A reason for that! SHe would find a way out and lead all the others out to the tomato plants! Or if I were hanging out the washing I would look down and find a flock of chickens round my feet, OK if you are around all day but a beggar if you want to nip out to the shops and have to round them all up.

As for vacinating or not and not mixing vacinated chooks with unvacinated.
We got our girls from a reputable source and they were all vacinated. Four of those have died over time but the one we bought from  the farm that we stay on holiday at, wasn't vacinated and she is the fittest of the lot. A beautiful cream legbar that lays gorgeous blue eggs.

So, don't stress, enjoy them, watch them and you will soon learn what you need to do. They are the most amazingly funny timewasters on the planet.