New Chicken Owner

[mzzdiamonds79]

Hi Everyone, I'm new to chicken world. My husband and I just purchased a home with 3 acers. First thing we wanted was chickens. Our coop is being built this weekend. I was wondering what kind of watering and feeding systems everyone uses. Also I heard its good to have an area where chicken can take a dust bath. What is your dust area made of? Sand, saw dust? does anything need to be mixed in with it to help get rid of mites? Thanks in advance.

 

[Cheerful]

You can put diatomaceous earth in the dust bath to help get rid of mites. Our chickens free-range and have made their own baths (dry dirt, really). One in my herb bed - need to do something about that. So I just sprinkle some DE in those sometimes. (Not sure what you do if you have to provide the bath, I'm sure somebody will know).
We use a hanging feeder and a big metal waterer....one with a pull off-lid. I'd really like to get a hanging one though, with the "nipples" because they do get the water dirty very quickly!
Good Luck!

 

[JoeyOsborne]

^that pretty much covers it also as you are building the hutch this weekend i would add a pipe/tube which runs from outside with a cover to inside into there chicken feeder therefore its alot less hastle when feeding, you could also do this with the water but i would defanitelly recommend what 'cheerful' did the bucket with nipples on the bottom!

 

[RubyRamona]

I love the bucket with the nipples, the open waterer gets nasty, the ducks fault I'm sure