Free A Family Guide To Keeping Chickens by Anne Perdeaux Page A

you need to segregate a bird.
Metal or plastic feeders
    Metal feeders are usually galvanized, although some are enamelled steel. Metal is more expensive but more robust than plastic. Lightweight plastic feeders may be blown or knocked over and damaged. Chickens can give their feeder some abuse – my cockerels balance on top of the feeder and rock it until it falls over!

    A 7 kg galvanized feeder
What size feeder?
    Buying an extra-large feeder to save having to refill it every day can result in stale or mouldy food. However, the feeder should be big enough to contain enough food to last the flock at least a day. An average-sized chicken needs roughly 120 to 150 g of food daily, but the senior chickens will eat more (because they can). You will need to feed above the minimum to ensure the lower orders get their share.
    Extra feeders help prevent squabbles and bullying.
Grit hoppers
    Chickens need flint grit to enable them to process their food (see Chapter 6 ). You can buy a grit hopper or use a small feeder.
Feed scoops
    A scoop for transferring food from bag to feeder is handy – or you could use a cup.
Choosing a Poultry Drinker
    A poultry drinker prevents water from being spilt and helps keep it clean.
Tower drinkers
    The water is contained in a tower and runs into a surrounding trough. In cheaper models the tower part is filled, the base placed on top of it and the whole lot turned over – with large drinkers this can be a messy business, leading to wet feet.
    It’s worth paying extra for a drinker that can be filled from the top if catering for several chickens.
    Chickens with beards, muffs and crests need a narrow-lipped tower drinker to prevent their feathers from becoming soiled.

    An ‘Easyfill’ tower drinker
Bucket drinkers
    This type of drinker resembles a bucket lying on its side. A plate over the wide end keeps the water in, with a trough for the chickens to drink. The design keeps the water clean and out of the sunlight – it has had some good reviews.

    Bucket drinker
What size drinker?
    Chickens drink a surprising amount of water. An average laying hen will getthrough at least 500 ml a day. The drinker should hold more than enough water to last the flock for a day or you could supply extra drinkers to avoid arguments (water can be guarded almost as zealously as food).
    Water will evaporate more quickly from small drinkers in hot weather.
Metal or plastic drinkers
    Drinkers can be plastic, galvanized or enamelled steel. Some metal drinkers have glass tops so you can check the water level easily. In plastic drinkers the water is visible through the white plastic tower.
    Metal drinkers are more robust but can’t be used with apple cider vinegar. If adding this supplement to the drinking water, you will need a plastic drinker.
    Plastic drinkers can crack, especially if the water becomes frozen. Some of the cheaper plastic drinkers don’t last very long – and the tower usually pushes directly on to the base, with only one hole for the water to escape. If that becomes clogged up, the chickens will go thirsty. Better designs have a base that locks into position.
    Some drinkers have legs or can be hung up. Otherwise they should be placed on a stand or bricks to prevent the water becoming soured with debris.
    All drinkers should be regularly cleaned to prevent a build-up of poisonous algae. White plastic and glass-topped drinkers will need cleaning more frequently. Placing drinkers out of direct sunlight helps prevent algae forming and keeps the water cool as well.

    A 2.5-litre galvanized metal drinker

    A 2.5-litre glass-topped metal drinker

    Plastic ‘tower drinker’ with locking base

    Some drinkers have legs . . .

    . . . or the drinker can be placed on bricks to keep the water clean
Storing Feed
    News of a free meal spreads quickly in the rodent community and they will find a way into your storage area if they scent food. They have a very good sense of smell – I left some corn in the boot of my