Feeding advice for bantams (one broody, one moulting)

[Space Chick]

Hello,

 

My WIR planning is going great guns so far.

 

Following advice from several people on here (thanks guys!), I have a few planning questions.

 

The consensus seems to be to go for a solid base. What do you use on the floor, as I have rubber chippings at the moment in my cube run, but am concerned about transfering these to a solid based WIR, won't it get disease ridden, as you can't really poo pick the rubber (currently I hose it down and it soaks into the ground). I'm thinking of auboise instead (I use it in the poo trays and nesting box currently and its dead easy to poo pick.

 

Also, what is your WIR cleaning regime, should I use extra red mite powder because of the wood? Any other disinfectants I should use.

 

Any other gems you want to share also gratefully received.

 

Thanks

Debs

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I hadn't even considered redmite . Hopefully because it's not dark and warm, they wouldn't bother ?

 

I've not really got into a routine yet but I tend to poo pick every day (I keep a flowerpot and scoop inside the run). The bench is getting a bit yucky with those dark sticky poos so I'll have to do something about that . I think I'll brush it all over with Stalosan F.

 

Quite soon, I plan to rake off the top inch or two of Easibed then put down Stalosan and garden lime and new bedding.

 

I must say though, I'm surprised how clean it's all keeping. It's lovely and dry and I don't see poops everywhere (I can't be picking them all up ).

[Ygerna]

Hello,

 

My WIR planning is going great guns so far.

 

Following advice from several people on here (thanks guys!), I have a few planning questions.

 

The consensus seems to be to go for a solid base. What do you use on the floor, as I have rubber chippings at the moment in my cube run, but am concerned about transfering these to a solid based WIR, won't it get disease ridden, as you can't really poo pick the rubber (currently I hose it down and it soaks into the ground). I'm thinking of auboise instead (I use it in the poo trays and nesting box currently and its dead easy to poo pick.

 

Also, what is your WIR cleaning regime, should I use extra red mite powder because of the wood? Any other disinfectants I should use.

 

Any other gems you want to share also gratefully received.

 

Thanks

Debs

 

There is a slim chance that I may be getting a WIR Its slim, but its still a chance. So, can I jump aboard this thread and add a question to the above from Debs?

 

If I get an Avairies 4 you WIR, does it HAVE to sit on concrete, or can it go onto paving slabs, or even just the ground.

 

TIA (and apologies for jumping onto this thread but it seemed better than starting another)

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Good news about you (possibly ) getting a WIR .

 

I'm afraid I would say it should sit on something solid. If the base sat on bare earth the wood would presumably rot and also things (and chickens!) could dig to get under it . Concrete is best as it would be totally level and the run would sit true with no strain on any of its joins. Having said that, mine isn't on concrete but a path made from large slabs. Even that has left me with a slight dip in one of them which water sits in when there is heavy rain.

 

Sorry, that's probably not what you want to hear . I hope you can get something sorted - remember you wouldn't have to pave the whole run area if you didn't want to, the "path" round mine works really well .

[Ygerna]

Good news about you (possibly ) getting a WIR .

 

I'm afraid I would say it should sit on something solid. If the base sat on bare earth the wood would presumably rot and also things (and chickens!) could dig to get under it . Concrete is best as it would be totally level and the run would sit true with no strain on any of its joins. Having said that, mine isn't on concrete but a path made from large slabs. Even that has left me with a slight dip in one of them which water sits in when there is heavy rain.

 

Sorry, that's probably not what you want to hear . I hope you can get something sorted - remember you wouldn't have to pave the whole run area if you didn't want to, the "path" round mine works really well .

 

Dont apologise, its what I thought too, but, I just needed to get it from others who had done it so that I can have all the arguments in place for when I tell Hubby I have already got a man in mind to lay the concrete Just need to decide if I should go for concrete round the edge or a full concrete base

 

Again, if anyone has thoughts on THAT, I am more than ready to hear them

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Me again . I really like having a soil centre in my WIR. Reasons being:

 

1. The ground level is quite a bit lower than the run base. This means I can put quite a deep layer of bedding in and it still won't get kicked out through the sides.

