Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[seraphine]

I've seen lots of pics of Eglus and their runs on bark chippings encased in log rolls, how does this work? How often do you clean the barked area? How do you do this? Do you need to replace the bark every time?

 

If you don't have the set-up mentioned above, what do you do? I've seen lots of mentions of Aubiose and Hempcore, how do you use these? I vaguely remember from my horsey days that these are used for horse bedding, do you use these in the run or just the Eglu?

 

Sorry for the stupid questions, I have used the search facility but wading through the results is taking an age.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

This was my eglu & run setup. I used Hemcore (or Easibed) straight onto the soil. Every six weeks or so I'd rake off the top layer and put it in the compost, sprinkle down Stalosan F and garden lime and put a new layer of Hemcore down. It's brilliant at drying out and somehow absorbing the poo. I rarely poo picked but there was never any lying about.

 

[badgerbluebadger]

I bought the link boards form omlet as they were cheaper than other edging I looked at. I have then used bark chip which I rake over every 3 months and it works really well.

 

In the winter months my husband made a clear sheet to go over the top to stop the rain getting in which I have now removed as the weather is getting better.

 

Here is the link to the plastic site we used:-

 

http://www.allplas.co.uk/index.html

[seraphine]

Thanks for that. Did you have to keep the Hemcore dry so it doesn't swell? Do people have covers over their runs to keep the chickens out of the rain?

[seraphine]

I bought the link boards form omlet as they were cheaper than other edging I looked at. I have then used bark chip which I rake over every 3 months and it works really well.

 

In the winter months my husband made a clear sheet to go over the top to stop the rain getting in which I have now removed as the weather is getting better.

 

Here is the link to the plastic site we used:-

 

http://www.allplas.co.uk/index.html

 

That's helpful, thanks BBB. I see you're in Bexleyheath, we're not a million miles away in New E ltham.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I used corrugated plastic sheets from B&Q held on with bungee ropes .

 

[seraphine]

I used corrugated plastic sheets from B&Q held on with bungee ropes .

 

 

That's great, I've just referred my H to this msg so he can get planning! Thanks

[badgerbluebadger]

Yep I do live very close by - there is a good horse place to get bedding and food supplies near us

 

Try this:-

 

http://www.frogpool.com/contact.php

 

Here is a picture of my set-up we used the hooks from the summer shade - mm I can't seam to get the picture smaller??

 

[Redwing]

I had boards around my Eglu run to keep in the woodchip, the woodchip went down in Oct, this was it on Christmas day:

 

 

This is it now:

 

 

The woodchip has broken down a lot but I do mix bag handfuls of Aubiose in to it to soak up any damp or smells and I also used a clear tarpaulin over winter (swapping to plastic now) the cover really helps keep everything dry. If you use solely Aubiose/Hemcore you will certainly need a cover!

[seraphine]

Yep I do live very close by - there is a good horse place to get bedding and food supplies near us

 

Try this:-

 

http://www.frogpool.com/contact.php

 

Here is a picture of my set-up we used the hooks from the summer shade - mm I can't seam to get the picture smaller??

 

 

Thanks, I used to ride at Frogpool many moons ago! Drive past it most days now. We bought some chicken bits from Polhill today, they didn't have much though and I was just itching to get buying!

[badgerbluebadger]

They sell lots of feed, garlic and other bit and bobs - my husband has to drag me away to stop me buying to many things!!! pm me if you want more advice

[poachedegg]

I used corrugated plastic sheets from B&Q held on with bungee ropes .

 

 

You've got a lovely WIR and you STILL manage to get a photo on of your corrugated roof!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I like to spread the joy .

 

(I was waiting for someone to have a go at me .)

[jomaxsmith]

My eglu is in a fairly sheltered spot under trees and next to a fence so I have a winter shade on the eglu end of the run, a summer shade over the converter and a clear shower curtain under them to cover the gap. I have it down to the ground on the side away from the house so I can see them (iyswim).

 

I use horse bedding in the run (have tried hemcore and aubiose but prefer Easibed or Miscanthus as they are much cheaper and just as good). I've got bark in the area around the eglu which is fenced off for the hens to use. I don't let them free range anymore as the scratching and poo was becoming unpleasant. I don't put edging around my run and the bedding does get kicked out a bit but as they're in their own area it doesn't matter.

