jjo5555 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 see: http://www2.ozin.com/grass.jpg So here are my questions: Should i be moving the eglu every few days to give them fresh lawn? If not what do I need to do to the area they are staying in? Presumably wash away the poo every few days and the like? If I build a permanent Aviary what do I place on the floor, or do I just leave dirt and not worry about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Am afraid this time of year when grass isnt growing your lawn is going to suffer. You could try moving the eglu, or you may prefer to arrange a permanent "winter area" just until Spring comes. To save your grass you could partition off your lawn so your girls only have occasional access or no access at all until your lawn recovers. If you do a permanent area you could have your girls on bare earth (some omleteers do) and fork the earth over every other week or so. You could also put some form of bedding in the run to soak up the poos (Aubiose, hemcore, Easybed, or similar are all very good) and change that every few weeks depending on how dirty it gets. You can get a product called Stalosan F which is an agricultural powder that you can scatter on the bare earth every so often - this nutralises the area and prevents disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 There are loads of threads abut disappearing lawns. Mine was absolutely trashed. No so bad in the summer, but the first winter finished it off. If your garden is big and you can move the Eglu every couple of days, it should recover, but a permanent base is your best bet imho. I have mine on slabs, to prevent tunnelling by vermin, large and small, and I top them with Aubiose. A clear plastic cover for the run is necessary though, to stop every drop of rain being absorbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjo5555 Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share Posted January 1, 2009 Well I have a 9ft by 9ft area at the back of the garden where no lawn grows that would be perfect. I would let them be on bare earth and then what? Just rake it over every now and then and scatter Stalosan F? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Whilst I was aware that our lawn would suffer, I have deliberatly not mentioned it to DH when 'selling' the chicken idea to him We now have our ladies and at the moment they are just sat on our lawn, trashing it But I have a nice spot selected for them and as soon as my OH finally gets dressed (*looks at watch and TUTS loudly *) we are going to move the eglu and run accross. I shall then get some decorative type fencing to section off that area and Voila! permanent chicken area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Well I have a 9ft by 9ft area at the back of the garden where no lawn grows that would be perfect. I would let them be on bare earth and then what? Just rake it over every now and then and scatter Stalosan F? Yes that sounds fine, you could rake/dig in the stalosan every few weeks or so. You might want to cover the run especially when its wet. See this thread for ideas, tips and inspiration (you will see in some pics some members do keep their girls on earth) viewtopic.php?f=4&t=35333&hilit=+lawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 i used plastic carpet protector cut into usable sizes with air holes burnt in it.(quick cheap fix while you decide) the girls could peck around the sides, & it really helped to save the area a bit longer before moving, but opted for permanent winter run near the house & it's lovely big walk in run, on mostly concrete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 see: http://www2.ozin.com/grass.jpg So here are my questions: Should i be moving the eglu every few days to give them fresh lawn? If not what do I need to do to the area they are staying in? Presumably wash away the poo every few days and the like? If I build a permanent Aviary what do I place on the floor, or do I just leave dirt and not worry about it? I've now put some slabs down under my eglu run and it is much much easier to look after. The poop ends up falling under the bark chioppings and can be s"Ooops, word censored!"ed off easily. I gave up keeping them directly on the grass after the ground became one big mud bath (even with chippings down!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 In summer moving the eglu every few days works well but not in winter when the grass doesn't grow. Last winter I left them in one place and ended up with a bare "landing strip" just like your photo. I would put them back on that patch personally, then just reseed that strip in the spring rather than have lots of bits of lawn area to repair. This winter I have put the eglu on my patio slabs with auboise on top. Then in spring I will put them back on the grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