 

2. If it gets damp (rain still gets in the sides even with rain blinds and a roof ), it drains away through the soil.

 

3. The girls obviously enjoy scratching about in the soil/Easibed. They excavate great big holes which they couldn't so easily on concrete.

 

4. The soil helps to absorb poos. The Easibed does too obviously, but I often sprinkle some dry soil onto wet, sticky poos to dry them up.

 

5. I have 2 shrubs growing inside the run which looks nice and I'm sure the girls appreciate . I have to water them occasionally but they seem health enough (if a bit dusty!)

 

I know for every one of my reasons there's an equivalent in favour of a concrete base. You'll just have to decide which suits you!

[Lewis]

2. If it gets damp (rain still gets in the sides even with rain blinds and a roof ), it drains away through the soil.

 

4. The soil helps to absorb poos. The Easibed does too obviously, but I often sprinkle some dry soil onto wet, sticky poos to dry them up.

I was planning on paving it all, but those are 2 good points! I may leave a gap in the middle now , lets hope it won't look too odd.

I'll have a think

[Ygerna]

The consensus seems to be to go for a solid base. What do you use on the floor, as I have rubber chippings at the moment in my cube run, but am concerned about transfering these to a solid based WIR, won't it get disease ridden, as you can't really poo pick the rubber (currently I hose it down and it soaks into the ground). I'm thinking of auboise instead (I use it in the poo trays and nesting box currently and its dead easy to poo pick.

 

 

Thanks

Debs

 

I've been thinking about this, and I am going to continue to use Aubiose if/when I get my WIR. Two reasons, the first is I can clean it our regularly and easily. Secondly, at the moment I use the used aubiose down my allotment and I am keen to keep the excellent compost it makes

[quickcluck]

I have a soil base to mine also. The girls love digging massive holes in it

 

The run itself is built 10" into the ground and the wood was treated prior to it going in....... so no rotting just yet I hope.

 

I have to say I dont poo pick, never have, it all just seems to disappear, and i've yet to renew the hemcore/easibed as it's only been down 4-6 weeks.... but no sign of it needing it yet

[Redwing]

You could build a run on an edging of breeze blocks, concrete gravel boards, concrete fence posts or some sacrifical chunky wood rather than slabs or concrete if its likely to be a problem laying something 'permenant'

[Janty]

We are having soil in the centre with a concrete raised surround for the run to sit on. We have the concrete...just waiting for the run!

[Space Chick]

Decisions Decisions...........

 

I thought I was definately going to go for a concrete base, but theres some compelling evidence to leave it as soil. Oh what to do........!!

[quickcluck]

Leave some soil! Leave some soil!

[Falkor]

My run is two thirds slabbed and one third soil.....I wasn`t thinking about the chooks when it came to leaving some soil....more of my back as OH got those REALLY big thick slabs that are a nightmare to move about

 

The run frame is on slabs and built onto posts that are concreted into the ground.

 

The girls don`t seem to favour the slabbed bit over the soil bit.......I rake the aubiose into a big heap on clean out days and they fling it all over! Imagine four chooks all trying to be "King of the Castle" and you get the idea. Snowball always wins that game

 

One handy hint from me re WIR would be to make sure you have some kind of edging/kickboard at the base as currently I have nearly as much aubiose outside of the run as I do inside Waiting for FIL to get back from holiday to sort that one!

[atsw]

I used a slab floor all over. Reason was simple, Mr ratty had been in evidence the year before and would tunnel into the old Omlet run every night to 'clean up'. I always removed the food each night, didn't stop him. I solved the problem with a combination of rat traps and poison, but was not going to take any chances of tunnels into the new WIR.

 

We have an old recycling bin inside the run, which we keep topped up with dry sieved soil. The girls love it, often fighting over dust-bathing rights .

 

Andrew