What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[charlies82]

Hi all,

 

I went from getting an eglu with standard run and wanting 3 hens to getting a convertor and 4 hens (they free range alot also). This is where the problem starts how do you clean the run? doi crawl in? what would you use as run material on grass?

 

Sorry for all the questions!

 

It will only be until next year with convertor, as i have already requested money for my birthday and christmas for wait for it .......A WALK IN RUN!

 

When i read on here the chicken keeping was addictive i did not believe it until i got my hens!

 

Thank you

Charlotte x

[Jules.]

I used to either rake it out from either end- the rake could fit through the eglu door, or else swing the run to one side so I had clear access to it.

[charlies82]

ooh never thought of that! i rake it from the run end but not eglu end will have to try that. Thank you. How often do you clean the run with the convertor on and what do you use?

[4Clucks-minusOne]

We lift ours off the woodchip onto the drive but it does take a person at both ends to lift it over the logs we have inside. We have an extension and converter which makes it a bit too heavy for one person.

 

Then we rake it and add more woodchip if needed.

[charlies82]

Thank you! i will have to get my husband to help me then. I did think about woodchip but currently using auboise, i suppose its about trial and error when it comes to run and bedding material.

 

Thanks once again Charlotte

[Gallina]

If you remove the top of the Eglu, it becomes very much lighter. I could lift Eglu with run and convertor fairly easily from the Eglu end once I had done this.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

When I had an eglu and run & converter, I either got a son to take one end and we lifted the whole thing a couple of feet to the side, or I would move one to the side end myself, then go to the other end and move that end . (I usually waited for a son to be available .)

[charlies82]

def may wait for husband to become available to help! What did you use in your runs? i'm currently using auboise, did you poo pick everyday with the convertor on?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but its better to be prepared and not have a clue

[Slickchick]

We have eglu with converter have had for 3 weeks now, at first i did poo pick every day but now i don't do it at all, i know that sound gross lol. we also have ours on woodchip and to be honest i don't find much poo in there, it must get raked in by chooks. I do use Stalosan thou every week just to keep it sanitised, very easy just sprinkle all all over and rake into wood chips, no smell yet.

[The Dogmother]

I used to unscrew the run from the eglu and pull it off the site before cleaning it out.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I used Hemcore or Easibed in my run. Every 6 weeks I'd move the run & eglu, remove the top few inches to the compost or flowerbeds, sprinkle Stalosan F & garden lime liberally, then put new bedding down.

 

I never poo picked (unless it was huge & within arm's reach ).

 

It's actually a good idea to unscrew the run (or just loosen the screws) occasionally as they can seize up (especially over a winter).

[The Dogmother]

I found that too ANH.... the screws that is! I always squirt some WD40 into the holes before I screw it back up.

[charlies82]

Thanks everyone!

 

I did start to crawl in but it was the reversing out i had a problem with, as my bum kept getting caught

 

I will follow your advice and poo pick big bits and do a major clean out every 6 weeks!

 

I had my dad come and measure my raised patio yesterday, for a walk in run! So hopefully not long now!

 

Thanks again

Charlotte