4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Lapinou]

Can't believe I keep asking questions! Hope I'm not becoming too annoying!

 

Our run is going to stay in one place, but it's on grass/soil (well, I'm aware it'll be soil before long!). They will be free range asap whenever we're around (most of the time). We had planned to make a proper woodchip area as the omlet guide says to do so, but what are the reasons for this? does it have to be so thick if the woodchip is going onto soil rather than concrete? Is it so the soil doesn't turn into mud? In which case, could we get away with just a thin layer and not have to build a frame for it?

 

our woodchip will get distributed around the garden anyway as we have small children so the frame would just be a way of enabling the full thickness, but I'm now wondering if it needs to be so thick if it's going onto soil.

 

TIA

 

L

[Trapper]

Use abiose if you are keeping the run in a permenant area, very easy to clean and cheaper, put gravel boards around the edge of the frame Cube or eglu to stop it coming out (chickens kick everything in the air so need 6 inches hight).

[Lapinou]

Thanks for that tip - where can I get aubiose from cheaply?

[Egluntyne]

Equestrian shops are your best bet as it is actually a horse bedding.

 

It costs about £8 for a large bale.

 

As it is super absorbent, you will need to put a cover over the run. A shower curtain is fine for this.