Re: Yet another newbie!

From: Jill. (news_at_REMOVETHISkintaline.co.uk)
Date: 03/23/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 19:50:54 -0000

Debbie Gates wrote:
> Hello
> This my first time using a newsgroup so im not too sure of the
> protocol ........... sorry if i do it wrong.

Welcome

> I am shortly going to be the proud mum of 12 black rock POL little
> girls. We live in south west wales and its muddy. The chooks will
> have a large fenced in run to keep them safe from mr fox

Do you have daytime foxes??
Have rogues got that far into the ruralities?

 but it is
> not big enough to halve so it will get quite wet and a bit more muddy
> with them scratching about.

If its muddy and too small to divide before you put them in -- its too small
for them
How big is it?

Can i put bark chips down for them to
> rumage around in? I thought this would give them creatures to eat as
> well as keep their feet drier!

Yes -- cover the ground with the permeable landscaping membrane to prevent
the mud mixing with the bark and then cover with a generous 6 inches of the
coarsest bark you can find from a proper timber mill -- not processed
gardeners bark

The other thing is are wood
> shavings ok in the house and nest boxes or
> do they need to diferentiate between floor and nest box?

You are fine

> And lastly a feeder. There seem to be so many different ones and i
> thought a drum with a spring would be good but they are soooo
> expensive. I am looking at a long trough now but is it ok inside or
> will they poo in it?

A hanging hopper feeder is probably the most cost effective and user
friendly on all counts
Contact me off group if you need more details
This needs to be inside the house so the food does not get damp and foul --
we get the horizontal type rain too
:~)

 When it rains here it is often horizontal so a
> hat on a tube feeder wont do. I would apreciate some experienced
> advice please and thank you.
> Deb

Welcome to your new addic -- sorry hobby 

--
regards
Jill Bowis
Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment,  Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk