Chicken kate Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I'm new to keeping chickens, they arrived this week and already the grass is begining to look a little shabby and I know it will only get worst. What's the best thing to put in the run? By the way I love the chooks they are fab...can't wait for the first egg. Watch this space....... Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 **Aubiose** or **Hemcore** are both fantastic. Compostable and super absorbent. You will need to cover the run to stop rain saturating it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Hi I have quall and they have ruined the grass in their cage so both them and the chicken run has had wood chips ( told not to use bark chips which of course i had and had to take them out) spread on the bottom. I have been told that if chickens eat long grass they can get sour crop ????????? so if thats true i will have to get rid of the wildlife area 12x12 at the back of the garden as i dont want to play devils advocate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 It is impacted crop that they get from eating long grass Mirkwood. Best be on the safe side and strim it. Otherwise you could be unlucky and have a very expensive trip to the vets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 cheers for that. I will do that, i am getting my chickens next week from two pot bantams as they are my nearest supplier. Do you think i would be able to let them out a few days after they arrive? Would i have problems getting them back in? i am terrified that something may happen to them if i do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 The advice is to keep them in the run for 5 days to fix the idea of "home" in their minds. If you supervise their first couple of sorties, leave them till late afternoon so that they are tiring, and have some sweetcorn sultanas or halved grapes ready to scatter into the run to lure them back in...you should be fine. Good Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Thank you so much for that. will let you know how it goes with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisa Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I have quall and they have ruined the grass in their cage so both them and the chicken run has had wood chips ( told not to use bark chips which of course i had and had to take them out) spread on the bottom. What's the difference between Wood Chippings & Bark Chippings? In the Eglu instructions it says to use these Chippings on a permanent site, & in the picture there is a bag of Bark Chippings. After just a week, I've decided to make a permanent site for my Eglu as the two previous places that I had it sited on the lawn have turned to mud. The lawn has very bad drainage. So there's a little job for me when it stops raining & blowing a gale. ~cruisa~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I am also a memeber of www.down the lane.net and they told me that bark chippings carry spores that are harmful, but i thought so would wood chips, but i decided to take them out. maybe someone else knows any other reasons?????????? cant see the difference myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NClaire Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I think bark is only really a problem in an enclosed space (like the coop). Out in the run it should be fine, though you might want to play safe and go with aubiose or something like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I use easibed, which is not as light and fluffy as Aubiose, but it means it doesn't blow away as quickly!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I think bark is only really a problem in an enclosed space (like the coop). Out in the run it should be fine, though you might want to play safe and go with aubiose or something like it. We used to use bark chippings in our run but also read about it harbouring spores which can cause respiratory disease so we decided to replace it with wood chippings. When we removed the bark we did indeed find that below the surface layer there were white spores on the chippings We got some wood chippings from a local tree surgeon. He explained that the chippings are produced when they cut down trees and run the wood through the chipping machine. These chippings are then piled up for 6-12 months so that all of the green stuff (leaves and bark, etc) rots away. What you're then left with is just the actual wood itself. We have found the wood chippings to be much better than bark - they last longer, don't get so 'slimy' and are easier to level off after our two have been digging through them. Buying them from the tree surgeon is also much cheaper than buying bark in bags from a garden centre Omlet used to advise making a permanent area using bark chippings but have recently altered their advice and now recommend wood chippings. However, I don't think they've updated the picture on the website. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 cheers for that. I will do that, i am getting my chickens next week from two pot bantams as they are my nearest supplier. Hi Mirkwood, and welcome! I hope you're not dark and scary and haunted by elves Where are Two Pot Bantams? I had a quick Google but they don't seem to have a website. My bantams are from Norfolk and Essex; I'm thinking of getting some pekins from Kirsty at Happy Hens, but it's always useful to know more suppliers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 (edited) Hi Yes i have posted the url here for you. they were recommended to me and i have to say they are the most friendly and helpful people i have spken too. no question is to much trouble to answer. when i get my girls next week i will post back here so you can see what i thought. not sure if i have done the url right!!!!!!!!! http://www.twopotsbantams.co.uk/index.htm by the way just saw your lotr joke .....no but are huge fans Edited February 25, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 What's the best thing to put in the run? Hi Kate. I use Auboise (buy it by the bale from horse supply shops). I put about an inch over run floor and it only needs changing monthly. Also use it in the nest box and if you've got an eglu sprinkle a bit in the poop tray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyren Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 HiYes i have posted the url here for you. they were recommended to me and i have to say they are the most friendly and helpful people i have spken too. no question is to much trouble to answer. when i get my girls next week i will post back here so you can see what i thought. not sure if i have done the url right!!!!!!!!! http://www.twopotsbantams.co.uk/index.htm by the way just saw your lotr joke .....no but are huge fans Thanks for the link! I'll bear them in mind - though I have my heart set on pekins at the moment and Two Pots don't seem to have them. Hmm, it'll be March soon, which means I have an excuse to phone Kirsty at Happy Hens and find out what she's hatching... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...