Joanne Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Have had my two chooks now for about three weeks and am becoming concerned about my cleaning regime.. The Eglu and run are on a grassy area, (although more moss that grass) and I move the whole unit back and forward every few days but I have found that the grass/moss has become very compacted, mainly with food pellets that they have thrown around. I pick up all the poo I can find every day, but of course some is soft/runny (sorry if you`re eating) and sticks to the grass. With all this rain we`ve been having, the wasted pellets have turned to mush and then hardened on the ground. I`ve tried raking it off with only limited success. I`m becoming concerned that the grond will begin to harbour disease......should I be worried? Any advice will help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishM Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I too have had this same concern. I know that it is not a good idea for chickens to eat moldy feed. I move my Eglu every three days and the left over feed in the grass grows mold a few days later. This does not stop the girls from scratching in it and eating it. I am trying to think up a clip on tray that extends out under the Grub container to solve this problem. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbey Road Girl Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Joanne and IrishM, do you have covers on your Eglus? I have a shower curtain cut to size covering the top of my Cube run so have no problem with pellets or mash getting wet. Omlet supplies shades but we have to improvise our own rainproof covers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 I have an eglu too. Last Summer - same as you - I moved eglu every 4 days along a bit and grass recovers after a while. Last Winter and now (because I am laszy), one month they are on one bit of grass (with 1" deep of Auboise plus run cover). Then next month moved 1 meter to side, following month back again. Does mean that you get a strip of bare grass as it doesn't grow back. Runny poos can be blasted with a hosepipe. But if you go for the Auboise in the run they will all be soaked up and you can change the Auboise/Hemcore monthly. Not much you can do about pellet flicking. Apart from not overfilling grub (but I know that doesn't stop mine chucking them about). Aubiose just under the grub might help. I have not had success putting a tray underneath to catch pellets, the chickens just stand on it and flip it over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 My run is on hemcore and soil and the poos just get dug in and disappear. I do have to make sure it's kept dry though - I use corrugated plastic sheeting which is brilliant. I have to say my girls don't spill any pellets . I'm always surprised to hear about the mess some hens make - I suppose I must just be lucky (wish my kids had such good table manners ). Somebody had a problem with spilt pellets recently and changed to a hopper type feeder - I think it helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 Thanks for advise, I have been moving my eglu and run over a largish, approx 18'x6', patch of grass which I thought would be ok, but only have the small sun shade over the run, so perhaps I should get something more substantial. When the man from Omlet delivered my eglu and chooks he didn`t say anything about ground maintenance, can`t find anything on their pages either. I love my chooks but perhaps I should have thought more about this issue How do you manage to keep the aubiose/hemcore in the run and not scattered all over the garden? (Sorry if this sounds really thick) I didn`t really want to have a fixed edging around the run. I thought it would be ok to just move the eglu and run every week or so and that the grass would recover enough to be used again in rotation (if you know what I mean). Also, do you know where I could get some aubiose/hemcore on the net. Have found the name of a supplier in Oxfordshire but they only have a phone contact (have to wait till tomorrow) , and what size bale would you recommend they appear to be in 5kg and 20kg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 (edited) Hi Joanne This looks like a very good idea to keep the hemcore in one place http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28614 I'm going to give it a try as my girls like nothing better than kicking it everywhere I would def go for the larger bale. You will probably use most of it to give a nice covering on the floor of the run, then you can use the rest of it when it needs topping up. I don't know if either of these are close enough to you to get your hemcore from http://www.hemcore.co.uk/distributors/oxfordshire.html Edited August 6, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 When the man from Omlet delivered my eglu and chooks he didn`t say anything about ground maintenance, can`t find anything on their pages either. ? It always strikes me that the Omlet info and pictures show runs with chickens strolling on perfect turf. I don't think this is reality and that's without winter when the grass won't grow back much. Mine had grass in their run for about 24 hours I keep mine in one place on dirt with Auboise - It seems to work but thinking of slabs and Auboise before the winter. How do you manage to keep the aubiose/hemcore in the run and not scattered all over the garden? Have a look at the thread on here 'New skirt for eglu run' (sorry don't know how to put link in ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 That`s great!! Thanks for your help. What an ingenious solution Sandychick, and thanks also to Joojoo who put up the links. Had got that supplier in Wantage, which is close to me, so will have to call them tomorrow, thanks again. Well, I know what I`ll be doing this weekend!! I love this Forum, it`s really good to know there are people out there who can give so much help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Use a stiff brush to remove droppings from lawn daily so you havent got heaps of work and it also reduces smell.Those which are compacted,i flip the broom over and gently tease with the wooden bit so it comes up like a pancake! If they've had a real poo'ing session-i hose the grass down afterwards as it very quickly disintergrates under a stream of water.Also,lawn mowers are fantastic at chopping up poops! My lawn is in remarkably good nick considering the abuse it get from the chooks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 My girls are very adept at kicking the hemcore quite high, so I've used these (old rotary drier covers) on my run. They're not very pretty but it sure keeps the hemcore in! I dig my soil run over every 6 weeks or so removing the top layer of hemcore, sprinkle down Stalosan F and garden lime, then add a new layer of hemcore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 My lawn is in remarkably good nick considering the abuse it get from the chooks! I stand corrected!! I'm impressed, mine can demolish an eglu runs worth of grass as an afternoon snack Thay have eaten all the grass in their area and there is no way I'm letting them on my lawn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 I pick up all poo religously every night. Flat, fat and runny!! I`m not sure it isnt the food pellets which they insist on flicking around the place that is causing a problem. Beside the fact that my grass isn`t a lawn its more moss and clover!! Oh well, will have to try a few of your ideas and maybe even try to convince my other half to invest in a purpose built run. Thanks for all the suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 If they're flicking the pellets everywhere-only fill the grub feeder half way and put it at such a height that its at their head level.Mine are messy things and will cover themselves & grass in mash if i put more than half in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
