NEW HENS

[User no longer member.]

I'm getting my hen house and run ready for 6 POL hens.  I used to keep hens years ago and now can't wait to have some more - they are so comical and the eggs are fantastic.

I remember giving them layers mash or pellets and grit - am I forgetting anything else (apart from water and fresh greens) - is there something medicinal I should give them now and again to rid of worms, infections etc?

After reading other posts I have decided to totally enclose the run as we have buzzards. kestrels etc overhead and hadn't thought about bird of prey attacks... until now.

Any advice welcome.

[josa]

 

You may find this useful - I certainly do for any poultry questions

http://www.kelseyinfo.co.uk/yabb/YaBB.pl

[Suze01]

Other than the layers pellets and grit (crushed oyster shell) I would just worm them twice a year - I use Flubenvet as there's no egg withdrawal period, available from the UK on the net.

There is an excellent forum that already has quite a few French members that you will find very useful  http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/

[User no longer member.]

Thanks for that - I'll check out the web sites!

[Moorejw]

I put a few drops of cider vinegar in their water which helps prevent worms.

[Pads]

Remenber to use straw or shredded paper in the nest box , not hay , as hay can carry red spider mite , which if not treated can kill them and once you have it , its nearly impossible to get rid of. You can buy a good hutch wash to clean the hut down with every few weeks to help keep it away.