Groovychook Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Only asking because I seem to be getting through it at a rapid rate! I clear the whole lot out every month and re fill with lovely new hemcore. It stays that way for about a week and gradually gets damper until I start to panic, rake off a bit and top it up with some new stuff. I do this every few days after that. The run is on a concrete base which slopes ever so slightly to one corner- deliberately done to help drainage. The whole run & sides are covered with a clear tarpaulin but I'm wondering if the rain is getting in through the front. The concrete looks wet underneath when I s"Ooops, word censored!"e away to the base... Is this just a winter problem? I've just ordered a new super sized composting bin because the other 3 are full to the brim- of hemcore!! OH says that I am fussing too much and that a bit of sogginess underfoot won't do them any harm! What do you think?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 My aubiose stays nice for a couple of days as long as it doesn't rain I dig all mine out about every 6 weeks ( its on soil), & throw a few more handfuls down in between. It stays dry only in the very centre of the run........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 I re Aubioses every couple of months or so,but I do have a very large pen. It stays looking great for about 10 days,& just gets muddier & muddier,until I can take it no longer Its positively soggy at the moment,but I just don't have the energy for a good clean out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Same here. It is impossible to keep it pristine unless you poo pick every five minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 the secret is to keep it dry, but its impossible over winter, I have the sides of my big walk in run covered now on wet days and it has stayed dry inside, like Eglutine says if you poo pick and keep it dry it looks pretty good. My new girls in the eglu have perspex sheeting over their run but the wet still somehow creeps into the run and makes it all soggy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 I rake out my run every 6 weeks but have to say it doesn't look that bad inbetween . The corrugated plastic keeps most of the damp out and it's only near the door that it gets a bit soggy. The poos disappear and it doesn't smell, so I'm always pleasantly surprised how long it lasts! It doesn't look pristine for long as they dig it up with the soil but it does stay dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Major clear out every five weeks here. The worst bit is around the door where the rain blows in and the chooks congregate to hatch their escape plans. I've found Aubiose much nicer than Hemcore and stays looking cleaner longer. We only changed to Aubiose when we couldn't source Hemcore locally and have stuck with it as much prefer it. I found that the hemcore tends to go a bit black after a couple of weeks and also seemed to coat the eglu in thick black dust. Aubiose looks nicer but also seems to absorb the poo better so not so much gets trodden out of the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracefruit Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 We tend to leave ours for about six weeks between complete clean-outs, and try to keep it topped up with a few handfuls of fresh Hemcore in between. The top ups make a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 I've just ordered a new super sized composting bin because the other 3 are full to the brim- of hemcore!! We put the hemcore mixture from the run straight onto our borders. , only the poo tray is emptied into the compost bin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted December 4, 2008 Author Share Posted December 4, 2008 I've just ordered a new super sized composting bin because the other 3 are full to the brim- of hemcore!! We put the hemcore mixture from the run straight onto our borders. , only the poo tray is emptied into the compost bin. Good idea! I was worried that it might be a bit of a potent mix to put straight on the borders but I suppose it wouldn't really matter at this time of the year! I've just been out to close the cube door & to bring the grubs in and the rain was sheeting in through the front of the run. I'm going to try and rig up another cover to fit above the door tomorrow & hope that that helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Mine stay looking nice for about 5 minutes Boggy clay soil here which is just impossible in winter. I have to replce the Auboise every week - by this time it is a compacted muddy mess and starts to smell. Summer was great - changed it every month - 6 weeks. Sometimes put it all through a garden seive in between to remove the poo!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
