Feeding advice for bantams (one broody, one moulting)

[alison]

I am wondering what sort of base to put a chicken enclosure on, may be the flytesofancy one, - a bit like a shed with no base!

 

Do I put it straight down on the grass, (with the fox proof skirt) and use easibed or hemcore etc, do I fill it with wood chip?

 

What bases have people got and what has worked best?

 

I have just been quoted £350 to lay a slabbed area 9' x 12', plus materials.

 

Anybody interested in doing it for me - I am in St Albans

 

Thank you

 

Alison

[ubereglu]

You don't necessarily need a fully paved area. Mine have their eglu on slabs which have just been placed down on a levelled surface, much cheaper and easier and you can do it yourself and still be able to move the run if you wanted.

[chelsea]

we did a brick surround with the enclosure on the top.

 

We left the mud/earth in the middle of the run so the chickens can scratch around in it. It has compacted and is lovely and dry in the run as we have a roof. We put a layer of aubiose/hemcore in the run.

 

Some people also have their run on slabs and then put aubiose/hemcore on the top for the chooks to scratch in.

 

you could put it straight on grass, the chooks would then turn this into mud and it would compact and dry out. I think slabs or bricks are a better solution around the base of your run though as this would stop any vermin tunnelling into the run.

[lisa33]

Hi Alison,

 

How long have you got to wait now?

 

I would use hemcore or Aubiose on the earth. They can scratch around and dust bath then.

[alison]

Thanks everybody.

 

Hi Lisa,

 

My cube is coming on the 11th July, a pink one!

 

I have ordered 4 chickens, 2 of each and I though I may go to Woodside and get a couple of something else pretty! I visited Thornes on Thursday and had a wander around and bought some bits.

 

 

I have decided to have the flytesofancy pen, the lady was very helpful - they

are used to putting pop holes in for a cube, so that is sorted and arrives on the 1st.

 

I got some paving slabs off freecycle today t9o stand the cube on, or to put at the door end, haven't decided which yet, depending on whether `i get any more slabs!

 

I am getting excited!

 

Alison

[lisa33]

I bet you're unbearable.

 

If you are ITA on evenings or weekends give us a call and pop in for a cuppa.

 

I can't wait to see the pictures of your cube & girls.

[Helen&Lee]

Our run (my OH made) sits on the soil.

 

Like Chelsea, the soil is compacted and we put Aubiose on the top. We dug a trench all around the run and filled it with concrete to stop the foxes digging in.

 

Helen