Will hoey

[Larkspurs]

Hi all

We've ordered some chickens and an eglu which will be delivered in April when I can get a run secured properly. And it's about the run and general maintenance that I have a question about, I hope you can help!

 

I've sorted out the chicken wire, it's the right type and size, I'm now digging a little to get the wire under the ground to help prevent tunnelling. The run itself is a paved area under some decking (I'll show a photo when done!) that we plan on covering with wood chippings/bark chippings.

 

With all the will in the world, we don't expect the chickens to poo in the handy removable poo tray in the eglu...so with two chickens, how often would you replace the wood chippings and what would you do with them? Is straw a better alternative as it composts better?

[Egluntyne]

Hello and welcome aboard.

 

I'm not a fan of straw myself...it gets very manky and occasionally the hens eat it and get an impacted crop. It can also harbour parasites.

 

I use a horse bedding called Aubiose. You do need a plastic cover on the run though, as otherwise it will absorb rain.

 

I clean it out every 4-6 weeks form the run and twice a week from the poo tray.

[welsh sarah]

hi and welcone

 

i would agree with egluntine, it also depends on how long they are out freeranging as to how often they need changing/cleaning

 

sarah

[Redwing]

Aubiose is fantastic stuff

 

I set my run up with woodchips (I think bark is not recommended) and then add Aubiose to it when it gets a bit damp, the Aubiose drys it out a bit and stops the woodchips going slimey in the damp, the chickens mix the Aubiose in for me- I just sprinkle it on the top.

 

10 weeks in it all looks ok and is not smelling.

 

When it all starts looking ropey I will put a wiremesh panel over my wheelbarrow as a sieve to catch the woodchips and shovel the run contents on to it, the poo and aubiose will go in one compost bin and the woodchips in another one as they take longer to rot down.

 

If you can cover your run sufficiently I would go for Aubiose if not I would go for woodchip or a mix of both.

[Larkspurs]

Thanks all for the great advice. I've got a better understanding now...I'll source some Aubiose after the Christmas break as it sounds like the way to go. Especially regarding straw, thank you for that tip!

 

My worry was with smell and also providing something the chickens could scratch about in fairly safely plus disposal...Redwing, your idea is interesting I'll do that too. Cheers!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Larkspurs . Can't add much to the sound advice above but I use Easibed (another forum of horse bedding) which I find really good. I've not cleaned out our run for a couple of months and was just commenting yesterday how there's no smell at all! I use Stalosan F and powdered garden lime on the run under the Easibed and I'm convinced they help no end.

 

I use a couple of sheets of newspaper in the poo tray and shredded paper in the nestbox and clean it all out once a week.

 

Everything, Easibed, newspaper, shredded paper goes straight in the compost bin.

[likeastar--x]

i dont know if youve already bought aubiose, but we have an outdoor run with a mixture of woodchip and bark, and it absorbs all the poos nicely and hasnt got gungy yet though its been a good 2/3 months, aswell as that it doesnt smell at all. bark is not great when its wet, but woodchips fine, and its a nicer option in the summer, so your not out there constantly cleaning. now the rains over and its getting frosty theyre enjoying being outside, and the bark offers a great nesting ground for all sorts of insects and goodies for the chickens to dig up!

 

best of luck

[poachedegg]

Welcome to the forum - Hemcore is another type of horse bedding which we use.

[Hendy]

Welcome to the forum. I use Easibed woodchips and it seems to work really well.

[Larkspurs]

Thank you all for the great advice and the very warm welcome! We're busy planning the final stages for the run now and taking great care to make it as fox proof as possible too after reading some of the posts here. I'm thinking about getting foxwatch too as it seems like a good deterrent.