Re: Beginner's questions

Sally Thompson wrote:
On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:54:06 +0100, Jill wrote
(in article <6ec3dbF6dk3pU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>):

Sally Thompson wrote:
<snip>


I want to create an area for a dust bath for them. I am told I can
put wood ash there, and also fine sand, and any old dried potting
compost. Does that sound about right? My main question is, should
the dust bath be covered or not?

Yes if its going to get wet.
;)
Otherwise its a mud bath.
Seriously, there are few parts of the UK which are so dry as to
provide a dry dust bath all year around.
The wetter it is the more the birds need a good dry place to
re-condition their feathers.

Right. That's vaguely what I thought, but couldn't find an answer
anywhere. They are hanging out under the hen house when it is raining
(when is it not raining?<g>) but the head height isn't large and I
think from what I've read that they would like a good-sized area to
have fun in. We will sort that over the weekend.

We made half hoop "car ports" for a line of breed pens.
A parked up trailer will do
Or an old door on tree stumps which you can drape clematis and honeysuckle all over.


OK. I have only given a slight scatter - about a handful between the
two, which they seem to devour. I will limit it severely, and
perhaps weigh it to check.

We all like our carbs !!!!!
That does not mean they are all good for us.

Mind you the response to the scatter reflex is really interesting.
We get lots of visitors here and they get a pot of feed to give the birds.
Many of the visitors will give us great detail about the unsuitable things they feed their birds that the birds simply "love"
And the explanations are all so detailed about how these birds really could not live without all the unhealthy things.
They then get exactly the same response out of our birds feeding them from the pots.
In the pots is layers pellets, and in each house is ad lib layers pellets.

It is not what is being fed that causes so much desire -- its the scatter reflex.




Enjoy -- looking forward to seeing pics of your beautiful babies.

How did you guess? I let them out the first morning and the first
thing I did was take a photo<g>. They are very pretty and their
fluffy bottoms remind me of can-can dancers, especially when they are
heads down and bottoms up (the usual posture for chickens, I have
realised).

AND --- where are they ?
;)


--
regards
Jill Bowis

Domestic Poultry and Waterfowl Solutions
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine Nursery
Seasonal Farm Food
http://www.kintaline.co.uk

.

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