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

[CALNICK]

We have our ladies at the bottom of the garden on a soil base, do the ladies prefer a soil area or a grassed area or a bit of both.

 

Unfortunately as we keep koi carp and have a deep pond we cannot have the hens on our other lawn.

 

As always your thoughts, comments are always appreciated

 

Calnick

 

[trixiejellycat]

we're static on bark, but let them out when in the garden...new to this but love them already!

[chelsea]

mine started off on grass, of course it soon disappeared and then it turned to soil, as autumn/winter approached we noticed the run getting very wet & muddy under foot so we added hemcore/aubiose into the run - it keeps nice and dry under their feet and they enjoy scratching in it.

 

I dont think the hens mind either way, its just we prefer it to be drier in the run

[Egluntyne]

The grassed area will soon become soil!

 

I have mine on paving slabs/cobbles, with Aubiose on top. They freerange too.

 

Not a whole lot of grass left in their ranging area now.

[Lapinou]

Ours are/were on grass, now on woodchip as our soil is very clay-ey and apt to getting waterlogged in the winger - thought the woodchip would help prevent their run being a huge puddle!

[CALNICK]

Thanks

 

What is "Aubiose" and where can it be purchased from?

 

calnick

[chelsea]

its a horsey type bedding which comes in big compacted bales. Hemcore is very similar. Buy from horse shops. farm supply shops and specialist pet stores. It costs £7-9 a bale.

 

www.hemcore.co.uk

[Egluntyne]

**Aubiose** is a hemp based horse bedding. Follow the link for more info.

 

I get mine from a local equestrian shop.

 

It is super absorbent and compostable.

 

One thing though....you will need a cover on the run if you use it there, as it will soak up every rain drop.

[Mutrix Farmers]

Ours are/were on grass, now on woodchip as our soil is very clay-ey and apt to getting waterlogged in the winger - thought the woodchip would help prevent their run being a huge puddle!

 

Our grass pen now has very little grass where we keep moving the run round, so it's woodchips for our girls and free-ranging on grass in the evening.