Below find our essential list of chicken keeping equipment and consumables.
Feeding:
 |
| Layers pellets. |
Layers pellets: These contain all the essential nutrients that your chickens need. As the name suggests, they are specially formulated for laying hens. Your chickens should have access to layers pellets throughout the day - they will only eat as much as they need. At night the feed should be put away, so that it doesn't attract vermin.
 |
| Mixed corn. |
Mixed corn: Mixed corn is a mixture of wheat and maize. It should be given in the afternoon, so that each chicken has a full crop overnight. Each chicken requires a small handful, which should be sprinkled on the ground as a scratch feed. Mixed corn contains a lot of energy, so the chickens will become overweight if they are given too much of it. Hens will have problems laying if they become overweight.
 |
| Oyster shell grit. |
Oyster shell grit: Chickens, which don't have teeth (so the saying goes), need to consume grit to help grind up their food and aid with digestion. Calcium in the oyster shell is absorbed by the hens and helps them to produce strong egg shells of their own. A small amount of oyster shell grit should be sprinkled on the ground every week for the chickens to scratch around for.
 |
| Chick crumb. |
Chick crumb: Tiny particles of food specially formulated to give chicks all the nutrients they need. Chicks are usually given crumb upto about eight weeks of age, by which stage they're ready to be moved onto layers pellets.
 |
| Mealworms. |
Mealworms: A tasty protein-packed treat for your chickens, but don't go spoiling them all the time.
 |
| Poultry feeder. |
Poultry feeder: Chickens require access to layers pellets throughout the day. A pretty average chicken here in the UK will eat about 150 g of feed per day. A hanging feeder will keep vermin at bay. A rain hood will stop the rain from spoiling the feed and will also prevent the chickens from perching and contaminating their feed.
Drinking:
 |
| Apple cider vinegar. |
Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is packed full of essential vitamins and minerals that boost your chickens' immune system. This mildly acidic solution is believed to have antiseptic and antibiotic properties, but you should only use the correct poultry-grade product. A small dose (5 ml per litre of drinking water) should routinely be given to your chickens a couple of times each week. At times of increased stress a larger dose (10 ml per litre of drinking water) will help to perk the chickens up. You can also get apple cider vinegar containing garlic, which is even better.
 |
| Poultry drink. |
Poultry drink: A poultry drink is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals that give the chickens a pick-me-up at times of stress. This could be during moulting, moving home, the aftermath of a fox/dog attack or during extreme weather conditions etc.
 |
| Poultry drinker. |
Poultry drinker: Chickens require a lot of fresh water every day. A pretty average chicken here in the UK needs at least half a litre of water every day. A hanging drinker will make it less likely that the chickens contaminate their own water supply. Plastic drinkers have the advantage of being cheap and light, but will easily crack if dropped or the water freezes solid. Galvanised drinkers are heavier and more expensive, but they durable are will last a long time. Apple cider vinegar should not be used with a galvanised drinker.
Maintenance:
 |
| Poultry Shield. |
Poultry Shield: A chicken-friendly cleaner, sanitiser and odour-neutraliser that can be used to sterilise chicken houses and equipment. Simply dilute with water in accordance with the instructions and dispense with a spray bottle where needed.
 |
| Diatomaceous earth. |
Diatomaceous earth: This natural product comes from the fossilised remains of diatoms (a type of algae). On a microscopic level the diatomaceous earth particles have very sharp edges, which effectively shred the outside of red mite and lice eggs and render them inert. Diatomaceous earth is also quite absorbent. This combination of properties makes it useful to sprinkle diatomaceous earth in the chickens' bedding. It can also be added to the chickens' feed to treat internal parasites.
 |
| Red mite powder. |
Red mite powder: Sprinkle this directly onto the chickens' feathers to treat red mite infestation. Should really be used on a regular basis to prevent red mite problems occuring. Red mite powder also helps treat any lice in the chickens' feathers.
 |
| Poultry wound spray. |
Poultry wound spray: The magic purple spray that fixes all manner of chicken wounds. Chickens often get cuts and scratches as they free range around the farm yard or garden. This purple spray kills germs and promotes recovery. The purple colour also disguises the wound before other curious chickens have a peck at it.
 |
| Verm-X. |
Verm-X: Verm-X is a herbal product, which helps to keep chickens clear from internal parasites. A small amount is added to the chickens' feed for three consecutive days every month. Because Verm-X is a totally natural product, any eggs laid during the treatment period are totally safe to eat. A liquid version of Verm-X is also available, which can be added to the chickens' water.
 |
| Wood chips. |
Wood chips: Used for the floor of the chicken house. Can also be used in the brooder for rearing chicks. Wood chips have a pleasent smell and absorb much of the chickens' waste, which helps to leave the house or brooder fresher for longer.
Miscellaneous:
 |
| Leg rings. |
Leg rings: Can be used to mark particular chickens within a flock.
 |
| Dummy eggs. |
Dummy eggs: Can be used to encourage hens to lay in the nest box. Alternatively, can be used to satisfy a broody hen.
