4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[smithy36]

Now then, my lovely new cube arrived on Wed, i put it together, filled the run with Easibed, moved the girls in and sat back and watched them settle in, with a warm glow of satisfaction. The next day it poured with rain and the run is now a soggy muddy mess!

 

i have ordered a rain cover tarpaulin for the run,and covered it over last night, however it looks even worse today.

 

Should I rake out the easibed and replace it? or do i leave it to dry out? It looks such a mess i cant believe that it will be ok, but after just 2 days it seems such a waste! WOuld wood chip be better?

 

Should i have a liner down under the chippings to avoid this? I know paving would be better, but need to save up!

 

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

thanks sarah & the soggy girls

 

ps by the way are all chickens too daft to shelter when it rains - mine were stood in the rain instead of going under the shade or cube or inside

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It will definitely dry out (if the weather lets it ). Maybe you could add a thin layer of new stuff just to help it along?

 

Once you've got the run covered it'll be absolutely fine .

[Guest]

ANH is sooo right.....the clever chickens even climb Ben Nevis

 

 

 

Dont discard Easi bed def will dry out u could help it by piling it at the sides a bit??

 

I think chips probably better for outside weather ??for drainage?? but I am trying to work out whats best too

 

I love the horse beddings & have horses but cannot imagine using them outside at all?? unless it was so well drained underneath?? Inside yes but not in an open top run?? but i could be very wrong.

 

Other omeleters prefer B&Q chips (mine were wickes they are ok but are under half covered WIR

 

If u want to dry Easibed out def either put it in a mound should help it.

 

Let us know how u get on..I only got my cube on tuesday

indie

[smithy36]

thanks both - today was a good day for drying here! i have removed about half of it and topped up with dry - when the rest dries out that can go back in to top up!

[Guest]

The other advantage of horse beddings is they really compost well much better than straw etc

good luck

[Yolky]

I have to say I used to use auboise (which is the same) and even though I have a covered walk in run it used to get wet at the sides all the time and when it is wet it smells so I have changed over to wood chips. I put them in at the begining of feb and they are still going strong (I poop pick once a week) and it is easier with the rain and everything.

[smithy36]

Do you have the woodchip on soil? or a concrete base or with a liner? I had a covered run before and did not have proplems, but am now concerned! The soil is heavy clay and they are sited in a corner which gets very little sun, so think we might always have bog if it rains!

 

I have added a liner (permeable) so that rain shoul drain away, and mud should not mix. I think that I will look for woodchip - our local B&Q does not stock it and cannot order it! So I would need to travel to get it.

 

Good job we love our chickens!

[Yolky]

Hi

I have a walk in run on slabs. I tried on soil but I found it harder to clean and smelly.

[Hen Watch]

by the way are all chickens too daft to shelter when it rains - mine were stood in the rain instead of going under the shade or cube or inside

 

2 years ago, when my girls were young and newly arrived, they would stand out in the rain and get bedraggled. Now, as "old ladies" they rush back under the covered run if it starts to drizzle.... funny little things.

 

BTW.... I use Auboise horse bedding in the run too, but you are right, it needs to be kept covered and dry.