Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Frugaldom

Hi Angela, I know parrots and other caged birds can start plucking their own feathers from boredom and the quail are terrible for pecking one another bald. You can get anti-peck spray in pet shops, but I'm not sure if it works on hens. There are also many people who swear by putting vinegar in the water. I use cider vinegar (about a tablespoonful to a gallon of water) as a health drink for my youngsters who are still penned but have read that ordinary white vinegar is supposed to help stop feather pecking. Don't quote me on that, though.

If it's boredom, maybe you could find something to distract them a bit - has anyone developed chicken toys, d'ye think?

angelavdavis

Yes I use cider vinegar too to prevent worms, maybe I should switch it to white vinegar for a while and see what happens.

I read somewhere that hanging up CDs to peck can amuse them - am off to find some of those newspaper freebies that clutter the drawers!!!

Thanks!

Frugaldom

angelavdavis wrote: »

Yes I use cider vinegar too to prevent worms, maybe I should switch it to white vinegar for a while and see what happens.

I read somewhere that hanging up CDs to peck can amuse them - am off to find some of those newspaper freebies that clutter the drawers!!!

Thanks!

Excellent idea! I've a broody with chicks at the moment and she's so protective that she pecks her own reflection in the perspex windshield I put on her house. The youngsters seem to amuse themselves watching the lambs LOL

steady__eddie

"I read somewhere that hanging up CDs to peck can amuse them".

Try them out with The Birds Greatest Hits.




I'll get my coat.

phizzimum

DH and DDs have just gone out to collect our new hens!

I can't believe it - we only made the decision to have them at the weekend. A friend of ours needed to rehome a couple of her chickens as she has too many.

DH has built a hen house and run (is that the right term? is it a pen? or a coop?). I was amazed as it normally takes him years to finish a DIY project not days!

I've always liked the idea of keeping chickens but I'm a bit worried that I don't know enough. DH's family had chickens when he was a boy, so he's quite confident. But I think I might be popping on to this thread to ask lots of questions, so be patient with me!

We're going to feed them pellets, but can I give them kitchen scraps as well? or will this encourage rats? I've read that it's good to scatter corn around the run so the hens can have the fun of rooting around and finding it - but again, will that encourage vermin? DH has made the fence of the run with chicken wire and buried it quite a way under the ground, so will that help to keep rats out?

DON79

Hi phizzimum

we feed ours mixed corn but pellets are fine and you can give them any vegetable or fruit scraps like peelings etc but don't give them anything cooked at all. Also you need to microwave the egg shells and break them up and feed them back to the chickens as grits which helps to make their egg shells stronger as the first couple of eggs may have soft shells if they are just new to laying.

Our chickens scattered the corn themselves all over the place so I wouldn't worry too much about that. and we did the same with the chicken wire and spread it out away from the run to prevent vermin from digging in.

Don't worry, it all sounds good and that you are doing the right things.

Frugaldom

Phizzimum, welcome to chicken keeping! You'll love it, I'm sure. You'll need to come back on here and show us a photo of your new hens. Vermin isn't a huge problem as long as there's nothing for them to eat. If you don't put too much food in at any time then there's nothing for them to spend their time trying to reach. Just make sure nothing can gain access to your sacks of feed wherever it's stored. Kitchen scraps are fine, but I feed mine cooked scraps, especially the likes of potato skins.


Don79, can I ask why you think you can't feed chickens anything cooked? I feed mine cooked stuff all the time, they love cooked potato & carrot peelings mixed with some mash. The ducks love it too. I don't feed them any meat products, although it wouldn't do them any harm even if I did, it's just not the 'done' thing anymore. I do use mixed corn but not as a staple diet, mainly as an extra for the layers and for daily the broodies whilst they are on eggs or have chicks.

Just wondering, in case there's something I'm overlooking. Thanks

bexxie90

Course they can have cooked stuff mine have potato peelings and veg all mashed up after boiling. I wouldnt give them 'raw' stuff only greens like salad and bottoms of cauli's.

They love the hot stuff in winter keeps them laying well.
x

DON79

nykmedia wrote: »

Don79, can I ask why you think you can't feed chickens anything cooked? I feed mine cooked stuff all the time, they love cooked potato & carrot peelings mixed with some mash. The ducks love it too. I don't feed them any meat products, although it wouldn't do them any harm even if I did, it's just not the 'done' thing anymore. I do use mixed corn but not as a staple diet, mainly as an extra for the layers and for daily the broodies whilst they are on eggs or have chicks.

Just wondering, in case there's something I'm overlooking. Thanks

Am sure someone told my husband that we shouldn't give them any cooked foods for some reason (can't remember why!) but if we can give them cooked foods then that's fine - will cut down on the waste when dear son decides he won't eat dinner!

Sorry, just what we had been told but I would go by what you have said then because you have more experience than I do of keeping chickens!

phizzimum

thanks for the replies. we;ve had our first 2 eggs laid already!

if I give them veg peelings etc should I just scatter them round the run or put them in the hopper with the pellets?

I think one of our girls is going to be a potential escape artist. Am I right in saying that wing feathers regrow after they've been clipped? she can fly just about high enough to sit on the nesting boxes roof. And from there I'm worried she'll fly over the fence. That's another job for DH when he gets home!