A Family Guide To Keeping Chickens (23 page)

You can make or buy a dust-bath – this one has its own cover . . .

. . . and can also be used to keep feed dry

Chickens naturally like to perch so supply some branches in the run

Giving Chickens Some Fun in their Run

Chickens enjoy perching during the day and some runs come equipped with perches. Otherwise you could add some branches or logs.

You can even buy a ‘chicken gym’ – complete with ladders, perches and hooks to hang treats.

Keeping confined chickens occupied helps prevent anti-social behaviour.

Or buy them a gym!

Selecting Bedding

Bedding should be absorbent and as dust-free as possible. Dust-extracted shavings are commonly used but shredded hemp is also becoming popular. Buying large bales is more economical if you have somewhere dry to store them.

Hemp is more expensive than shavings but four times more absorbent, and some brands have added eucalyptus fragrance.

Straw can be dusty and may harbour mites. It is also less absorbent than shavings and should be turned over regularly to prevent it becoming compacted. Chopped straw is better and is sold dust-extracted for poultry.

Hay isn’t suitable because it can harbour spores and moulds. Sawdust can cause eye irritation and breathing problems.

Shredded paper tends to blow about and make a mess but there have been good reviews for shredded cardboard, which is more absorbent and composts easily.

You will need enough bedding to cover the floor of the henhouse to a depth of about 2 cm, with a thicker layer for the nest-boxes.

Keeping Things Clean

A small shovel and a large bucket are the basic requirements, along with a stiff brush. A scraper is ideal for removing cement-like droppings. You can buy these items from poultry or hardware stores – or you may already have them at home. A washing-up brush kept by the tap makes it easy to clean feeders and drinkers, while heavy-duty rubber gloves are useful for dirty jobs. Soiled bedding makes great compost – keep it out of reach of the chickens in a compost bin.

Powder disinfectant helps dry up wet patches in the henhouse and keeps down infection.

Buy some ground sanitizer if your chickens are kept in a run.

For scrubbing the henhouse, Poultry Shield is an effective cleaning agent and also helps combat red mite.

You’ll also need some cleaning-out equipment

Diatom powder (diatomaceous earth – make sure you buy ‘food grade’) is a natural weapon against insects and parasites. It can be sprinkled around the henhouse, nest-boxes
and dust-baths or applied directly to the birds.

All these products can be bought from poultry supply stores.

Putting Together a First Aid Kit