What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[AmandaR]

I'm hoping someone can help me with this, I have had a good search through the forums but can't find any posts related.

 

We have recently built a large walk in run to replace the permanant eglu site as we want to reclaim our garden and hopefully get some grass back

Today, I raked out all the old wood chips, dug over the soil and sprinkled in some garden lime to neutralise the soil. However, when I was digging, I noticed that the top 2 inches of our clay soil has developed a blueish tinge to it.

I've never seen this before and it has only occured on the most used areas of the previous run. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this and whether the lime will sort it out or if I should dig away those couple of inches? Thanks.

[Stevie]

I've got blue clay in my garden too,but mine is about 18-24" down and stinks!

 

If its just lawn grasses which will be grown-a 2" depth of topsoil will be adequate because they're shallow rooted,If the clay is on the surface-just s"Ooops, word censored!"e away few inches,mix some good quality topsoil with it and then seed the area.

 

Lime by itself wont get rid of clay-only digging in manure,compost or better quality topsoil will break it up.Infact,lawn grasses prefer slightly acidic soil and adding lime will encourage clover & other weeds.

[AmandaR]

Thanks for your reply Stevie.

We are not reseeding this area as it is part of the new walk in run which the girls will be going into in the next few days - hopefully.

Our clay isn't usually blue. I suspect as it has only occured in the area where the girls eglu run used to be, that their droppings etc have caused it. Although we intend to cover the soil with fresh woodchips and hemcore I'm unsure whether this 'funny' soil could have ill effects on our girls as we don't know for sure why this reaction has occured - whether it is harbouring harmful bacteria or a sign of diseased soil

 

I think I may take your advice about s"Ooops, word censored!"ing it away and putting some topsoil down over it even though it isn't going to be turfed. Better to be safe than sorry

[Abbey Road Girl]

Amanda, the names of your first three chooks got my attention. Care to explain?

[Stevie]

If it is blue clay-it isnt dangerous.Far from it infact! Worms generally avoid it because its so tightly packed and is hard for them to burrow which means it never gets decomposed matter added.So inturn-its permanetly bland.Roses and sunflowers love it though!

 

You can probably guess im a keen gardenener!

 

If the chooks run is going back down in same spot-replacing the first few inches might be a good idea so atleast the ground underneath has better drainage.

[AmandaR]

Ahhh, that might explain it then. Rather than chicken droppings being the cause, it is probably more likely due to several tiny feet thudding over it over a period of time that has compacted it and in turn changed the colour, as the worms aren't able to work their magic - I feel much better now , thank you.

Thanks also for the tip about the roses. I have a couple of bushes in the front garden, so will chuck some of this soil their way!

As you can probably tell, I am not a very good gardener - more of the plant, water (when remembered) and keep fingers crossed kinda person.

 

Then compost when inevitably everything dies a slow horrid death.

[AmandaR]

Sue, the first three names were decided by DH and the children.

DS thought shadow was appropriate as his is a black hen. DD thought hers was the perfect colour match of a paisley print she saw at school and DH thought it would be really funny for the neighbours to hear me in the garden shouting 'Psycho' at chicken gathering up time

 

I wasn't allowed originally to have one to name - Just mucking out duties!

[Abbey Road Girl]

Thanks, Amanda. So then it's not Rev Ian Paisley, Hitchcock's Psycho and The Shadow Knows (old radio programme)!

[AmandaR]

No, we were not that clever or inventive!