Some Advice please

[busy_lizzie]

Hi, My ex bat hens are doing really well, and have grown lots of feathers since I got them, so not looking quite so oven ready. They are totally different from the sad hunched up little creatures I took ownership of two months ago.

I feed them layers mash and their water has hen cider vinegar in it. They have their own little garden which is ample for four hens, and I dig areas over for them sometimes in the morning which they get very excited about as it exposes lots of worms and other things for them to peck and dig out. At the moment they get all the brassica rejects, beetroot heads etc, from my allotment which they love, and they love fruit especially applie cores.  However what happens in the winter, how do other chicken owners supplement their chick's diet? Will I have to buy dried worms and are there other preparations I will need to get in order to keep them healthy?

I clean their straw filled nest boxes (2) every day, as they sleep in it, unfortunately they still haven't learnt how to perch. I take the big bits of chicken poo out of their wood shaving bottomed shed and  completely replace it every month. The straw and poo I am saving for the compost, but I am unsure what to do with the wood shavings as I don't know if it will have been treated. Should I burn that after I have sifted the poo from it. Sorry this is so long winded but I would reallty appreciate your advice. Thanks, busy_lizzie

[busy_lizzie]

[goodlife]

You sound like very hardworking mother hen..well done.
During summer I give lot of weeds and other left over veg, fruit and berries for them. In winter I give them fresh stuff less..not that they would not eat..but greenery don't give them much energy that would keep them warm. So I keep it to bare minimum. What ever is available..odd cabbage leaf..maybe some dandelions that may have started growing in sheltered position or odd fruit. I also give them some left overs from dinner...potatoes, cook veg.
During winter my chickens main food is layers pellets and early afternoon they get cup full of mixed corn...anything else is just bit of extra bonus/treat.
In very cold weather I make warm mash...layers mash mixed with boiled water..into this I add few frozen peas and/or sweetcorn and perharps some mixed corn too...proper 'mix it all in' meal and its served while still warm.. ;)
Ohhh..how they run out of shed when they know whats coming.. ;D
Last winter when weather was sooo cold they got warm mash first thing in the morning for breakkie and big bowl full of mixed corn in afternoon..they needed all the energy they could get just to keep warm.
Now and then I add some poultry drink or vitamins/supplements into mix too.
As for shavings..could you have separate bin for them?..then during summer you could stack it with alternative layers with green waste..it will rot down/compost but it just takes longer time and they need plenty of water..shavings absorb loads, if left dry they just 'stand' as they are without change to them. Once the shavings are looking really dark and not so wood-like then you can use it as mulch in the garden or amongst your veg. If you leave the poo with the shavings it will  save you a job of sieving and help composting process as well.

[busy_lizzie]

Hi Goodlife, Thanks so much, what a helpful e-mail. Have a few ideas now, which I really appreciate. best wishes, busy_lizzie

[Stedic]

Much like Goodlife suggests, I built an area within my plot for composting the shavings - just a simple three sided thing, exposed to rain etc.

The pile decreases in height very slowly, but seems to be rotting down gradually.   I occassionally throw some comfrey leaves on top when I feel like it. 

[grannyjanny]

BL we use hemcore for the chickens & guinea pigs. It's a horse bedding material, I think we paid about £12 for a bale about the same size as wood shavings come in. They rot down very quickly. Our compost bin was ready a lot quicker after going over to it. Google it if you want more info ;D,

[Anisemary]

Feeding mixed corn late afternoon in the winter helps keep them warm through the night.  Once a week I also add some cod liver oil into the jar of corn, just enough to make it shiny. Gives them an extra boost in cold weather (and if they are laying ::), doesn't make the eggs taste!)

[Ragdoll Lady]

We use hemcore in the covered run and shavings in the coop. The hemcore composts down an treat and although the shavings are slower they do rot down eventually.

[busy_lizzie]

Ah! thanks all, that is really a good help to me.  :-* busy_lizzie

[goodlife]

I used to use shavings but as they are bit slow to compost I changed into hemcore..but it is bit pricey.
Now I buy from our local equestrian feed suppliers big bale of shredded straw for £5.95..and its really nice stuff.
At the moment I clear all the bedding from chickens shed into outdoor pen weekly ..it will keep their feet dry and clean...and once the amount of bedding is starting to accumulate too much I wheel it into allotment and it goes straight on beds. By spring there is hardly any evidence of straw left and soil structure underneath all the 'poo' and other bits of bedding (leafs etc.)is really nice.
My compost bins have become almost redundant..only summer stuff goes into bins now.

[kt.]

I use shredded paper as bedding.  Used to use shavings but the paper is free