Solitary chicken - need advice

[Spottyappy]

Hi, our two hens, Posh and Pecks (mark2) arrived almost 3 weeks ago.My query is relating to the fact I have a relatively small garden, on a slope.I have moved the eglu around, but have run more or less out of fresh grass and although the first grazed area is recovering, it isn't coming back well. So, I thought it will be easier to leave the eglu in one place and put the chipped bark down.Which is fine, until it rains when it seems to get totally saturated, and soggy. Combined the mud it's not a pretty sight and not pleasant for the hens or us. As the garden is on a fairly steep slope, the area ideally needs levelling, but finanacially can't afford that at the minute.

Any advice appreciated!

While the weather is better, the girls go out most of the time, but I do put them away when I am out or at work. They now look at me with distain and dislike when I have to shut them in as they are much happier out foraging.I'm not a gardener so they are welcome to tidy up as they see fit!In the winter, though, they would likely be shut up more as the garden gets too wet to have the whole thing turned into a total mud bath especially as water runs off the patio onto the grass, and therefore where the girls wil be.

Any help or advice appreciated, thanks. Sandie

Posh

Pecks

Sylvie,Patch,Tom and Jess the cats.

Bubbles the budgie

Rio, Holly and Mac the horses

[Redwing]

It may be best to cover the Eglu run with a cover, shower curtains (IKEA clear ones are less than £1) clear tarpaulins (Tarpaflex is good online) or clear corrugated plastic sheets (from Wickes or B&Q)

 

The chickens will play you if you shut them in, they are conniving little things and know how to make you feel guilty but they will get over it, mine barely came out of their run over winter and they lived!

[Olly]

I agree, cover the run as far as possible to keep it dry, the Ikea shower curtains are fantastic. I'd also switch, in due course, to aubiose or hemcore (sold by equestrian suppliers as horse bedding) - it stays dry much better, and it composts much more easily than bark chippings.

 

You are right about keeping them in the run in the winter, they do much more damage when the ground is wet and if you search on here you'll find some pictures of gardens that look like a mudbath. However if you restrict free-ranging then it will be ok, and they'll be happy enough in their run. You could put a dustbath, or something for them to perch on in there to make it more interesting for them during winter months.

[Guest]

Hi

Agree with response and covering the run def will help u

I am no expert but that really will help

I have a half covered run and when it rained it did make a difference ..I have just posted a similar response on another new thread on this section..manipulative intelligent in a nice way of course!

 

I would try to keep it on the chips or something and cover it for a while...just move it to clean it and put it back if need be

 

good luck

[Spottyappy]

Thanks all.

Will try the shower curtain idea-when get chance to get to Ikea.

See auboise and hemcore mentioned alot in the forum, and I wondered if it is suitable.I have horses, and my hubby is a farrier who will NOT let me keep my horses on auboise as he maintains it draws the moisture out of the hooves and casues further problems.I'm assuming this won't apply to hens as they have feet not hooves? But mine do have a wonderful time getting mud all over their claws,and does clog them up as well as mud all over my patio!

Thanks,

Sandie

Posh

Pecks

- shiny one!

Sylvie, Patch, Jess and Tom the cats.

Bubbles the budgie.

[Olly]

Well it certainly stays dry, perhaps that's why! You'll find a lot of people on here who use aubiose and swear by it, I haven't heard of anyone reporting a problem with their hens' feet. In fact, mine used to get terribly muddy feet before I used it, and now they don't seem to have a problem.

 

However if you've got horses presumably you have something else you use for their bedding? I'm sure people on here have used Easibed or something else like that - it's worth just trying whatever you use for your horses.

[Hen Watch]

My back garden is on clay soil and is a mud bath in winter but ok in summer.

 

Last winter I moved my onto the patio slabs to stop them being waterlogged on the grass. The run is covered (have used shower curtain in past, and now corrugated plastic this year). Plus I have Auboise in the run. You mention about Auboise drawing up moisture, for me that is the benefit - in that is soaks up their poops in the run and I can get away with changing it once a month.

 

On the patio with clear corrugated sheet on run (£6 x 3 Wickes)

 

In summer when they are on grass I have also experimented with raising the level in the run by putting down rubber mats plus Auboise on top. Has been ok but is a pain to clean the mats once a month.