Noob alert...

Will do. By the looks of it my coop will be here tomorrow. Woooo.
Going to go check out a local farm shop type place for feed and straw too.

 

It's exciting stuff isn't it @Sarah Giles .I got 4 more new girls a few weeks back from someone local that wanted rid of them and they've settled in a treat after the initial argy bargy,they've made themselves well and truly at home

 

Awwwww!
I don't know where I'd put any more than4. That's the max the coop holds and I don't want them taking over the house haha!

 

I bet in time you'll get a bigger coup,you won't be able to resist...I've only got 6 girls at the moment but I feel more coming on...
Given half a chance they will take over your house,mine have

 

They tried to deliver our coop and feeders today but we were out! Bloody typical. They're redelivering tomorrow now. Hmph.

To cheer myself up I went and bought the feed and straw. Got the smallholder crumble which was recommended. 20kg for a tenner! Bargain. That and the straw was only£20! Well chuffed.

Was also given 20m of chicken wire. Going to go to wickes later to find some wooden posts.

It's all coming together!

 

I don't buy straw for my girls. The base of the run is covered in bark chip which gets raked over every other day to keep it "fresh" and then changed monthly. The 'dirty' bark chip is used on the garden.
For the droppings tray and the nesting box I use shredded paper and then when that is changed the old stuff goes in the compost bin. The chicken manure speeds up the composting process.
If your girls lay soft shell eggs (which they may well do as ex batts) then you will need to supply them with crushed oyster shell. Once they *do* start laying and you get eggs, keep the shells. I pop mine into an enamel baking dish and put them in the bottom of the oven its on. Once dried, I crush them up and put it with the rest of their feed for a calcium boost (and to save buying oyster shell). Do not do this with uncooked eggshells though.
Good luck with your delivery tomorrow. Similar thing happened to me and I know just how frustrating that can feel.

@Lolimac congrats on your new girls!!

 

Dear god what a busy day. However I have pretty much got everything that I need for the hens now.

Went to b&q and managed to get wooden posts which were ideal for the fence and attaching the chicken wire too. When we got back I sawed a pointed end onto them so they'll hopefully go in the ground easier.

Also got specific cleaning stuff that I can keep separate (dustpan and brush, scrubbing brush and coop cleaning spray), mite/lice powder, mite spray for the coop, feed scoops, a Tupperware box to put bits of scrap veggies etc in and stop flies and that trying to get them (can you tell I have OCD, gape illy about germs? Lol)

I have the feed, and the straw. The stuff for the fence and coop is bought I just need to put it up. I have ordered a feeder/water thingy.

I can't think of anything else I need! Bar the hens of course

 

It's heeeeeere!

 

Eggcellent!!

Now to put it together and get your hennies moved in

 

What a lovely thread to catch up on this afternoon. I'm shivering with excitement too Sarah.
Have you thought of their names yet? Well all need to be formally introduced of course and welcome them to Gardeners Corner...
wonderful stuff...
Jenny
ps _ I can't eat an egg poached, boiled or fried
Jenny

 

Then eat .... cake!

 

Success! Well, mostly. Need to get it out into the garden then put the roof and run on as it won't fit through the door if I do it before moving it!

Really impressed with the quality. Its smaller than I thought it would be but the hens will have loads of room in the garden as well.
The coop is also treated so will hopefully keep the nasties away, but I have bought some mite spray etc anyway to be on the safe side.

Should I be concerned that my 8yo wants to live in it?!

 

Names have been decided btw. There's one for each of us and we've picked our own names..

The Mr is naming his 'Nando'.
I'm naming mine 'Cluck Norris'.
10yo's will be 'McDuck' and 8yo's is 'Cluck'!

 

Woweee that looks brilliant!