Solitary chicken - need advice

[Plum]

On a slightly different tack. I've been using woodchip with some hemcore thrown in but it worries me leaving it in so long because although I poo pick a few times a week and rake, poo pick and clear some out each week and put stalosan on slabs and sprinkle some in the mix I worry they are pecking at their own poo.

I have wormed them, but worry when I chuck corn or veg on the floor.

Do I stop worrying and just carry on worming ocassionally or do you have a different way to keep it clean?

[mccroft]

On a slightly different tack. I've been using woodchip with some hemcore thrown in but it worries me leaving it in so long because although I poo pick a few times a week and rake, poo pick and clear some out each week and put stalosan on slabs and sprinkle some in the mix I worry they are pecking at their own poo.

I have wormed them, but worry when I chuck corn or veg on the floor.

Do I stop worrying and just carry on worming ocassionally or do you have a different way to keep it clean?

 

 

Gosh I hadn't thought of that, I have been told by a good poultry farmer just to top up the woodchip when the last lot starts to break down and every few months just rake it out and put on my veg beds.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I must be a bit slovenly in the henkeeping department . I don't poo pick the run at all between 6 week clearouts (except if an exceptionally large or sloppy one appears within arm's reach). I can never see poo lying around in the run so it must get buried really quickly on a daily basis .

 

During the clearout I put down garden lime and loads of Stalosan F then new Hemcore or Easibed. Had the girls nearly 18 months with no signs of illhealth to date .

 

So, I reckon you can relax a bit .

[chelsea]

I have poo pick OCD too, I have to do it every day (I dont know whats wrong with me - I am so not a poo'ey/mucky person!) Its one of the first things I do when I get home from work.

 

In response to your question Plum, you sound like you are doing everything fine - try not to worry The stalosan will protect from disease etc. I did find though that my girls would leave most of the veg I chucked around in the run, so instead I hang it up and they peck it at their leisure. (I still throw in corn though and its hoovered up in minutes)

[Plum]

Thinking about it, its the least of my worries. When I went down tonight and shone the torch in the nest box when locking up they started eating their poo and the other day they were out in the garden and were eating cat poo from the borders and I continue to eat their eggs

[Janty]

I must be a bit slovenly in the henkeeping department . I don't poo pick the run at all between 6 week clearouts (except if an exceptionally large or sloppy one appears within arm's reach). I can never see poo lying around in the run so it must get buried really quickly on a daily basis .

 

During the clearout I put down garden lime and loads of Stalosan F then new Hemcore or Easibed. Had the girls nearly 18 months with no signs of illhealth to date .

 

So, I reckon you can relax a bit .

 

I'm with you on this one. I don't have time to do anything else.

 

Each weekend I clean the cubes and eglus really well.

 

Then each school holiday I do make sure that the runs, etc are thoroughly cleaned and I dig the runs out and replace all the aubiouse, etc.

[Redwing]

My woodchip has been down for weeks and weeks now and I rake it over but don't poo pick at all.