over easy Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 hi as i browse all the info on this site i am wandering if i will be best to keep the eglu in one position instead of moving it around on the grass as it sounds like the garden will get trashed anyway. was thnkin of a woodchipped area with probably the same in the run or this hemcore which seems to be recommended. also would hemcore need to go on a solid flooring ie wood base or is it fine to put straight onto the grass or what will be left of it . thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 hemcore is fab! I wouldnt use anything else. Its so easy to use and very compostable. We put ours directly onto earth. The earth stays lovely and dry and compacted underneath. Just rake out when dirty. Some people put hemcore onto paving slabs. We have a permanent run area, works well for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
over easy Posted January 20, 2008 Author Share Posted January 20, 2008 sounds the best idea thanks chelsea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I use Auboise which is hemp (same as Hemcore) in the run straight on the grass (or what's left of it). £9 a bale from horse shops. I don't have any experience of bark so can't advise. In the Summer I move my eglu to a new patch of grass every 3/4 days and don't use Auboise as the poos just get blasted with a hosepipe but I can't do that in Winter with this waterlogged ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
over easy Posted January 20, 2008 Author Share Posted January 20, 2008 I use Auboise which is hemp (same as Hemcore) in the run straight on the grass (or what's left of it). £9 a bale from horse shops. I don't have any experience of bark so can't advise. In the Summer I move my eglu to a new patch of grass every 3/4 days and don't use Auboise as the poos just get blasted with a hosepipe but I can't do that in Winter with this waterlogged ground. http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb63/Hen_Watch/100_1363.jpg[/ithanks again for the quick and informative replies cheers mg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 hemcore is fab! I wouldnt use anything else. Its so easy to use and very compostable. We put ours directly onto earth. The earth stays lovely and dry and compacted underneath. Just rake out when dirty. Some people put hemcore onto paving slabs. We have a permanent run area, works well for us. our run is earth with aubiose (similar to hemcore) on the top and the chickens still manage to dig their way almost to Australia! I don't know how your earth stays compacted under neath Chelsea They dug a huge hole yesterday that filled with water today so DH had to go in and fill it in as they were drinking the muddy water and I was a bit worried it might make them ill. It doesn't matter how much aubiose we put in, they still dig massive holes but they LOVE dustbathing in fresh dry aubiose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I don't know how your earth stays compacted under neath Chelsea Probably due to the excess amount I put in Poet! I put a thick layer of woodshavings on the bottom and then cover in hemcore. The chooks love making mountains out of their hemcore....very arty sculptures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Up until yesterday ours were on bark chippings. However, after reading about it and receiving some advice from others we decided to replace the bark chippings with wood chippings. Apparently, a fungus can grow on the bark which can give chickens respiratory disease. Moving the bark about yesterday, there was evidence of a lot of 'mould' on it I rang a local tree surgeon in the week and asked him about wood chippings, of which he had plenty! So first thing yesterday we went up there to get loads! Apparently, he leaves the stuff his chipper machine makes for several months so that all of the green stuff (leaves, etc) rots away and you're just left with chipped wood. I have to say that it's a lot cleaner than bark chippings and doesn't seem to get nearly as 'slimey' in the wet. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgley Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Were they a good price Rob? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 We got 12 x 80litre plastic bins full for £25. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I'm an Aubiose fan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
