Chickens

Keeping chickens is fast growing and many people owning two or three just in their gardens as more people want to know where their food is coming from.

At our country store we stock a wide range of feeds from BOCM to Allen & Page. We also stock a wide range of additives, lotions and potions. Not only that we also provide housing and fencing, everything you need to get started. We also keep in stock other feeds such as plain wheat and mixed corn and grit which are all essential for keeping chickens.

Care: There are many different breeds of chickens, from fancy hens and exotic breeds to prolific egg layers. Chickens will start laying anywhere between 18-21 weeks and if you are lucky keep laying up to about 3 years of age. When buying chickens check that they have been kept in a clean environment, have clear bright eyes, clean nostrils, smooth legs and a clean vent area.

Suitable shelter is needed to keep your chickens safe, warm and dry. Chickens need a perch to roost on at night and this will help them feel secure and also keep them off the cold, drafty floor. Chickens like to lay where it is dry, dark and well-ventilated.  Putting down straw or shavings will reduce the chance of egg breakage and encourage the hens into the box.

Feeding: A constant supply of water is essential so a large water feeder will ensure they do not run out easily. Chickens are very good at foraging for food but they will need additional layers pellets to give them a good balanced diet. You should always keep a ready supply of poultry grit down for your chickens.  All hens need grit in order to help mash up their food during digestion, helping them to get the most nutrition out of their pellets. It also aids in the production of strong eggs thanks to the calcium content. If your hens are producing eggs with thin, soft shells it maybe that they are not eating enough grit.

Not just your average bugs bunny...

At Thomas Bell we stock Burgess Excel range and Alpha Feeds range, we also have a range of hutches, bedding and treats to keep your rabbit warm and happy.

Care: There are many different breeds of rabbit and they vary in size, temperament and shape. Rabbits are very sociable and enjoy company often making it easier to keep them as same sex pairs. Rabbits are often kept outside but can be kept indoors as they make good house pets, being easily litter trained.Hutches and cages need to be waterproof and draft proof is position outdoors. A good layer of wood shavings or straw is ideal to keep them warm and dry.

Feeding: Rabbits should be fed a basic rabbit mix or pellets and ample hay, which is vital for their digestive system, daily along with fruit and vegetables or plants and flowers. Rabbit mix usually consists of a variety of grains, pellets and dried vegetables. Rabbit pellets are compressed food pellets and both are designed to meet a rabbit’s nutritional requirements. Rabbits will need a constant supply of water and water bottles are ideal to attach to the cage and they can’t knock them over.

Goats are one of the oldest domesticated animals, having been used for centuries for their milk, meat, hair and skin.

Goats will eat just about anything! Which is why we stock Allen & Page and Alpha ranges of food for goats, plus we also have a good selection of straight feeds which can be popular especially if you have a larger herd.

Care: A goat is one of the most useful animals you can keep, not only are they easy to look after and feed, they produce lovely tasting milk to make cheese, butter and yogurt from and to drink of course. It is essential that some type of shelter is provided for any goat; they do not like the rain and wind and are susceptible to respiratory diseases, particularly dairy goats that do not have a warm fleecy coat. The floor of the shelter needs to be easily cleaned and well drained. Straw makes good bedding for sheds; barley straw is preferable to oat straw as it doesn’t stain as easily. 

Feeding: Goats like to graze good pasture but their diet must also contain ample roughage, some concentrates and a supply of bushes, weeds or rough scrub to give variety. Green food, concentrates, minerals, vitamins and water are also important, and a balanced and adequate diet is crucial to success.

Deciding on which breed of turkey to buy can be difficult as there are more than people generally realise.

Once you have made your deision, you need to consider the best nutrients for it. At Thomas Bell we stock the BOCM range which gives you everything you need to raise healthy birds.

Care: People often let their turkeys roam the yard but this can be risky with predators about. They do need adequate shelter or housing with plenty of room. Wood shavings are perfect for turkey litter. Sawdust and newspaper are not appropriate as they can cause harm if the turkeys eat it or slip up.

Feeding: Feeding turkeys will vary depending on how old the turkey is. Check with the feed shop staff how much you should give, as amounts of protein will be different. Make sure your turkey has access to grit or is allowed to roam and hunt for their own. Ensure that when caring for turkeys they know where their feeder and water is available.

Keeping a few ducks in the garden is becoming very popular. Even without a pond, you can keep the smaller domestic ducks happy with a tub that is emptied and refilled daily with fresh water.

At Thomas Bell we stock BOCM and Allen & Page Layers Pellets which are ideal to keep your ducks happy and well fed.

Care: Like chickens, ducks need a suitable shelter to keep them safe, warm and dry at night and during the day if the weather is bad. Although wood shavings can be lethal when rearing young ducklings as they tend to eat them, shavings or coarse sawdust is ideal bedding for adults. Ducks love water for a paddle or a swim. Providing water that they can submerge themselves in is essential for ducks to maintain their waterproofing.

Feeding: A constant supply of water is essential so a large water feeder will ensure they do not run out easily it also needs to be deep enough to fully immerse their bill. The most commonly used duck feed happens to be chicken feed, it gives ducks all the nutrients they need to live a long and happy life. You can use starter crumbs, growers pellets and maintenance pellets just like you do for chickens.

Whether you keep pigs yourself, thinking about keeping pigs or just love pigs.

At Thomas Bell we stock the BOCM range from sow and weaner nuts to finisher and also the Allen & Page range aimed at the pet pig market suiting pot bellied pigs and  ideal for the ever popular micro pig.

Care: Pigs are extremely sensitive to heat and can suffer from sunburn and heat stroke. They roll in the mud to cool them off in summer months so it is important that they have a nice wet and muddy area that they can use. However they do not like being in mud 24 hours a day. Pigs like a nice dry bedding in their housing to sleep on at night, straw is ideal and will last a long time. Pigs a clean creatures and love to scratch so make sure you pen and housing is made from heavy duty material.

Feeding: Grains are the most common source of carbohydrates for pigs. They prefer mixed grains which can be bought in pellet form and are supplemented with protein, vitamins and minerals which grains alone do not provide. You can also find a suitable pellet feed to suit the growth stage of your pig.