Cube mk2 and WIR

[Hen Watch]

this week-end my job is to move the cube and run over to a permenant patch of garden with an aubiose layer to cover the ground.. have heard a lot about deep littering methods, but don't know how they work, if you need to disinfect the run/litter deep to prevent any nasties or if they are ok for the chooks to remain on the same area for any length of time?

 

Last winter I had them in the same place from November till March. I put Auboise on the ground. About 1". Doesn't really need to be very deep. Too much and they just kick it out of the run bars which is annoying. Or you rig up a sort of panel around the bottom to retain it (there are some good pictures of what others have done and if I find one I'll come back and let you know).

 

I did a complete change of Auboise once a month. I personally didn't use any products to refresh the ground, I just replaced the Auboise. But I know that others do use lime or stanoslan. Then in Spring the chooks went to live on the other side of the garden on a new patch.

 

Edit to say: Fur 'n' Feathers posted a great pic whilst I was still submitting my post, so I won't need to go on a picture hunt after all.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Thanks so much for the brilliant photo & all the help everyone has given on this, mine go to their new run hopefully Sunday for the winter, but lucky I have s[pace to still keep Eglu run down the far end of the garden aswell, (hioping for some "nice" days over yhe winter too.)

[Sarah B]

We moved our eglu & run to permanent area at the end of last month. Put playsand down (in case of spread) & B&Q 24" square slabs. This set-up needed 20 slabs. We've probably been a bit overgenerous with the aubiose as it was the first time and laid the lot!! ( about 3" deep) but the hennies seem to love it and dig around. They are left for the day 3 days a week, are inside for the greater part of the day on the other 4 days now the autumn is here and so far have been fine when confined to the run. Hope this is useful.

 

NB. Thanks go to other Omleteers for the excellent clear plastic cover solution. We've managed to get ours to completely cover the sides, using 3 sheets 6' long and plastic lawn edging wired into place.

 

 

 

WoW My set up wont be that posh! Thanks to everyone for their help on this topic let's hope the winter is mild.

 

Sarah x

[chickencam]

We have ours on bark which is no longer recommended but was when we got ours and they dig really deep holes and find all sorts of worms and bugs in there. It keeps them occupied

 

Ours are going to bed before 6 now although we were woken up by Bertha at 6am the other morning because she has laid an early egg she normally lays very late in the day but she had waited until the next morning this time

[ali-s]

 

 

I do like the corrugated sheeting on the run. Can you tell me what size it is please? the green edging it a good idea too.

 

My two runs are covered with clear shower curtains fixed on with bungee cords. they look like polytunnels. the curtains flap about when it is windy and I keep having to put them back into place.

[Barkisland]

Just in case anyone is interested, our local Lidl has tarpaulins on special this week for £6.99.

[cluckingmad]

Hurray! one eglu cube snuggly placed over aubiose and the girls seem to love it

 

We've used clear poly sheeting from homebase (the type you can make poly tunnels from) and used a couple of bungee cords to keep it tied down... our plan is ultimately to build a walk-in run for the girls, but this 'll do for now!!

[Fur 'n' Feathers]

Ali-S wrote: "I do like the corrugated sheeting on the run. Can you tell me what size it is please? the green edging it a good idea too".

 

Sorry for the delay. Just seen this.

 

The 3 corrugated sheets come from B&Q. They are 2 metres long and are the slightly wider version. Fur has found the receipt and it says "Corolux 1830". It has a green and blue label, not the purple label. Each sheet cost £6.18. The size allows for there to be a couple of corrugations overlap for each shett & still reach the base. The bungies are attached to the skirt. We used 2 for each span & can therefore undo them in the mioddle instead of having to pull them out of the weldmesh ech time we need to take them off.

 

We gave the run a s"Ooops, word censored!"e today for the first time since laying the bedding & took out the clogged bits of aubiose. and spread the rest around again. The worst bit was at the open end, where the hens spend a good bit of time as the food/water is there! The slabs looked good underneath. The aubiose has been down 3.5 weeks and looks good for another 2-3 weeks, so we're certainly pleased with it.

[ali-s]

Thanks for the sizes

 

I don't think I would get them in the back of a Fiat Panda so I will wait for Andy to come home next week and he can fetch some in his car.

[KAZAROO]

I was just wondering also as my new hens( after sly did his worse) were all POL's Jaffa's laying; Sues moulting so at the mo one egg a day- Im guessing it will be that way now all winter? As clocks go back soon!

 

I'm supposing POL'S will just sit tight now until spring?