Ark Advice Please

[MaureenHall]

As with anything, don't overdo it. A good handful each in a hanging-basket container type thingy so they can get exercise to get at it would be a reasonable guideline I think. I give mine whole cabbages hung up for them to help themselves. No, it won't make the eggs taste peppery any more than adding garlic to the feed or water makes them garlicky. The eggs will just be the most delicious eggs you've ever had

[julesapple]

Trying to be Patient.....

...It's not working. I'm trying hard to be patient, but I can't wait to get our chooks!

Still looking at breeders, and trying to find a good one near to us so the chosen chooks don't get too distressed with the travelling.

OH wants to know just how much poo 3 hybrid hens ( he wants stereotypical brown hens that lay average size eggs - have left the choice to him ultimately) produce per day? He has concerns about some sniffy neighbours we have raising objections if there's a smell.

We've checked council bylaws and we can have up to eight hens, but no cockerel, so no problems there as we want less and won't have any boys.

Oh yes, what about smoke from the bbq, will that affect chooks if it blows their way?

Jules

[Lemon]

I like the fourth house. The design of the third one is nice - but have heard they aren't that well-made and may not last that long.

I think the run space is a bit small for the 4th house though. We made our own house and run, but our girls are lucky to free-range the garden whilst we are at work. I like the nestbox on the outside - wish we did that. (Could get more hens indoors that way!)

[Lemon]

By the way, they say garlic powder in food helps eliminate smelly poo. Some people put a clove of garlic in the water.

Yep. they poop a lot. Hubby says if he knew how much they pooped, he wouldn't have got them. I think that's cos he does the mucking out! I get them fun bit of giving cuddles and collecting eggies! & the eggies are WELL WORTH IT!! Really tasty and a rich golden yolk!

[julesapple]

Waste Disposal....

......given that we don't have a compost corner, just a very small compost bin and we don't have a lottie or live in the country proper.....what does everyone do with the house....er....scrapings?

Jules

[MaureenHall]

Offer it on Freecycle as a compost accelerator I've got rid of quite a bit that way, though I do have a big compost heap on the allotment too, so no real problems here. You could bury it and let the worms dispose of it for you

[frias]

I compost the poo collected daily. Newspapers and wood shaving done weekly go in the wheelie big (bagged)

[roitelet]

Just a thought, if you are going for an Ark put some wheels on one end so that it is easier to move. They are blooming heavy and akward!!!

[Aiki BRi]

We have the one on the right, its badly made..... we spent an hour putting in missing screws and securing dodgy staples, the wood is as light as a feather and no doubt as strong, it is also a pain for cleaning out etc, so I would opt for something else if I were you.

[julesapple]

Not an Ark...

....We've changed our minds about those. Thanks for the advice though. the more opinions the better.

We're going for the bigger house & run, and we've bought the galvinised wire stuff and tanalised timber to make a fox-proof run extension.

Just looking into chooks now. I like the look of these, but the final choice is to be OH's...he reckons he's a ladies' man

Point of Lay Hybrid Hens from Eden Livestock

Jules

[Hilary B]

....We've changed our minds about those. Thanks for the advice though. the more opinions the better.

We're going for the bigger house & run, and we've bought the galvinised wire stuff and tanalised timber to make a fox-proof run extension.

Just looking into chooks now. I like the look of these, but the final choice is to be OH's...he reckons he's a ladies' man

Point of Lay Hybrid Hens from Eden Livestock

Jules

If you want 'classic layers' you might consider adopting some ex-batts. Most of them lay nearly as well as POL (and often start from the day you get them), they are a LOT cheaper to acquire, and... well it's a kind act, isn't it?

[MaureenHall]

If you want 'classic layers' you might consider adopting some ex-batts. Most of them lay nearly as well as POL (and often start from the day you get them), they are a LOT cheaper to acquire, and... well it's a kind act, isn't it?

And they turn into lovely graceful ladies with lovely brown feathers Sometimes you can get the white ones too, but not very often methinks. I love my ex-batts!!!

[dozey1]

MY mates at work have some of it but i do a poo run everyday and it does stop it smelling. They poo quite a lot but it is the shavings\straw that is a pain to get rid of as it takes a lot of breaking down. I am swopping over to aubroise shortly as i have heard it stops the smell and breaks down really quickly. No worries about neighbours they love them...

[julesapple]

MY mates at work have some of it but i do a poo run everyday and it does stop it smelling. They poo quite a lot but it is the shavings\straw that is a pain to get rid of as it takes a lot of breaking down. I am swopping over to aubroise shortly as i have heard it stops the smell and breaks down really quickly. No worries about neighbours they love them...

Aubroise? What is it?

Jules

[Suechooks]

Aubroise? What is it?

Jules

It's a form of bedding made from Hemp - it's the same as Hemcore which apparently is no longer available - shame as I've just started using it and its great. Far less bulk thsn shavings so less of a compost heap and should break down quicker.