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

[lisaroo2]

That's it, the grass has all gone and we now have a mud bath! What do you all recommend for putting on the floor of an uncovered run? We've been putting Aubiose inside the girls run but want to put something in the rest of their area that can be easily cleaned, looks good and is ok for the girls. I know Omlet recommend wood chippings but don't you have to change them every so often as they 'go off'?

 

I know this thread is probably elsewhere on the forum but I can't find it, well it is 1.40am! (I'm up due to a chest infection and a cough that's making me feel sick so I can't sleep)

[Janty]

Mine all have aubiose. I was moving the eglu around the garden but we don't have a lot of grass left so that is on aubiose as well now. The girls love scrabbing about in it.

[Christian]

Same here, aubiose inside the run and on slabs. Works well for me and the girls!

[Chickvic]

Mine are on slabs with hemcore, they do love it!

[carenb]

I don't have an eglu, but a house in the corner of my garage, with a block taken out for access into their uncovered run area.

 

I use bliss in the house (as it is scented) and easibed outdoors... I can't believe how much easier it is to pick the poo !! I do this everyday, and guess I will have to top it up at some point. We have had quite a lot of rain here over the last day or 30 ! so I'm hoping the easibed won't start to smell etc. it seems fine at the moment... and the chickens love diggin in it, so I have to spread it out again now and again !

 

I should imagine that every couple of months or so I will need to replace the lot, but I'll just have to see.

 

the poo picking is much more difficult on the lawn when they free range in comparison.

 

HTH. Caren.

[Sunshine]

Our uncovered run is now a mud bath after all this rain we have had lately so im wondering the same thing. I have seen one run with gravel in which i thought was a good idea. i think we will either use that or wood chip.i was under the impression that hemcore etc cannot be used if the run is not covered and ours isn't and cannot be because there are fruit trees in the way.

[FruitandNutCake]

Could you not cover the run with a shower curtain, or if its bigger, some corregated plastic? I've covered my run and it has made a huge difference. It keeps the aubiose dry and I only need to change it once a month.

[BarbaraJ]

i wouldn't use aubiose in the run without a cover, its horrid when soaked.

wood chip or gravel is your best bet if a roof is not an option.

[cammy73]

My girls are on a soil based run and we use wood chip, it seems to disappear though!! so we end up adding new stuff every 6 months or so..

 

Sharon x

[lisaroo2]

Thanks for all your suggestions the other day. Still can't decide between...

 

wood chips - do they have to be a particular type? Where have people found them cheapest from? Do they 'go off'?

 

and

 

gravel - does it have to be a particular size? Cheapest place to get it from?

 

Sorry about all the questions - just trying to get my brain back into gear as still suffering from this lirgy!!!!

[chooklady]

Have a look at this, the price has gone up since I bought mine, but I also bought quite a bit of other stuff from this place and the delivery was very quick.

 

http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/acatalog/Woodchip_for_Poultry_Runs.html

 

I believe I read on here that B&Q are doing woodchip again, must go and see.

[lisaroo2]

Hi Chooklady

 

Just looked at the B&Q website, woodchip is £4.98 for 65litres. It does say that its black though which I presume doesn't matter/make much difference?

[Ange1]

Gravel brilliant if on earth but not if not slabs like mine was, no where for water to drain away and I've shoved out my gravel and now have auboise instead!

 

Gravel was cheap enough from Homesbase buy in managable bags, you only buy it once and then occassionally blast with a hose or pressure washer, but as I say not good on top of a patio.

 

[lisaroo2]

Hi Ange

 

Does the gravel have to be a certain size? I was wondering if its too small the girls might swallow it??

[Ange1]

Karen at Merrydale Poultry recomends and uses gravel that is around the size of the new 10p peice if that helps?

 

They do pick them up to begin with but promptly put in back when they realise that it's too big!

[lisaroo2]

Thanks Ange

 

Will have a look in the DIY stores. Gravel is looking like the better option for us.

 

Just noticed your signature, my girls are from Merrydale too!