Night time questions

[Annie]

Hello

Am proud new owner of two Rhode Island Reds - they are just gorgeous! I've read a few books and looked up things on the internet but am confused about a couple of things...

Do I put food and water in their house at night when I shut them in? Also, how much straw and sawdust is best? We only put a small amount of straw in but a fair bit of dust.

On of the hens has started producing what can only be described as the white of an egg - is this normal??

Many thanks for any responses!

[Hans Mum]

Hi i dont put anyfood or water in the coop at night, i use dust extracted shavings and put a good layer of that down as it makes it easier to poo pick, i try not to use too much straw as its messier when poo picking. Although i do put some in the nesting boxes so its nice and comfy for them to lay their eggs. The egg you are getting sounds like a soft shell egg maybe try some calcium supplement, someone with a bit more experience than me will be along shortly to tell you more.

[Bephlam]

I'm with Hans Mum....

You don't need to put any food or water in the coop at night. As long as they have access to fresh food and most importantly water when they're let out in the morning. Mine always rush straight to the drinker for a good drink!!

I use Hemcore, which is a dust extracted hemp shaving with citronella extract through it. It smells lovely...and acts as a repellent to flies, etc...and has anti fungal properties. It's a bit more expensive than normal wood shaving, but with two birds a £7 bale will last you about 3 months! I put a nice thick layer of hemcore down on the floor of the house, and the nest boxes. I don't use straw at all, find it too messy...and it ends up all over the garden, but....lots of people do...

How old are your girls? You may find they're just coming in to their own with laying. You often get a few odd eggs at the beginning...it should correct itself...but like Hans Mum says...you could use some calcium supplement...or grit.

You'll be a grade A mummy in no time!!

Good luck...and welcome to the Vine!!

[Flummery]

3 of my 4 hybrids have just started laying. I like Easibed in the house and nest box as, like Hemcore (which I couldn't find locally) it's absorbent and smells lovely. they only time I put food and water in the house was the first 3 days when I was advised to shut them in so they would come to regard it as home. What a mess! Much better to keep it outside!

[chicken slave]

Apparently the company that produces hemcore has gone bust, that is why it is now hard to find. Lets hope another company buys them out.

[Flummery]

I didn't know that Chicken Slave. It's a shame as I've heard good reports of it.

[Suechooks]

Apparently the company that produces hemcore has gone bust, that is why it is now hard to find. Lets hope another company buys them out.

That's why my agric place hadn't got any! And just as I started using it!

[frias]

My place must have old stock as I've just bought some.
Wecome to the vine, Annie. Ditto what everyone says about food and water in house etc.

[MaureenHall]

Ooooooooooooo I'd better go and stock up on the Hemcore then! I've just started an new bale but I want plenty in for next winter.

I think the others have answered your question Annie. Welcome to the vine, and welcome to the joys of chicken keeping It's very addictive you know, bet you end up with more than 2

[Maddie106]

I use woodshavings from wilko/asda in the house and hay in the nest box.( they seem to like that better than straw)
They don't eat/drink in the night, but I leave them a bowl of fresh water and top up the feeder with layers pellets for my 3 girls at night, mainly because they get up at dawn and I'm not usually about till after them!

They get let out into the run at 9/10am and I usually give them a little treat of lettuce/cabbage/brown bread then.(Probably cos I feel guilty cos I get up late!!)


It's worth noting that you probably need to WORM them a couple of times a year as a preventative measure and keep an eye out for mites/lice.
My trio have set up their own dustbath area and I will put some anti-mite powder into that in the summer.
Check for mites by rubbing kitchen towel under the perch of an evening....if it comes out red, then dust the ladies with red mite powder.
Also, check their legs regularly....if the scales get lumpy, you might have a louse problem.(It's easy to resolve....treatment with anti-lose powder and vaseline on legs)

I only have 3 girls now, but kept 20 in the past when I had a big field!
I never had any problems, apart from ancient chooks who stopped laying eggs!
Do resist any suggestions from your partner that they be culled when this happens!!

Chooks are fantastic.....they all have their own personalities and are your friends!

[MaureenHall]

Maddie that's some good advice you've given there. However, sorry but hay shouldn't be used - it harbours mites and lice and can go mouldy very quickly, straw is a much better alternative. You're going to tell me you've used hay for years without any problems now aren't you I think I'd rather be safe than sorry (and having to have the chooks have the discomfort associated with mites and lice)

[Bephlam]

I like Easibed in the house and nest box as, like Hemcore (which I couldn't find locally) it's absorbent and smells lovely.

I bought this for this first time today Flum....!! I haven't used it yet, but it did smell nice. Not as nice as Hemcore, but...as they've now gone bust my supplier had none, so I opted for this! It was cheaper than hemcore too!

Lets hope another company buys them out.

Here, Here! I love hemcore...the smell is brilliant, and it keeps the flies well away in the summer!

[lynda66]

now i always put food and water in the house, cos although mine don't get themselves out of bed early if they have food there, it saves me having to dash out in the mornings, it normally takes me an hour or so to get moving ........... the bowl and water thingy are on a small pile of bricks so they don't fill them with shavings .... i guess it depends whether you want to get up when they do or if you want to have a lie in lol

[dozey1]

Hi i use easibed and i think its great, i had a soft egg the other week and someone suggested i get some avi pro plus vitamin, it really has worked. I give the girls it about once a week with porridge as they are just coming out of molt. Good luck and enjoy..

[Annie]

Thank you all so much! I love this chicken forum - am learning far more from you guys than I have learnt in a book.

Can't wait for our first egg!