Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

jungliemac

My 3 pekin bantams certainly have funny personalities. Think my husband is fond of them as well although he makes out like he isn't interested.

diluvsdiscounts

Wammy77,we converted our shed last year and have got four girls.
Under the roosting bars we put down newspaper the same as you said.On the floor we use sawdust and in the nesting box we use shredded paper for two reasons,firstly because its free and secondly it stops having to put paper recycling out.I did read somewhere once though that you can't compost shredded paper but I'm happy to be corrected if anyone knows different.
With regards to food we feed ours layers pellets but kitchen scraps they are not interested in I think the only thing you can't give them is meat you should be ok with fruit&veg etc.
Lastly I do give them their shells back,I wash them and then I tend to throw them into their run as it gives them something to peck at whilst scratting around.
HTH.

mardatha

That opens up a plan B for me... god all this thinking is doing my head in - We have 2 sheds now, but one is too wee & just a jumble inside. I am wondering if it would be better to buy a new shed for the garden stuff (instead of an eglu - not much diff in the price) - and just put the hens in the old shed ? My son is a joiner and he could fit it out , if I knew what it needed. Then shove a chicken wire enclosure beside it and make a pop hole.??? I'm worn oot with all this thinking. I need more tea. :rotfl:

Mojisola

diluvsdiscounts wrote: »

Under the roosting bars we put down newspaper the same as you said.On the floor we use sawdust and in the nesting box we use shredded paper for two reasons,firstly because its free and secondly it stops having to put paper recycling out.I did read somewhere once though that you can't compost shredded paper but I'm happy to be corrected if anyone knows different.
With regards to food we feed ours layers pellets but kitchen scraps they are not interested in I think the only thing you can't give them is meat you should be ok with fruit&veg etc.
Lastly I do give them their shells back,I wash them and then I tend to throw them into their run as it gives them something to peck at whilst scratting around.

Shredded, or torn-up, paper will compost better than sheets of paper but it can't be used to make good quality recycled paper which is why a lot of councils won't accept it in the road-side collections.

Our chooks have all sorts of kitchen scraps and love them. Chickens are omnivores and will have a go at most things but definitely have things they like best.

It's not usually advised to return egg shells in their natural state to the run. Eventually at least one hen will realise what they are and will start to peck at the new-laid eggs before you get them. Crushing the shells and lightly grilling them makes them different enough so the hens get the benefit of the calcium without making the connection to their eggs.

mardatha

Is anybody here a member of The Poultry Keeper forum ? I joined yesterday after seeing it mentioned in here and today when I tried to log in, it told me there was a permanent ban on my username !!!:eek: I havent done anything!
Yet !

wammy77

diluvsdiscounts wrote: »

Wammy77,we converted our shed last year and have got four girls.
Under the roosting bars we put down newspaper the same as you said.On the floor we use sawdust and in the nesting box we use shredded paper for two reasons,firstly because its free and secondly it stops having to put paper recycling out.I did read somewhere once though that you can't compost shredded paper but I'm happy to be corrected if anyone knows different.
With regards to food we feed ours layers pellets but kitchen scraps they are not interested in I think the only thing you can't give them is meat you should be ok with fruit&veg etc.
Lastly I do give them their shells back,I wash them and then I tend to throw them into their run as it gives them something to peck at whilst scratting around.
HTH.

Thanks for the info I too feed them layer pellets and corn treats (which they love!) but haven't tried any fruit or veg yet.... will give that a go next week I think

Mojisola wrote: »

Shredded, or torn-up, paper will compost better than sheets of paper but it can't be used to make good quality recycled paper which is why a lot of councils won't accept it in the road-side collections.

Our chooks have all sorts of kitchen scraps and love them. Chickens are omnivores and will have a go at most things but definitely have things they like best.

It's not usually advised to return egg shells in their natural state to the run. Eventually at least one hen will realise what they are and will start to peck at the new-laid eggs before you get them. Crushing the shells and lightly grilling them makes them different enough so the hens get the benefit of the calcium without making the connection to their eggs.

Thanks for the tips - think I'll stick with the paper as it's free I too read that you have to bake the shells to change them enough that they won't peck their own eggs

oldandhappy

;)We pay £3.00 for a large sack of wood chips at our local chicken farm and these seem happy on it but there 1st choice would be grass...ours are penned and have never been free but the risks here of foxes is huge(farmland and open fields joins us) and we do not want an electric fence so penned it is...they are happy pekins and one of our three loves being taken for a carry around the garden... one other is okish and the 3rd does not like being handled...and she happens to be really shy generally. a new run is in the making completely portable type so they will get back to grass again and changes of areas during the daytime.
We jointly decided on our new pets so life is smooth;)
Cant beat going along to your nearest chicken farm and learning about all aspects...loads even do courses these days. Dianne

Gigervamp

Hubby filmed the girls having their corn yesterday. You can watch it here.

wammy77

I've started to get an egg a day - they seem to be settled, we've had them a week now

Does anyone know where I can find out what colour eggs different hens lay? When I collected the hens that woman said they will lay different colours as I have 1 of each colour hen, but she didn't say which!! I'd like to know so I can keep track of which girl is laying.

angelsmomma

mardatha wrote: »

I want bantams because everybody says they do less damage. I want a big fenced off bit at the top of the garden...but commonsense tells me to go for an Eglu with a run and move it every day.... But I dont think I'd ever have the money for that anyway. OO problems /decisions !

Hi, just my twopennoth worth. I have excitedly been waiting in for my eglu delivery. It was supposed to come yesterday and didn't

I just phoned to see where it is since I have now taken two days off work only to be told sorry they have lost one of the boxes, don't know which though so when (if) it arrives can I phone and tell them which one is missing so they can despatch whichever it is. This means 3 days waiting in for delivery.

I am just deciding whether to cancel it or not as I am so mad about it. This is really poor customer service for something that costs over £400 to buy.