The Poultry Keeper

Nisi · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 164 Location: Yorkshire

Hi
I am hoping to collect 4 p.o.l hens tomorrow. I have a large house and run ready for them. It is rather like a large rabbit hutch (with solid doors) in an aviary. But that is all ! i am a little confused about what I should put on the floor of the run (it is concrete) and what I should put on the floor of the house. I also need advice on lighting in the winter. From what I have read it seems that I have to light the run rather than the house. So does that mean that I leave them in the run from say 8am to 8pm with the light on when needed ? Also should, food, grit and water be in the house ?
I would greatly appreciate any advice you could give me.

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

Hiya

You can use wood chips (not bark chips) for the run and wood shavings or hempcore for the house

Food water, can either be inside or out (I have some in both)

You don't need lighting at all (except as an aid for yourself if you want to check on them at night) unless you want to get more eggs during the darker winter months
around 14 hours of light is the optimum for egg production

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Hi Nisi,

Here is a thread that is all about a newbie to the chicken world. It will cover most of the items that you need to know about. Wink

http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1619

Welcome and tell us what breed you will be picking up tomorrow. Very Happy

Nisi · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 164 Location: Yorkshire

Thank you George and Deb for your incredibly quick advice.

Could you tell me George where I can obtain wood chips and shavings. I don't mean literally but are they from animal feed suppliers, diy stores, carpenters ? Could I use straw until I can source what I need ?

Deb, I am not sure yet about the breed, I am going to Glencroft Poultry as they are the only suppliers I have found in Yorkshire. I liked the look of the Buttercups and the Daisy Belles but they are not available at present so it may be the Black Rocks or whatever I like the look of that will lay good sized brown eggs every day ! Any suggestions would be welcome.

I am so pleased to have found this wonderful site. My first efforts on google resulted in Hen Night Parties and Chicken Fast Food outlets !!

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

Hiya

Animal feed suppliers or Garden centers stock them.
But often the best place to go is the Farm/Equestrian suppliers. Pets shops also have wood shavings (though it's probably more expensive)

NannyP · Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject:

Nisi wrote

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Hello Nisi and well done for aking the plunge into chickenhood ~ is that a good word or not? I think straw would be fine until you can source the other things. I got wood chips from a local garden centre but I believe some people have been able to get them from b&q ~ don't get the coloured ones though they might not be good for the girls. Is the run covered or will the straw get rained on? If the run isn't covered it might be an idea to cover a part of it to keep the food dry ~ it can go mildewwy if it gets wet.
I've got a couple of meadowsweets ~ a daisybelle and a bluebelle (odd colouring though ~ that's why I picked her).
Maybe you could get some ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) as well to help them to settle in 20mls to the litre of water one week each month. You want the cloudy stuff which you can ususally get at horsey type outlets.
Have fun with your girls and let us know what you come home with tomorrow

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Hi Nisi!

I'm on Yorkshire too!!!

Where abouts are you? I'm East Yorkshire

Debs

P.S Welcome - it really is great here!

Nisi · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 164 Location: Yorkshire

Hi

Thank you all for your warm welcome and helpful advice.

I found another supplier in Yorkshire and went there on Saturday. The place was terrible with birds kept in awful conditions. I wanted to rescue them all ! So, on Sunday we went to Glencroft. What a difference ! Absolutely lovely, nice and clean with healthy looking birds. It was a bit difficult to decide, but because they were already living together, I got 2 Blue Belles and 2 Black Stars/Rocks all 16 weeks old. I am amazed at how big they are and how big the 'droppings' are !

I put them into the house gave them food and water and kept a low profile. I went in a couple of times with some corn in my hand and they loved that. One came out into the run and the other 3 stood in the house facing the back. But because of what I had read I was expecting that.

This morning 3 came out and by lunchtime no 4 is out. They welcome my visits with lovely little noises and although still nervous seem to have settled very quickly. They are frightened of the noise the rooks who live behind us make but I'm sure they'll soon get used to them.

Could anyone explain to me the importance of perching ? They have a perch of the correct dimensions and have been on it but I seem to get the impression that it is vital that they use it at night ?

Debs - I am 6 miles north of Leeds.

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Oooo, pics of the new girls soon please.

Perching is NOT a requirement...it is nice though as they stay cleaner and your nest boxes stay MUCH cleaner. Wink

Aussie Chick · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:31 pm Post subject:

how exciting, new girls. Pics please.

Nisi · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 164 Location: Yorkshire

I sent him indoors, outdoors to see if the girls had put themselves to bed as per the textbook. Yes he said they've all gone to bed. Five minutes later he came back with a torch in his hand "I just thought I should check and they're all under the house"! So I have just had to trick each one with corn and put them in the house by torchlight. It's a good job they're not very bright !

I'll stop worrying about the perching business now, thank you.

Whilst they are safe in the run we do have foxes living in the woods behind the house and I don't want them to get frightened !

I have taken pics of the girls but I don't know how to show you them. I tried clicking image but then when nothing happened I gave up. I will try again tomorrow.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 9:02 pm Post subject:

Look in golden nuggets it shows you how.

Nisi · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 164 Location: Yorkshire

[img]http://freespace.virgin.net/daniel.lewry/nisi's chickens.jpg[/img]

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661