Newbie is going shopping today. Am I missing anything?

[Jody]

Hi everyone.

Yesterday I got my new chickens.

Today I am going shopping. For those of you whom have these stores, do you prefer Tractor Supply or Agway? Which is least expensive for you?

Here's what I have on my list to buy today:

Heat lamp
Layer pellets
grit
oyster shell
pine shavings
hay
hardware cloth/chicken wire


Here's what I intend on building out of recycled already available material or that found free.

Coop
Nesting boxes
perches
ramp
run/tractor
feeders/waterers


Before I head out I'd like to ask if I am missing anything.
Thanks

 

[LynneP]

Might be better to get straw instead of hay and some blue lotion (no-peck) just in case...

 

[bufforp89]

A bag of scratch will go far in helping you tame your new chickens if they are not friendly but it looks like you thought of everything!

I have Agway and TS in my area and I prefer TS, I have found that they have a way bigger selection and better prices.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Good advice there... Blue Kote. Don't know which store is best...we only have TSC. Got the large u shaped nails to nail on the wire??? Plents of nails or screws to assemble everything?? You might see if they carry food grade DE too...

 

[mandelyn]

Staples for the staple gun! I forgot to buy some and the whole project was on hold after I got the wood together. I started attaching the wire and only had like 10 staples in the dang gun! I also didn't bother with chicken wire, went with hardware cloth/rabbit wire all the way around.

 

[NJbirdlover]

I always make sure that I have poly vi-sol w/o iron and electrolytes in stock. Nothing worse than having a sick or hurt chicken and nothing to help them......except a sick child of course!

 

[Jody]

Well, I did some shopping today.. I aim to add more things when I can afford to such as a bag of grains and a bag of corn.

I have a tight budget at the moment so had to cut corners down to the must have necessities.

I did want to make my own waterer and feeder, but ended up buying them.

The sales rep at Tractor Supply told me I won't need oyster shell cause it's in the pellets.. so, grabbed a 50lb bag of that, 5lb of grit, a bale of straw and a bale of pine shavings. Also grabbed 5x50 of chicken wire.

It come out to $80.. so, without the wire and feeders, I'd be looking at $34 for the chickens regular expenses

 

[LynneP]

Hi Jody- are your chickens already laying?
I hope you're having a grand time!

 

[adkchickmama]

We have Tractor Supply here. THey finally got in PUrina feeds which as discussed here on a thread , seems to help the hens lay better. I was using Dumour and they don't seem to lay as well with that.

You do need Oyster Shell , even though there is some in the feed as some hens need more than others and they will eat it if you can offer it in a seperate container. I also keep a tube of Triple antibiotic ointment or Polysporin as the girls are always getting cuts and scrapes when least expected. And a container of Saline to wash out those cuts would help ( I use the cheapest brand from WalMart of saline for contact wearers).

Best of luck, it is an addicting hobby!

 

[Jody]

Quote:
They were layers for the owner whom sold them to me, but no eggs for me yet. Too much activity I suppose.. First night home they spent several hours on my porch, then slept together in a carboard box.

Next day they spent the day outside til coop was done..

today they got to explore their new run.

They're not using their nesting boxes yet.. I see they like to sit on top of the boxes instead... so, I need to make new boxes and set it up so that there is no way for them to sit on top of them.

Maybe tomorrow will bring an egg... Heck, maybe I woke up to late and they ate the eggs.

As for having a grand time... I'm tired and sore, lol.. alot of work the past 2 days, lol.... OMG my 3yr old just LOVES them though