The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: GreatDaneLover on February 14, 2010, 11:01:01 am
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Hello
I have been looking through this site and found some useful info, so thought time I introduced myself!
We have a chicken coop with 1 black rock, 1 Helsham Blue (I think) and 1 Collumbine hens, they are all abround 25 weeks and they have all started laying although not every day but at least every other...because it's winter? The have an enclosed run approx. 3 x 3 metre and 6 foot high all round.
I feed them broccolli pulp (I juice it every day and drink with carrot juice for health reasons) they love the broccolli pulp. Also, layers mash (a little) corn feed and green caggabge, leaves, cheese and the odd treat of mealworms and tinned sweetcorn. If anybody can add to that list I would be grateful!
My other question is worming...how often do I need to do this? and what is the easiest way to do it? The farmer we got them from never mentioned woming?
Any other tips gratefully received! thank you in advance, Margaret X
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Hello and welcome from The Scottish Borders. Easiest way to worm would be with verm-x, natural product and easy to give just add to feed.
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Margaret I have yet to find something that my chooks don't like, they just seem to eat everything and anything. My lot are free range but I still feed layers pellets and they get lots of vegetables every day. I use Verm X to worm them and this is done once a month, the bottle explains how to use. Enjoy this site.
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thank you Anne, I have seen this in Pets at home and noticed it mentioned a few times on the forum. How often would I need to worm?
regards Margaret
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As James says once a month, I used the pellet form but I think it comes in liquid too.
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thank you James. I tried white cabbage but they werent fussy and didn't eat it althoug they love dark green leaves or cbbage and also chopped up broad beans they wouldn't eat..think that's about it! I have run out of ideas though!
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Hi Margaret
Love your great dane ;D I feed organic layers mash to my chickens, but I also make my own, with anything that's in the fridge or lying around. Ends of bread that's not mouldy but gone stale, odds and ends of veg, potatoes that have gone a bit wrinkled etc, leftover rice, or pasta, pulses, beans - anything really, goes into a huge pot on the stove and boiled, and cooled and then fed to the chickens who really like it, especially in cold weather!
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Hi margaret,
I also use liquid verm-x once monthly and touch wood have had no problems yet. My ladies eat anything they especially love the compost heap but i do also give layers pellets but they don't like the feeders they wait until i throw them around to scrat.
Rob ;D.
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Hello and welcome from sunny Devon :)
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hello and welcome from Derbyshire. Like your great dane!
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Hiya and welcome from the Angus Glens,
You have lucky chooks. Bet the yolks of their eggs are a lovely dark colour
:) :) :)
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Hi and welcome from Falkirk way.
After Rosemary told me she fed her chooks sardines, I have done this too and they love them. Its a good treat.
Beth
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Thank you all for your very warm welcome ;D
I must try the sardines!
Beth I am near Falkirk too ;D
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We live off the back roads between Falkirk and Livingston- nearest village is Avonbridge. Are you the other side of Falkirk?
Beth
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Welcome from a north fifer
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Brightons Beth 8)
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Hello from Clackmannan, I too boil stuff up for the Chickens and the DUcks, usualy pasta or rice with bits of veg boiled up too as they never seem to eat carrot peel unless it is boiled although sometimes they do..I often add porrage or bits of bread and occasionaly sardines although I did give some regulaly to our dog when she was expecting her pups and will give her some more soon to help build her up!! On that subject, I have always loved great Danes, I already have 2 adult Labradors and 2, 8 week old labradors, one bought from another litter and the other from our litter and 2 remaining with me for a while while thier new owners are preparing for them, we had a litter of 9 pups so no room for a Great Dane
Just yet!!!
;)
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Hi Sandy
you have your hands full with that lot! ;D
Ihave also noticed they aren't keen on raw carrot!
I am trying not to spend too much on greens and look for reduced veg in the local co-op. Don't want to defeat the purpose if you know what I mean!
As soon as they see you coming round the back of the house they start a hens choir..maybe I am spoiling them!
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Shhhhhhhhh!! don't let my OH know but I often feed them our greens, lettice cabbage etc, so have to buy more, they sometimes get those expensive salad leaves, however, in the summer I collect dock leaves and other leaves that they love, not been out for ages, been here with the pups who were born on 17-18th December, cannot waite to get out with them and do my forraging again.....my freezer was empty last year as I got an injury so cold not go out so much as the previouse years, I collect loads of Wild Garlic and a few other herbs, then Bilberry's, Raspberry's, Brambles etc etc......looking forward to starting again!!!!! I could get some rucksacks for the dogs and they could carry the berries!!
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I collect loads of Wild Garlic and a few other herbs,
What other herbs do you collect Sandy? and do you give the wild garlic to the hens? I made a lovely pork, or was it lamb wild garlic and cream cheese roast a couple of years ago but haven't used it much otherwise.
Would love to hear more.......................
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Hi and welcome, my friend feeds her birds porridge in this freezing weather.
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Hello and welcome from me in South Lanarkshire ;D
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Hi and welcome.