Another week or so.....

[julesapple]

......and I might, just might, have my longed for chooks. OH has decided on four Wyandottes of different colours, so we're going to visit Wiltshire Traditional & Rare Breed Poultry & Automatic Door Openers - Home next Saturday and see if we take a shine to any hens. No doubt OH will change his mind when he sees all of the other breeds.

The coop & run arrived from The Chicken House Company Ltd earlier in the week, and OH and I spent yesterday in the sunshine giving all of the interior house pieces two good coats of low odour gloss to keep mites at bay and hopefully make the house easy to clean.

This morning we put it all together bright and early as rain was threatened by 7am (4.30pm and it still hasn't rained, but tis very black out there) We want to give the whole another coat of wood preserver and weather permitting, we might get this done on Sunday.

In the week we'll pop over to the livestock supplies place and get feeders, drinkers, bedding, feed, grit, pesticides and detergents etc. And anything else we can think of.

The house has a nesting area, but no actual boxes....any suggestions for easy clean boxes?

Also, I have a brand new cat litter tray for use as a dust bath, what should I put in it for dust?

Can't wait til next Saturday!

Jules

[Hans Mum]

for nesting boxes i use cat litter trays with a hood, something like this but i already had them and wouldnt have paid this price anyway
Hooded Cat Litter Tray - 22357
but having said that they are very easy to keep clean.

I put a mixture of playsand and compost in the dust bath, but now the whole garden is a dust bath for them

dont forget we'll need to see pics when you get your girls

[lettucegrow!]

Oh! I wish I hadn't looked at that web site,julesapple,just makes me want more-they look lovely chooks!pics are a must when they move in,please.

[julesapple]

Fab News!!!!!

Monday! We're going this Monday coming to see the hens.

Spent over an hour on the phone to Helen, the breeder. She sounds just my sort of person. We've decided to go on Monday as we're both free then and we think it might be easier to bring the girls home when they're quieter in the evening (well, that's the theory)

I am deeply in love with everyone of those hens, particularly the Partridge Wyandottes and the Cream Legbars with their posh 'hats'.

Oh my gosh...I can't wait!! Christmas hasn't been as exciting as this for years! I feel like a kid! I shall probably go quite mad with the camera!

Garlic granules...can you use the equine garlic granules?

Jules

[Suechooks]

Garlic granules...can you use the equine garlic granules?

Jules

Yes you can! Don't forget the Cider Vineger too when you're at the horsey place.

[julesapple]

Got My Garlic

...a horse-mad friend has given us 1kg of Lincoln garlic granules. I need to get a tupperware type box to store it in as it's vacuum-packed.

Haven't forgotten the Apple Cider Vinegar...the cloudy type.

What the consensus on Aloe Vera? Do you just give the chooks a chunk to peck at now and again?

OMG...I have to sleep tonight as I have to be up at 4.30 to get ready for tomorrow's craft fair, but I don't think I'll be able to sleep. How many sleeps is it until Monday? (sleeping tomorrow night will be easy, I shall be cream-crackered)

I am SO looking forward to this!!!

Jules

[Snadger]

...a horse-mad friend has given us 1kg of Lincoln garlic granules. I need to get a tupperware type box to store it in as it's vacuum-packed.

Haven't forgotten the Apple Cider Vinegar...the cloudy type.

What the consensus on Aloe Vera? Do you just give the chooks a chunk to peck at now and again?

OMG...I have to sleep tonight as I have to be up at 4.30 to get ready for tomorrow's craft fair, but I don't think I'll be able to sleep. How many sleeps is it until Monday? (sleeping tomorrow night will be easy, I shall be cream-crackered)

I am SO looking forward to this!!!

Jules

Never heard of using aloa vera? An allotment pal of mine has a greenhouse with half a dozen plants in it...........I might have to do a swap with something for one of them!

[julesapple]

In My Book....

...one of my chicken-keeping books mentions that some keepers give their chickens aloe vera.

That was it. No details. So I'm a bit confused about it. A www article mentions african farmers without funds giving crushed aloe vera to their chickens in their water and it really rejuvenated the sick chooks.

It's not something I want to try until I know more. I did read this;

ALOE AS AN IMMUNOSTIMULANT -- Aloe's beneficial effects on the Avian immune system makes it a great preventive remedy. Aloe contains at least twenty amino acids, nine enzymes, many polysaccharides, small amounts of vitamins and minerals, trace elements, growth stimulators, and naturally occurring electrolytes. Extensive Russian research has shown that Aloe Vera successfully removes toxins from the body and acts as a boost to the immune system. Aloe Vera contains an immune-stimulating complex, galactomannan, a class of polysaccharides that acts as an anti-inflammatory and increases cellular membrane fluidity and permeability. Galactomannan apparently binds to a receptor site and activates macrophages, which are the cells that control the immune system. The macrophages secrete infection-fighting agents. With at least 23 polypeptides (immune stimulators), Aloe helps to control a broad spectrum of immune system disorders.

If you grow the Aloe Barbadensis plant, your birds will enjoy several thin slices of the largest stalks of the aloe plant as a treat when they appear lethargic and in need of an energy boost. Pure aloe juice added to dry food or to drinking water in the ratio of one part aloe juice to three parts pure water also can make a positive difference in the energy level of birds.

It was an article aimed at parrot/small bird owners.


Jules

[MaureenHall]

That's really interesting! I've got a few aloe vera plants and I use a cut leaf on any injuries or skin conditions I have and it works a treat on those, just never thought about giving it to chooks though. Might use it as a "last resort" until we learn a bit more about it

[julesapple]

It's interesting, isn't it? The same article went on to say that "all birds bite, and all bird-owner's eventually get bitten" and if you get bitten or badly pecked, use a slice of aloe to rub over the wound.

Incidentally, my sister keeps an aloe in her bathroom for use on shaving cuts when she does her legs! I might ask if her aloe has had 'babies' and see if I can get one to pot on. Sounds like a very useful plant to have!

Just waiting for OH to get out of the bathroom so we can go and buy chooks supplies ready for tomorrow.

Christmas will be such an anti-climax compared to this!!!!

Jules

[HayleyB]

Interesting about Aloe, I use it on Phillys tummy when she's been swimming in a lake or river and gets a rash. Also good for burns.

Cream legbars produce blue eggs, I'd like some of those, anyway bear in mind that purebreds are more prone to broodiness than hybrids