OK, I am completely new to all this. The coop is ready to be assembled and a run has been built ready for the four new arrivals. Before we get them, I need to know I have everything in place for our new adventure so I would really appreciate some suggestions for my shopping list. Please let me know anything I need, however trivial it may sound.
Shopping List please
- Thread starter Anni D
- Start date
rick
Active member
Hi Anni D, I'll have a go at this! (starter for 10)
Food - pellets or crumble, both good. (Smallholder range a favorite here)
Grit - usually comes as mixed grit with oyster shell. But if they are scratching and foraging in open soil then will get enough anyway so less important (they must have grit from somewhere)
Bowls or feeders - inc a water bowl or two. Bowls or hoppers need to be raised off the ground by a couple of inches - chickens kick bedding, soil, anything around into food and water with remarkable efficency! But not too high either, it's a ballance.
Auboise or shavings for covered runs (when not on grass) and nesting box. Auboise is really good stuff.
Some mealworms, sunflower seeds (not in shells), grapes, for bribery! But not more than 5% of daily food. They need their pellets however much they try to convince you otherwise!
Greens (various mostly brassica) - as much as they want.
No long grass or potato peel!
A dust bath (basically soil in a tub) - If they can't make there own.
All sorts of other stuff (mostly first aid and supplements) but some vasiline for combs in very cold weather is number one.
A good pan for all the eggs your going to get!
(I presumed they were point-of-lay or older. Young pullets/chicks have other needs)
Food - pellets or crumble, both good. (Smallholder range a favorite here)
Grit - usually comes as mixed grit with oyster shell. But if they are scratching and foraging in open soil then will get enough anyway so less important (they must have grit from somewhere)
Bowls or feeders - inc a water bowl or two. Bowls or hoppers need to be raised off the ground by a couple of inches - chickens kick bedding, soil, anything around into food and water with remarkable efficency! But not too high either, it's a ballance.
Auboise or shavings for covered runs (when not on grass) and nesting box. Auboise is really good stuff.
Some mealworms, sunflower seeds (not in shells), grapes, for bribery! But not more than 5% of daily food. They need their pellets however much they try to convince you otherwise!
Greens (various mostly brassica) - as much as they want.
No long grass or potato peel!
A dust bath (basically soil in a tub) - If they can't make there own.
All sorts of other stuff (mostly first aid and supplements) but some vasiline for combs in very cold weather is number one.
A good pan for all the eggs your going to get!
(I presumed they were point-of-lay or older. Young pullets/chicks have other needs)
Chicketeer
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Hi Anni
I'm fairly new to keeping chickens too and love it, sure you will too.
I am going to suggest some mundane, but useful items such as:
Bucket for cleaning purposes
Small shovel
Small plastic scraper
Scrubbing Brush
Rubber Gloves (very necessary in my view)
Bird feeder to put greens in - keeps them occupied for ages
I wear overalls when cleaning out
Poultry Shield is brilliant for cleaning off organic matter
I'm fairly new to keeping chickens too and love it, sure you will too.
I am going to suggest some mundane, but useful items such as:
Bucket for cleaning purposes
Small shovel
Small plastic scraper
Scrubbing Brush
Rubber Gloves (very necessary in my view)
Bird feeder to put greens in - keeps them occupied for ages
I wear overalls when cleaning out
Poultry Shield is brilliant for cleaning off organic matter
Hi Anni and welcome to the Forum.
There's actually a long thread about what to keep in stock for chickens, here
http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=844
Don't feel you have to rush out and buy it all, though! Different keepers each have their own priorities, and you will come to know what's important in your own situation.
Chickens are easy to keep so long as you obtain healthy stock to start with, give them enough space (minimum of 2square metres of run floor space EACH is recommended if not allowed out to free range for most of the time, as overcrowding causes stress and feather pecking and aggression/ bullying.) Keep their run and coop clean by daily poo picking, provide fresh water in a clean drinker, give them a simple diet nearly all pellets with some greens and minimal treats of mixed corn or malworms (good for taming them, but very fattening) and no human leftover food, worm them regularly with Flubenvet, and watch out for parasites such as red mite. And, of course, keep them safe from predators. Foxes are only too common everywhere and will kill all your precious birds in a very short time if they're able to get into your garden or even dig into the run. We've had some heartbreaking stories on here, I'm afraid.
Have you noticed the main Poultrykeeper website? (see link at the bottom of each page on the forum.) It's a wonderful resource for anyone who keeps poultry, and has quite a lot of helpful advice for first-time owners.
There's actually a long thread about what to keep in stock for chickens, here
http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=844
Don't feel you have to rush out and buy it all, though! Different keepers each have their own priorities, and you will come to know what's important in your own situation.
Chickens are easy to keep so long as you obtain healthy stock to start with, give them enough space (minimum of 2square metres of run floor space EACH is recommended if not allowed out to free range for most of the time, as overcrowding causes stress and feather pecking and aggression/ bullying.) Keep their run and coop clean by daily poo picking, provide fresh water in a clean drinker, give them a simple diet nearly all pellets with some greens and minimal treats of mixed corn or malworms (good for taming them, but very fattening) and no human leftover food, worm them regularly with Flubenvet, and watch out for parasites such as red mite. And, of course, keep them safe from predators. Foxes are only too common everywhere and will kill all your precious birds in a very short time if they're able to get into your garden or even dig into the run. We've had some heartbreaking stories on here, I'm afraid.
