kimmi_b Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Our 2 girls currently reside on our grass, in an area marked off with log roll with easibed covering the ground. We do have a shower curtain over the run but it is still slowly turning into a mudbath and general messy area. I have a 16 month old daughter and am expecting our second baby and am under pressure from Him Indoors to sell the Eglu and chickens. Main reason being he wants the grass back for either a vegetable patch or space for the children to play in (our garden & patio area is very small). I am very reluctant to sell as I love our ladies to bits, but I do know that when I hit 6/7 months I am going to struggle with cleaning and my partner won't help out as a matter of principle. Does anybody on here house their ladies on paving slabs, and do they find it easier to keep them clean that way? Unless we can come up with a solution soon I fear I may have to say goodbye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I have my Eglus on slabs and it makes a huge difference to the ease of cleaning.....and prevents rats tunneling in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 I am very reluctant to sell as I love our ladies to bits, but I do know that when I hit 6/7 months I am going to struggle with cleaning and my partner won't help out as a matter of principle. Sell him, not the eglu . I'm sure there are loads of people with runs on patios/slabs. Hopefully they'll all be along shortly to add to Egluntine's words of wisdom . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 My two kids love the chooks, it woud be a real shame to get rid of them when you have young children. Work on him for the sake of the kids I have my girls on slabs with aubiose covering it. Every 6 weeks or so completely strip out the aubiose, flush it all out and stanislan the base, then cover with aubiose again. Quite a major job for me but I do have a fair size run for them. Not a big deal if you have a small area to work on Don't let him work on you to get rid of them. You could try the "I mustn't have emotional upsets whilst pregnant lark - not good for the baby" I think it is a really valid argument Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 you could move the girls onto slabs....and invest in a power washer...to aide in cleaning (this is the male trickery part) worked for me to encourage my husband to wash the cars....(the pressure washer part) he became very keen on cleaning things, once he had this new toy ( obviously not to be used by children, as they are dangerous..so not really a toy).. but he might help out with the cleaning...(your partner) obviously its another expense when you dont need one...but it could be helpful....if he was keen.. ...i didnt say I wanted my husband to have the power washer ...I asked for it for my birthday......so he bought the best one ...all singing and all dancing..and now cant resist its glowing yellow little form !! best of luck...sorry this reads so badly and I hope you can keep your chooks....and congratulations on the new baby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooBoo Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 I have always kept my chickens on the patio at the end of my garden. The run is full of wood chips and covered with a shower curtain. I clean the run out every 3 or 4 weeks. Its pretty easy - just move the whole eglu and run, shovel up the dirty wood chips and clean the patio - it takes less than an hour. I would certainly try moving them to the patio before you get rid of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 I did have mine on the grass but they did need moving every couple of days, now they're on the patio I get the pressure washer out every fortnight and hose the whole lot down. I have a layer of hemcore in the run so they can scratch about but it does make it so much easier to clean! Just shovel up the hemcore and wash. Doesn't take more than 30 minutes usually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam1 Posted October 11, 2008 Share Posted October 11, 2008 Hi we have our eglu on slabs with bark chips and it has been here since we got it it works really well, and when we have all the rain it is not one huge mudbath! the girls do find enough to pick at in the bark. Hope the OH comes round to the idea I also have kids my almost 8 yr old loves the girls and my almost 3 yr old always wants to "help" with the cleaning and poo picking (they free range around the garden) she is well versed with being careful where she walks and shouts to me "theyve done a curry poo"! normally on the step by the patio doors Hope you get to keep your girls cam mya velma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
