[Jay C]

Hi all,

Looking at a couple of weeks before i get our girls
I'm picking up on that id need to buy four weeks worth of food, bedding and so on.

Would anybody be so kind to right me out a shopping list of everything we'd be needing to get us started with four girls please.
Also the best place to buy shops/online be a great help

Thanks for your time,

[carl]

try your nearest agricultural merchant. they should have almost everything. feed, drinkers,feeders, mesh, staples,bedding, mite powder, disinfectants etc. have a word with the chap from outgate, he must get his stuff fro somewhere. he may even sell it himself? basically you will need a layers feed, pellets or mash. bought in 20 kilo bags @£6-7. will last ages with four birds. something to feed them from, and let them drink clean water from. somewhere secure to sleep, and to roam during the day. shavings or straw for the nesting box. some shavings or sawdust for the hut floor to make it easier to clean. (absorbs the liquids) some mite powder to keep them clear of bitey things. some additive for their water ie apple cider vinegar or bird tonic to help keep them healthy. a bit of oyster shell grit to aid digestion and shell formation. and at some point a wormer. a lot of stuff can be bought on the internet from places like regencey poultry, or ascott etc , also e bay. but if you have a good merchant nearby you can get it all in one journey and save carriage charges.also you bump into other hen keepers and can swap info.

[shetlandpaul]

What do you want to feed them you have a very big choice from organic to medicated pellets. If they are for layers A bag of layers pellets a bag of mixed grain. oyster and grit. drinker and feeder. pony types sawdust more like shavings and either straw or hay for the nest box. later you may need other stuff but get that later. the cheapest is in 20kg sacks but then you need a rodent proof container. metal bins are good. we use blue salmon food containers and black plastic bins we dont have a rat problem but the mice will soon come for any spilt food. with four hens a sack should last you a good few weeks. make sure that the wild birds find it hard to get to. they increse the risk of infections and creepy little blood suckers and they an cost a fortune in feed. wait untill you see sparrows so full that they cant fly we had one in the byre for a couple of weeks the daughter even named it.

[Jay C]

What do you want to feed them you have a very big choice from organic to medicated pellets. If they are for layers A bag of layers pellets a bag of mixed grain. oyster and grit. drinker and feeder. pony types sawdust more like shavings and either straw or hay for the nest box. later you may need other stuff but get that later. the cheapest is in 20kg sacks but then you need a rodent proof container. metal bins are good. we use blue salmon food containers and black plastic bins we dont have a rat problem but the mice will soon come for any spilt food. with four hens a sack should last you a good few weeks. make sure that the wild birds find it hard to get to. they increse the risk of infections and creepy little blood suckers and they an cost a fortune in feed. wait untill you see sparrows so full that they cant fly we had one in the byre for a couple of weeks the daughter even named it.

i'd like to go the Organic route if costs permit

so im looking at,

1, water and food feeders
2, bale of straw
3, large bag of sawdust 
4, layers pellets, a bag of mixed grain and oyster shell and grit. (is this all food id need?)
5, red mite protection

please add to list list if iv'e missed anything
Thanks for your time,

Jay

[shetlandpaul]

no harm feeding organic stuff but it does not make your chucks organic.The cost of becoming organic in the small producer is quite high. remember the soil has to be clear of all chemicals for years. the surrounding area has to be chemical free. the birds have to be organic born IE from organic hens no injections at birth. etc. A decent gm free high quality does the same job but will save a few pounds but it really does not matter.

Any green waste from your garden( this must not enter your kitchen as that is not allowed )
worms once they discover what a worm is they will love you.
When i was a kid i would get old cabbages and hang them up. they love pecking at green stuff. As you will discover if they get into your veg patch.

 

[carl]

i think you are ready to roll with that list jay. best of luck. let us all know how you get on.
p.s. will the tigers avoid the drop?