Guest Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 just been out to poo pick the girls' coop- it's done everyday and DH usually does it but he's working. The coop stays nice and dry, even in this weather but the big run, which is on soil, is sodden, however the girls dig in there and tend to keep it pretty much aerated. I'm just a bit concerned about the small run, the underneath layer of aubiose in the small run is wet and yucky because it's all compacted. I worry about the damp conditions being ideal breeding grounds for flys and other yucky things. Despite it being cleaned out regularly (usually every 3-4 weeks), with this weather, it only takes about a day to get all cruddy again. I've been turning over the aubiose in the small run today in the hopes that the wind will dry it out a bit but should I just leave it alone do you think or is it better to give it a good aerating? The chickens don't tend to do it as they spend all day in the big run. As soon as I started to dig over the aubiose in the small run, they came in to help! They wouldn't normally though so it's gets quite compacted and wet. It's just used as a thoroughfare mainly or they shelter in it if the weather is really bad. What would you do? Would you be tempted not to have any aubiose in there at all? The small run is on paving slabs so, in theory, we could do that but it would get a bit pooey in there without the aubiose. I just don't want the girls to get ill because it's so damp and icky. Do you think it's okay just to turn it over every day to try to keep it aerated? This is the small run so you can see what I mean (the weather was obviously dry when the pic was taken though) thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robskyd Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 You think you've got problems?!?! If it doesn't stop raining soon we're going to have to get our girls some armbands... or should that be waterwings !! Or I'm going to have to build an Ark! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I wouldn't worry Poet, they'll keep it turned over themselves. Next time you clear it out, just sprinkle some garden lime over the earth before you put doen more Aubiose. That will rectify the acid caused by their poo and stop it getting smelly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I wouldn't worry Poet, they'll keep it turned over themselves. Next time you clear it out, just sprinkle some garden lime over the earth before you put doen more Aubiose. That will rectify the acid caused by their poo and stop it getting smelly. that's what DH does do in the big run, it was the small run i was concerned about, sorry I mustn't have made that clear, i tend to go on a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I shouldn't worry too much. Just do what you were doing before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I shouldn't worry too much. Just do what you were doing before. ah well, the weather wasn't so horrendous before. That's the thing. I think I might thin out the aubiose in the small run t'row, so there isn't so much of it to actually get compacted in the first place. I think Ian tends to put too much in the small run. I think I'll also keep trying to turn it over til it gets changed, so it doesn't get so wet and compacted does anyone think this is a bad idea or forsees any problems doing this at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I use a garden hoe every so often just to try and break up the more compacted parts of the run area but in this weather there's not too much point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 From what I can see the perspex roof covers the 'open section' doesn't it? The back is against the fence? So it is only the front that is open to all weathers then? It is probably driving rain that gets that bit wet, but its such a small area I wouldn't worry about it. They are used to gigging in dirt/muck, its what mine do best! I have recently slabbed the area that my eglus sit on and the aubiose is wet and slightly compacted. They are still digging in it and seem fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 From what I can see the perspex roof covers the 'open section' doesn't it? The back is against the fence? So it is only the front that is open to all weathers then? It is probably driving rain that gets that bit wet, but its such a small area I wouldn't worry about it. They are used to gigging in dirt/muck, its what mine do best! I have recently slabbed the area that my eglus sit on and the aubiose is wet and slightly compacted. They are still digging in it and seem fine! the back is covered with some spare wood that DH screwed on and the roof is perspex yes. The rain does get it from the front but also seeps in under the bottom edge. our girls don't tend to dig in that area, I guess I'll have to dig for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I wouldn't worry Poet. You'd have a fit if you'd seen the state of my run when I cleaned it out yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 If you read the horsey blurb on aubiose, any liquid is meant to wick away to the lower layers, keeping the surface dry. If it were in a stable you would just poo pick and keep adding to the surface until the once in a blue moon complete clear out and replace the lot. That is why it works so well. See here http://www.aubiose.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 If you read the horsey blurb on aubiose, any liquid is meant to wick away to the lower layers, keeping the surface dry. If it were in a stable you would just poo pick and keep adding to the surface until the once in a blue moon complete clear out and replace the lot. That is why it works so well. See here http://www.aubiose.co.uk/ trouble is, it's not wet from the chickens, it's wet from the rain VERY WET I think Ian must have been adding fresh layers and that's why there's so much of it. I'll have a think about this one but it does sound like I should just leave it alone goes against my instincts but whatever's best for the girls is what I want. thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktdot Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I use Aubiose on slabs in my run and had to s"Ooops, word censored!"e it off the floor this weekend it was so solid with water. Water just pours under the run when it rains really hard. It looks horrible but I don't think the chickens are bothered. I wasn't happy when it started raining again this afternoon trying to spoil my lovely fluffy clean run!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 If they don't use that area much I would suggest taking the aubiose out of it completely. The slabs will help keep their nails down and as they've got access to the big run they're not missing out. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 I don't think that will harm them at all, Poet. My instinct would be the same as your OH's...just keep adding some on top & don't turn it over! It'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 thanks for all your advice, i'll try not to be tempted to mess with it in future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 I use Aubiose on slabs in my run and had to s"Ooops, word censored!"e it off the floor this weekend it was so solid with water. Water just pours under the run when it rains really hard. It looks horrible but I don't think the chickens are bothered. I wasn't happy when it started raining again this afternoon trying to spoil my lovely fluffy clean run!! Ditto!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 22, 2008 Share Posted January 22, 2008 Infuriating isn't it! There are worse things though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