Have you noticed the main Poultrykeeper website? (see link at the bottom of each page on the forum.) It's a wonderful resource for anyone who keeps poultry, and has quite a lot of helpful advice for first-time owners.
valeriebutterley
New member
I think very important too, up close and personal and chat to them, mine all love it, even the very vocal and lively Anconas now love to be chatted up and help with the housework with their coops, love to tell me how to do things.
Also a large tub of Diatomaceous earth for any redmite, or other crawlies, is one of the best things you can do to keep them pest free, I apply mine with a small Harris paint brush around the mite attracting bits, neck, under wings and fluffy bum.
Also a large tub of Diatomaceous earth for any redmite, or other crawlies, is one of the best things you can do to keep them pest free, I apply mine with a small Harris paint brush around the mite attracting bits, neck, under wings and fluffy bum.
And learn the right way to pick them up - one hand over the back of the hen's neck, the other hand slides under her tummy from back towards the front, and you then hold her legs, separated by one finger to cushion them. Lift gently and move the top hand so it goes round her body and over her wings. She can either be pointing forwards, so you can talk to her, or backwards, so you don't risk getting poo down your clothes whilst you clip her toenails, inspect her bum etc ( sorry - there's a lot of bum inspection involved!) main thing is to hold the legs gently but firmly so she can't scratch you and then she quickly settles down in your arms. Avoid lifting her with both hands over her wings as her legs will flail and she will panic and scratch you.
rick
Active member
Marigold said:
Ah! (the sound of penny dropping)
They do kind of get used to one way of being picked up and get in a flap when experimenting with other ways. Will try again the other way round!
rick
Active member
Been watching a video on youtube of a guy practically juggling his chickens (an exaggeration!) - along the lines of handling that you were talking about Marigold. My hens are not so impressed by my attempts so far (not trying it with Teabag - she still has pin feathers coming through)
Don’t get me wrong, I pick them up regularly but like a bag of chips and then hold them against my side. OK for stroking their necks and talking to them but useless for giving them a proper look over.
Going to take a bit of practice I think and would have been easier maybe to get them used to this from the start but defiantly the best way to go.
Don’t get me wrong, I pick them up regularly but like a bag of chips and then hold them against my side. OK for stroking their necks and talking to them but useless for giving them a proper look over.
Going to take a bit of practice I think and would have been easier maybe to get them used to this from the start but defiantly the best way to go.
I didn't say that the hand over her shoulders should have fingers divided so half go each side of her neck. This will make a mature hen go into the crouch position because she thinks you're a cockerel, which makes it much easier to then slide the other hand underneath and get her legs. If you handle your hens quite often, and get them used to being stroked over their wings, it's easier to get hold of them when you want to actually pick them up now and then. You're right about avoiding this when they're moulting, though. For clipping toenails etc, it's useful to then have somewhere to sit down, so then your spare hand can go over her wings and also hang on to her feet, with the foot you're operating on held round her 'ankle' and pointing forward. Easier than it sounds, once you've got the knack, and it's surprising how fast they give in and settle down once held gently but firmly and unable to flap or scratch you.
I think holding the feet is really important because they're inevitably very dirty and scratches can easily become infected, apart from being painful to the handler.
I think holding the feet is really important because they're inevitably very dirty and scratches can easily become infected, apart from being painful to the handler.
rick
Active member
Re holding chickens for a good inspection.
I was just wondering Marigold (or anyone of course)?
Do you hold the legs between your fingers above the ankle joint? That seems the most secure but between the ankle and foot is also possible. Just wondering what works best for you.
I was just wondering Marigold (or anyone of course)?
Do you hold the legs between your fingers above the ankle joint? That seems the most secure but between the ankle and foot is also possible. Just wondering what works best for you.
I hold mine as high up the thighs as possible, with the feet poking out in front. This is convenient when I want to clip their toenails or inspect their feet. The claw end then becomes useless to the hen, she can't scratch and gives up trying.
rick
Active member
Right, I thought so. Thanks Marigold.
Yes I think when clipping nails I hold the leg not being clipped high up on her thigh, And then move my grip nearer to the claws on the foot I'm clipping, to get a good hold on each toe in turn.
I think that's how I do it, but it's just one of those things I just do, it's very hard to visualise it without an actual hen to hold!
I think that's how I do it, but it's just one of those things I just do, it's very hard to visualise it without an actual hen to hold!
rick
Active member
That's OK. I can picture that. It sounds like there are several variations on achieving pretty much the same thing but Its interesting that you say 'high up on the thigh' is OK (is it a thigh or a calf muscle? but a chicken's 'thigh' yes).
The trouble with photos and videos of chicken handling is that you can get the general idea but there is always a pair of fluffy bloomers in the way of the finer detail!
The trouble with photos and videos of chicken handling is that you can get the general idea but there is always a pair of fluffy bloomers in the way of the finer detail!