 

There's a pic here but I've changed the cover arrangement since then!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=475182&l=a92e18f8c7&id=663092293

 

Jo

[Redwing]

Jo - You need to sue whoever sold you those chickens!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I understand your comment, Tasha, now I've looked at the picture . (I bet they don't ask to go in there now .)

[jomaxsmith]

Jo - You need to sue whoever sold you those chickens!

 

I know, they don't lay any eggs and, boy, do they make one heck of a noise in the garden. I'm sure my neighbours will be calling the council soon. On the plus side, they don't tend to poo outside the back door

 

x

[Janty]

This is my set up at the moment.

 

 

 

However, the walk in run will be built in six or seven weeks time so the garden should start to improve after that.

 

[chelsea]

In 3 years we have gone from this -

 

 

 

to this

 

 

to this !

 

[Falkor]

This was how we started in November last year

 

To Aubiose and corrugated plastic after seening ANH pics

 

and now we have this

and more chooks

 

edited to add = I am trying to sort the massive pic Mods honest but Photobucket seems to know it is Sunday and is on a day of rest!

[Margaret]

Help,

So confused, have Tulullah and Lavender complete with Pink eglu arriving on the 9th May.

Think I had thought of everything but now....

Thought I could leave them on the grass whilst at work and let them out when I get home, but now... how soon will they destroy the lawn what do i do when there isnt any grass left or when its all muddy, how do I de-poo.

Have I done the right thing,

Margaret or confused of Welling

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Margaret . Don't worry, you have done the right thing. I think we all panicked before our chickens arrived, worrying that we wouldn't cope .

 

They will destroy your grass fairly rapidly. If you moved the eglu every day you'd probably get away with it but the novelty of that would soon wear off and you'd still have poo to pick up in each area. (I recently had my girls on some leftover turf (temporarily) and was horrified at the mess of poo .)

 

Some poos are easy to pick up, some are just brown splats (sorry, but you get used to talking poo on this forum ). You need something to absorb and dry out the poos like a horse bedding (Hemcore, Easibed, Aubiose, elephant grass, Nedzbedz all spring to mind).

 

You might want to consider if you actually want them on your grass or could you perhaps put them on a patio (easier to clean out) or do you have a "spare" flowerbed you can put them on permanently. A permanent site seems to be the most popular (and the least work involved).

 

If you let us know your garden setup and ask any questions you can think of, I'm sure we can help reassure you .

[Hen Watch]

Thought I could leave them on the grass whilst at work and let them out when I get home, but now... how soon will they destroy the lawn what do i do when there isnt any grass left or when its all muddy, how do I de-poo.

 

For my first spring/summer 07 I managed quite well moving my eglu sideways 2 foot every 3 days. Grass was fertilised and got nice and dark green. So you will manage ok.

 

Autumn/Winter when grass doesn't grow is another matter. Then I put them in one spot on the lawn, chucked Auboise bedding on top (plus run cover) and just changed the Auboise once a month. Yes you do get a "landing strip" of bare grass, but I didn't move them all winter and just reseeded one strip come spring. If you use Auboise (or Hemcore or other brand) of hemp based horse bedding it soaks up poos in the run really well.

 

 

However, my 2nd winter, I got savvy and put them on the patio not the grass.

Auboise in the run (need a cover)

 

2 years down the line I find I can't be bothered to move the eglu along the grass every day anymore. So now in their summer home on grass mine will stay there in one spot until Autumn.

[Margaret]

Thank you so much for the advice, think I already knew what it was going to be, I dont have a patio only decking, do have lovely flower beds....won Silver Gilt last year for my garden, not sure now will have to think and have chat with hubby, he is very unhappy about Tallulah and Lavender arriving, but... have thought long and hard, checking forum for months. Dont think I worried this much when I had the children!!! Sure he will come around in the end though.

Best solution is keep them in one place on lawn for summer and by the autumn when flowers died down make permanent place for them on one of the beds.

Sure I will keep asking stupid questions so thanks once more for advice and really appreciate all the help.

Margaret. x

[Margaret]

One more question please, have worked out where they can go in the autum after flowers die down, BUT.... do we put the eglu and run on the soil and then bark or is it better to put down concreat slabs first, and if so how do they poke around?

Sorry I sound so daft!!!