poachedegg Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Just planning our Eglu area. We are going to have a permanent area on top of soil. We are thinking of using Hemcore in both the run and the area outside (edged area). As I have not seen the consistency of Hemcore - does it blow in the wind? And how is it when it rains? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I use aubiose which is finer and softer than hemcore. It doesn't really blow around in the wind, but you might want to edge the run with wood/or anything to stop it being kicked out. It will get wet, so a shower curtain/winter shade is a must. It clumps together when wet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I use hemcore on a soil run. My run never really gets wet as I have corrugated plastic sheeting on it, so I don't know how it behaves when wet. It doesn't really blow out of the run but the girls kick it out so I attached plastic to the sides like this. Not a thing of beauty but it works . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 (edited) The run would be covered with the Eglu cover, however what about the hemcore outside the run but within the edging? Edited April 6, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Hemcore outside the run would get damp when it rains. However.....it does dry out again very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Hmm, don't have that so not sure . If it wasn't covered it would get damp so probably wouldn't fly away unless it was very windy. Not sure about dry weather though. I'd just try it and see how you get on. You may end up just leaving soil in the area outside the run - the girls will scratch and flick everything all over the place anyway . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I find that they dig and scratch it into the soil so it gets well combined. Gives them something to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 Hemcore outside the run would get damp when it rains. However.....it does dry out again very quickly. So Hemcore would be suitable all over - rather than just in the run? Does a bale of Hemcore cover a largish area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Yes, its very compacted so goes a long way. I have an eglu run plus converter and reckon I use about 1/3 of a bale to fill the run every 6 weeks or so. A bale costs me £9.50 (others can get it cheaper ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimW Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I get mine for £6.80! At the moment I'm using Hemcore which is co"Ooops, word censored!"r than Aubiose. I have to say though, that I prefer Aubiose.................you just can't get it at the moment because of the factory fire Neither will blow away, unlike wood shavings (HATE THEM). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Kim, our local supllier of aubiose has just got some in (Thursday) so maybe the aubiose drought is over?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bondinho Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 My hemcore blows all over the place! My garden was actually covered a few weeks ago when the wind was bad, had to brush/rake it all back towards the run. It is amazing stuff though with regards to poo etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I prefer to use Hemcore, have used auboise too which is finer and I think it blows around more than Hemcore. Also Hemcore is impregnated with citronella so smells nice and doesn't get too smelly to quickly. Drys out pretty quick after the rain. We keep our run covered so stays dry in there mainly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I also use hemcore. I think it and aubiose is fab - I wouldnt use anything else in my run. I love the smell of my run when ive put down a new bale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 Thanks for all your replies, but now I'm confused.....not that it takes much!! Our set up is going to be like the Omlet guide to a permanent run without grass. probably on slabs. We intended to use wood chippings, however can only find bark in B&Q etc and apparently that is not recommended because of mould spores. So my dilemma is do I use Hemcore both in the run and beyond up to the edging and just let it keep getting wet or do I use Hemcore in the Eglu run and bark outside upto the edging - however if I do that when raking etc will the Hemcore and bark just become mixed anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckov Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 You should be able to find plain wood chippings at B&Q (rather than bark - that's what we've put in the run. I also have a bale of Easibed, I have put a thin layer in the droppings tray and filled up nest box. We found that the Easibed 'dissolved' a bit too quickly in the run itself and that we needed something a bit co"Ooops, word censored!"r, but I guess it depends how much you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted April 6, 2008 Author Share Posted April 6, 2008 You should be able to find plain wood chippings at B&Q (rather than bark I went to B&Q yesterday and they had Play Bark chippings, Small Bark chippings and Large Bark chippings - the only wood chippings at both B&Q and Homebase were coloured ones and I have read they due to the colouring these are unacceptable too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I have my run on soil covered in wood chips from my local tree surgeon 9£10 for a vanload). I put hemcore to the depth of about 2" in the run. Every couple of weeks I rotate the run, as the hemcore has by then been fully mixed in to the wood chips. Once every 2 months or so I give the whole lot a good forking over and sprinkle in some garden lime just for good measure as this helps to stop any nasty smells (not that I've had any so far). If I could cover the whole area (4mx4m approx) I would do away with the wood chip and have hemcore only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...