The Poultry Keeper

HelenP · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144 Location: GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In preparation for getting 'my girls' at the weekend can I just check the following is what I should be doing..... layers pellet is their staple food and should be fed at 130g per bird, they have to have water (obviously) and one week in a month I should add acv to it. I give mixed corn (daily??)and also kitchen scraps (peelings/veg/pasta/rice etc). Pellets and water have to be available to them all the time - mine won't be able to access food/water at night though. Do I just fill the feeder up (think I have a 5kg one) and top up as necessary or should I fill daily with just the amount required? I've read on here folk talking about wormers. Should I worm - if so how and how often - I'm used to worming cats and dogs and that's by tablet. Many thanks for answering my questions (which as you can appreciate are rather basic at the moment!). Helen

mojo · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:21 am Post subject:

here goes feed and clean water add lib.......ACV in plastic container at 2% 1 in 4 weeks ........half hand corn per bird spread about one hour before bed....no more.......makes them fat........no potatoe peelings...dont overdo treats ........check with supplier birds are wormed .hope this helps ........best of luck....mojo

HelenP · Joined: 12 Mar 2006 Posts: 144 Location: GLOUCESTERSHIRE

assuming the birds are wormed (should be cos they are vaccinated) how often should this be repeated - annually or every 3/4 months or so? Thanks

nigel · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:11 am Post subject:

flubenvet is the only licenced poultry wormer in the UK, you can buy it without prescription from feed merchants (Vets can prescribe other medication). Some feed merchants even do layers pellets pre dosed with flubenvet, which saves the mixing.

It is recommended to worm your birds at least twice a year. If you use flubenvet at the recommended dosage there is no withdrawal period for the eggs.

CP · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:25 am Post subject:

Our feeder is just topped up when it gets low, as they seem to feed as & when they're hungry.
They won't stuff themselves with the pellets, but it's a different story with mixed corn! That should only be as Mojo says - as a treat. It's like sweets to them. Very Happy

We feed potato peelings, but only cooked, & they love them. They also like cooked carrots & cauliflower, but not raw ones. Cabbage, left over rice, pasta, peas, etc. Some like broccoli but mine don't like it raw.

Try them with anything really & see what their tastes are. But remember no salt or sugar. Mine like chips, but they only have them if no one's sprinkled them with salt! Wink

At weekends, especially in the Winter, I give mine a mix of porridge oats, bread, mixed corn, any left over veg & natural yogurt, with hot water. Fed to them just warm & they go mad over it! Very Happy

All treats should be in moderation though as you don't want fat, unhealthy chickens.

Worm twice a year with Flubenvet in with the pellets for 7 days. Mine also have diatom mixed occasionally with their pellets too (when I remember!) which is supposed to help. Wink

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

No sugar?
I've never heard that before, mine adore left over crumble or apple pies (both of which probably have a high sugar level)

Oh and they adore coconut macaroons (my fault I was busy mutching on it when I went to see them once and still got the bruises to prove it ! )

CP · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:10 am Post subject:

Only no sugar because you don't want fat chickens George! Same as us really - we don't need it, but we love it! A little of what you fancy, and all that. Wink

I must admit to adding left over breakfast cereal to their treats sometimes. They love coco pops. Very Happy

And they have been known to mug the kids for their chocolate bars in the garden!

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Good point, I might have to start them on an exercise regime

train them up to beat all the other teams in 5-a-side football
Wink

fenwoman · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:41 pm Post subject:

CP · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:08 am Post subject:

Nope, don't worry fenwoman. My boys are very protective of their chocolate bars! Wink

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Ben · Moderator Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 1346

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London