Mrs Nesbitt Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 Hi all Am in the process of building a permanent run due to visit by Mr Fox (knew I was living on borrowed time with the freeranging ). The chooks will live in the run when we're not around, but will be able to free-range the garden (behind poultry fencing) when we are about. My question is what to put on top of the slabs that will form the floor. I use Aubiose in the eglu/run at present but the new run will probably be a bit exposed with weldmesh on all 4 sides (although it will have a roof) and I'm concerned that the Aubiose will get too wet. So maybe woodchip? If I do use woodchip, how often will it need completely replacing and what do you all do with the stuff you discard? Does anyone use Aubiose in a run that is a bit exposed and if so does it work OK or get really soggy?? Thanks in advance Mrs N Forgot to say, can't use the eglu run and converter as I had been, as a neighbour kindly donated two further chooks to my cause and it seems to small for all of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 i use hemcore, which is similar to auboise in a run with a roof. It does get wet round the edges when it rains but just seems to absorb the water and soons dries out again. I don't have slabs in the run and I think the rain encourages insects to the wet bits as the girls love to dig big holes in it. I put it on the compost when I clean out as chicken poo is too acidic for the garden straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliveb Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I use woodchip in our run and it seems to work fine. It gets raked over about once or twice a week to level it back out, as the girls like to dig in it. I replace it once a month entirely and give the ground a clean. The woodchip does get wet but the chooks seem quite happy. It makes for an easy to keep, low maintenance flooring for the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 i use wood chip and its really good! looks nice too. i also buy a bale of hemcore every month and a bit and put that in aswell. and mix them all together! works a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 i use wood chip and its really good! looks nice too. i also buy a bale of hemcore every month and a bit and put that in aswell. and mix them all together! works a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CockADoodleDoo Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 i use wood chip and its really good! looks nice too. i also buy a bale of hemcore every month and a bit and put that in aswell. and mix them all together! works a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ange1 Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 Where do people buy the woodchip from? Garden centres, i know it has to be wood chip and not wood bark? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 B&Q are selling it again (With a kind of orange coloured band on the pack) We had all noticed that everywhere seemed to be only selling bark for a while. I think you could also try easybed as that is a type of woodchip (Hope I'm right, correct me if I'm wrong, i haven't ever used it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Nesbitt Posted July 15, 2008 Author Share Posted July 15, 2008 But what does everyone do with the woodchip when they replace it?? I shouldn't imagine that it composts down very quickly... Mrs N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 But what does everyone do with the woodchip when they replace it?? I shouldn't imagine that it composts down very quickly... Mrs N No, which is why I use Aubiose in my permanent run. It does get a little damp when it rains, because my roof leaks a bit in places, but it soon dries out and is much easier to compost than wood chip, which I tried previously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yolky Posted July 15, 2008 Share Posted July 15, 2008 I don't know if you have a local council tip near to you but I bet if you bagged it up in one of those large paper bags you could put it on their heap to compost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
