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

[callyfc]

We are excitedly awaiting the arrival of our eglu and 2 hens on 18th July. We are not sure if we should wood chip an area off in the garden, or place the eglu on the grass and keep moving it, will this completely ruin the lawn if moved every 10 days?? Do wood chipped areas become smelly, even if the chips are changed often (and how often ). Any ideas or suggestions welcome. Thanx

Cally

[Lapinou]

Hi Cally

 

We haven't had our chickens long, but we want them in a semi-permanent place ie. we kind of knew where we wanted them to stay, but we didn't want to limit our options by actually making a woodchip area for them. We've copied other omleteers by putting gravel boards around the edge of the run and putting a bagful of woodchip from B&Q in the run - it's been less smelly than when it was just grass for the whole of the 10 days it's been on there. I guess the chickens turn the poo into it themselves by scratching etc. And we've also been using a spray of water with some drops of citronella and eucalyptus oil in to keep the flies off and improve the smell, but we were using that when it was just grass too and it's still better with the woodchip. DH raked it all over to neaten it and turn over the poos etc. when he cleaned the eglu on Sunday, and it looks like new. They free-range most of the time though, so that will also make a difference, I guess.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Cally . I have my eglu on a permanent run and use Hemcore on top of the soil. It magically absorbs all the poo and they love scratching about in it.

 

Your girls will ruin your grass fairly quickly - you can keep moving the run to limit the damage but I would think that would become a chore fairly soon!

[Minnie&Moose]

Hi Cally,

 

we've only had our 2 chickens since March and have so far kept them on the lawn. They only get to free-range for a couple of hours a day during the week though weekends they're out of the eglu run most of the day. I find I really need to move the run every couple of days to avoid the lawn looking too bare, particularly when they're in their run most of the day. We do have a bigger than average patch of lawn but I'm still planning on moving them off it for the winter, having seen what they can do when it's growing well

 

Enjoy your chickens when they arrive

[callyfc]

Thanks everyone,

I think we'll probabably go for woodchip. I'll keep you posted when the girls arrive! Very excited!!!

Cally

[Egluntyne]

I think eventually most if us decide on a permanent site.

 

Once winter comes it is much more practical.

 

The woodchip would need to be changed every 6-8 weeks or so.

 

Welcome to the forum.

[stoice]

Hi callyfc

I'm by no means an chook expert yet but I have a permanent run and started with wood shavings in the house and wood chip in the run. Was fine at first but with all the rain we had the woodchip started to pong. (Even with regular turning over, my birds have to stay in it most of the day and they produce a surprising amount of poo). Plus, B&Q decided to only sell bark chips for a few months so I couldn't get hold of any more wood chip. Now I'm trying medi bed in both the house and on top of the soil (and some remaining woodchip) in the run. The girls love it and i find the whiff has gone. It's medicated to stop any nibbling (Apparently it tastes nasty) plus i also think that is what helps with the pong. Once this bale has gone (Which seems to be never ending) I'm going to try Hemcore (Or the French version - Aubiose) as I've heard rave reviews here.

 

Basically, try what you think is best - move on to something else if it dosen't ring your bell. The girls love grass, especially to try to dust bathe in but you may find it won't last long.

 

Hope this helps

 

PS - my mum, also new to chicken keeping, had recently pruned a eucalptus tree and put the shredded wood in the run - hardly any flies came visiting. Just wish garden centres sold bags of the stuff for everyone to try!

[callyfc]

Hi

Thanks for all the advice, what is Hemcore and where do I get it???

Cally x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Hemcore is great stuff . Here's their website.

 

You can check the list of distributors to see who stocks it near you.

[Sandychick]

I've had my chickens for just over a week and figured the grass wouldn't last by day 2! I've put Aubiose (much the same as Hemcore) in the run and it seems like a great solution. Easy to rake through and doesn't get smelly.

 

Places that stock horse stuff are the best bet to get a bail of it as it is horse bedding. Mine cost £7.50 and there is a lot of it - it will last a long time.

 

Sandy

[callyfc]

Thank you, this forum is amazing, cant wait until the 18th!!

C

[Pinkybijou]

I use wood chips on a permanent run and my chooks love it! I did use bark chippings for a while (I had some left over in my garage) but it went soggy and was a bit smelly, and I understand it can go mouldy. My Eglu run is covered with a sheet of corrugated plastic (£5 B&Q) and since the woodchips don't get wet now, they're great. The chooks love scratching about in it and the poo seems to dry out and turn to powder, and it's soon dug into the soil beneath by their scratching. The only smell is if you happen to crouch by the run immediately after one of them has done one of the curry poo's - they REEK! I rake out the woodchips about every six weeks and throw it on my allotment compost heap. I use about 1/3 bag of B&Q woodchips per change (so about £1.50 worth), so it's just a covering really and then they can dig about in the mud beneath and dust bathe too.

 

Hope that helps. Having said all of that, when I next run out of woodchips I'm going to try and get some hemcore and give that a go!