The Poultry Keeper

bailey-bops07 · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Dorset

Hi everyone

Well, new (old!!) ex-batts arriving in 3 weeks, house should be here next week, keeping everything crossed.

Just wanted to ask if I need EVERYTHING on this list?? I've seen it all mentioned but not sure what I need to get me started. Any help and advice would be very welcome.

Red Mite Powder
Diatom
ACV
Poultry Spice
Grit / Oyster Shell

I'm going to get feeder and water container, also sack of layers mash and some corn. Is it a good idea to switch to layers pellets after a while or are they happy with what they know?

Thanks

Dopey · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject:

Get the feeder with the slats around the bowl, that way they wont kick and push the food out (as much)

NannyP · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

You've certainly got lots of things to help them recover from their rehoming.

Diatom, on it;s own, will worm and eal with red mite...so the RM powder might not be appropriate.
ACV in one drinker, and plain water in another will give them some tonic when they want it.

Poultry Spice in their food will be useful, but read the directions and only give now and again for a tonic.

They may not be able to manage layers, as their beaks may have been clipped. If their beaks grow back, they may be able to manage pellets in the future.

Maize (corn) for treats, and as they are ex batts, maybe 2 or 3 times per week at bedtime, for the first month. They'll get all the nutrion they need from the mash, so don't over feed on extra's (corn = chocolate!)

Grit somewhere they can help themselves, and there should be added grit anyway in the mash/pellets.

Good Luck and make sure you have enough room in your housing for all the other chickens you'll be hankering after within weeks Very Happy

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1099 Location: Sussex

Whats the best wormer to use? and also when using layers mash, do you give it to them dry or mix with water?

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1960 Location: Cheshire

Its an expensive old time when you get started isntit! I remember every month for my first three months needing something else and wondering if the shopping list would ever end!!!

bailey-bops07 · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Dorset

That really isn't what I needed to hear!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1960 Location: Cheshire

Sorry lol!

OK, heres my basic shopping list:
Drinker - £5 - 30
Feeder - £5 - 30
Layers mash/pellets - £6
Wood shavings for bedding - £5 for at least a months supply
Poultry Grit - £2-3 will last a few months
Ant powder (its cheaper than redmite powder but contains the same ingredient) - £2 - 3-4 months supply
A good quality chicken coup cleaner. £15 worth the expense. I use Poultry sheild butt here are other types.

My desirable shopping list:
Mixed corn - £? cant remember ! about £8? Lasts forever!!!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar - £2
Flubenvet wormer (or something else of your choice) - £15
Poultry spice - not essential - £10

So not too bad if you shop wisely!

bailey-bops07 · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 10 Location: Dorset

That's not too bad, certainly looks better than the list I have!!

Mind you, cant find a decent feeder for less than £20. Are the plastic ones any good? I'm worried the food will all get spoiled when it rains.

I've priced up most things, just wondered where you get the ACV so cheap - I can only find 5 litre containers at over £12 - can't find anywhere that does smaller amounts. Also, if the ACV is a tonic, can I do without the poultry spice (or have I got that completely wrong??)? Or do they actually need either of them, or is it just a bonus if they get them??

Going shopping tomorrow for their bits and pieces and can envisage coming out with tons of stuff that will sit and gather dust!!

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1099 Location: Sussex

My basic shopping list is.. Layers pellets (lasts a while now i have netted the run, i.e. wild birds eating the food) Straw, lasts ages a bale from the local farm is 1.40 i think. I recently just bought a new galvanised feeder for 30 quid, well worth the money, i only have to fill it up every few days and it is rain proof! My chickens have 2 washing up bowls for water which have cover (so no leafs fall in and make it manky) and theres all the other bits which last ages like mite powder etc...

Goodluck!

NannyP · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

Yes ACV or Poultry Spice will be fine.

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:25 pm Post subject:

and I'm not using either at the moment but I think I would use one for ex-batts! If you can keep the food inside or in shelter then do so - I keep mine inside, the rain falls horizontally here sometimes!

JC · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1099 Location: Sussex

Do layers pellets have oyster shell in them?

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7364 Location: isle of lewis

you can do it cheaply
my first coop an old sofa nothing ,boarded around to make a house
the layers mash about 4 pounds when i started cost of ply and still going
mixed corn the same ,although the price is unavoidible on this Wink

2 old suacepans

i use dog feeing bowls for water now although i have to feeders plastic ones just keeps it neater Wink

a bale of straw although i took a bit of the stuff i buy anyway for the goats Wink

but then i've always been a cheapskate Embarassed

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2620 Location: South Cumbria

I now use spring feeders on old plastic buckets, less waste and mice and rats can't get any, but when I started I had a 3foot length of plastic guttering with blocks of wood on each end to block the sides and make feet with a strip of wood along the length to stop them getting their feet in could easily be lifted inside outside depending on the weather and a washing up bowl £1 for water, now I have automatic drinkersm yes I am lazy but also a lot older lol Rolling Eyes

Sparklepeeps · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 1960 Location: Cheshire

Plastic feeders seem to be fine, but plastic drinkers seem to perish in the sun after about a year - well all mine did, but they are cheap to buy in the first place and could be replaced with better quality ones when they finally perish.

I have one of these spring feeders (£3.99)

, and I used a big tupperware box that I got from asda with a lid and a tough handle for £1.77 so that worked out dead cheap.

Oh, I forgot to add to my essential list (and its not a cheap), unless you keep the layers mash indoors until you get round to buying one, you will need a galvanised rubbish bin to store the food in - £25