Fox attacks - a list of what happened?

[Abbey Road Girl]

I'm not aggitating for delivery day (17 April) cos the rain has delayed ground preparation. My garden is about 17' wide and about 35' long with a brick path leading to a gate. The narrow side has a bird bath and shrubs and resembles a proper garden.

 

The wider side where the Cube will be sited is derelict. When we bought the house the whole garden was covered in gravel and we planted it with old shrub roses. When I was widowed six years ago, I didn't have the time for garden maintenance so nature took its course: bindweed smothered the roses!

 

My son and a friend with a chainsaw are going to clear everything out and level the area. Now, what should I do? There is a brick BBQ near the back fence so I'm hoping to be able to lay a few square metres of turf around it, perhaps regularly using the Omlet netting to keep the hens from totally destroying it (they can free range on the narrow side and have access to the paved area with potted plants by the kitchen door).

 

Sorry for taking so long to ask a simple question or two. Should i completely cover the Cube/BBQ area with turf or simply instal the Cube on soil and add turf to the BBQ area later? I get the idea that turf in the run will be quickly destroyed so there wouldn't be much point to it.

 

The ground is well-drained and I would cover the soil with Hemcore or Aubiose. Am concerned about bark harbouring nasties.

 

It's so nice to have a place to go to for sound advice and sympathetic hand-holding!

[Olly]

I wouldn't bother with turf in the Cube - it won't last more than a day or two! I'd just clear the ground, you need a reasonably even surface so the sides of the run will be flat on the ground - we're not talking spirit-levels here, but if there are any roots and things left in, it might affect it.

 

The chooks will be quite happy on just earth, it gives them something to scratch around in, and then once they have trampled it down add some aubiose/hemcore.

 

If you put turf down anywhere, keep the hens off it until it's well-established, it should withstand occasional chicken usage, and from the sound of it you have plenty of other places for them to play. How eggciting, and lucky that you have someone to help clear the ground. Do ask any questions on here, we like nothing better than answering other people's problem queries (takes my mind off my own worries! )

[Egluntyne]

we're not talking spirit-levels here

:lol:

 

The chooks will be quite happy on just earth, it gives them something to scratch around in, and then once they have trampled it down add some aubiose/hemcore.

 

They will love rootling around in the Hemcore/Aubiose.

 

I would make sure the run is well anchored down with either boulders or strong tent pegs just to be on the safe side.

[Abbey Road Girl]

Thank you so much, Olly and Egluntine, for your reassuring advice. Yesterday, since it wasn't chucking down rain, I cleared most of the derelict part of the garden (my son will be surprised).

 

The bindweed had smothered the huge shrub roses (one was a sturdy Rosa Rugosa that had been about 10' high) so effectively that the dead stems could just be broken off.

 

The soil is actually lovely. I think friable is the word. Should be easy on the beak (glad I don't have to peck for my food).

 

And the storage heater blocks that I was going to use to keep in the Hemcore/Aubiose will also make the run more secure.

 

It was only after I'd crammed the last branch into the green bin that I remembered that I might have disturbed a rat!

 

Would it be a good idea to sprinkle some garden lime on the soil? I'm not quite sure what it's suppossed to do!

[Egluntyne]

Would it be a good idea to sprinkle some garden lime on the soil? I'm not quite sure what it's suppossed to do!

 

Garden lime restores the soil PH to normal. It gets very acidic when chickens poo on it all the time.

 

If the hens haven't yet been on it.....I wouldn't bother tbh.

[Abbey Road Girl]

Would it be a good idea to sprinkle some garden lime on the soil? I'm not quite sure what it's suppossed to do!

 

Garden lime restores the soil PH to normal. It gets very acidic when chickens poo on it all the time.

 

If the hens haven't yet been on it.....I wouldn't bother tbh.

 

Ah, thank you so much, Egluntine. You would know, wouldn't you? If I scratch around on my worktop, I may unearth an old journal for making notes. I'm pretty sure that you recommended "speaking chicken" - I'm sure that will spring to mind if the occasion arises. But other things I should jot down.

 

This afternoon my son brought over a friend with a chainsaw and they have sorted the site out beautifully. All they would accept were some bacon butties and something cold from the fridge.

 

There's only one problem now and that's waiting for the big day!

 

(I already have someone wanting to buy eggs!)