JB09 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi guys, I was after a bit of advice about... dah dah dah you guessed it, rubber chippings! I am moving my chooks tomorrow from their permanent site to their new permanent site. Confused? You will be! They are currently on wood chips which was (once) on grass. That is long gone and the wood chips seemed to get quite muddy from days when I am at work and the girls spend most of the day in their run. Now they are going onto slabs do you think the wood chip would stay cleaner? I was thinking that rubber chippings would be easier to hose down but am worried that they might be a bit small, I was looking at the brown dunweedin rubbing chippings from B&Q, does anyone have any experience with these? Your views would be greatly appreciated JB x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wooky Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Hi JB, I've had my chooks on rubber chippings (brown dunweedin landscaped chips) for a month now and I'd give it the thumbs up. The chooks free-range for much of the day so they don't spend a huge amount of time on it but they certainly don't eat it and seem to be happy enough on it when they are enclosed. Hosing down is fine, the only downside is that spilt food could build up without a tray to catch fallout. One of the best things is that flies don't seem to go near it as it's treated with citronella so the run remains very fly-free. I wouldn't want to keep them exclusively on rubber chippings without a certain amount of free-ranging though. They don't seem to enjoy furtling around in it as much as they do soil or grass and aren't so keen to lie down on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennyhenny Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I have rubber chippings, I've pasted some photos on from a thread I had going a while ago. Sorry dont know how to attach the thread as such. These are the dunweedin purple ones I bought from Downtown at Grantham. They had the same at B & Q but only in brown and green. Hi, As promised pictures of the purple rubber chippings. I'm really impressed with them, think they look great. Look whats left on the table Its my chicken weapon Jennyhenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJH101 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Where do I get some please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennyhenny Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Bought mine from Downtown at Grantham. B & Q seem to sell brown and green, I wanted purple to match my slate. I know Downtown had purple, green and black. If you go on the Dunweedin website and go to ONLINE SHOP then click nationwide stockists it will bring up a map with all stockists on, this is where I found Downtown listed Jennyhenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJH101 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 These look interesting - I am be being stupid here but do I simply hose them and brush them to clean? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennyhenny Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 These look interesting - I am be being stupid here but do I simply hose them and brush them to clean? Yes I just hose them down and rake them flat again. Jennyhenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Bear in mind if your soil is not free draining you wiull end up with puddles, a few users on various forums have reported this and they end up with a soggy smelly mess If you have clay soil dig it over first and add sand and grit to help with drainage (try not to loosen too big an area as it will mke it easy for predators to tunnel in) or dig down a bit and fill the area underneath with gravel. You could use slabs leaving cracks between for the water to drain but again the ground underneath but be reasonably free draining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-F-C Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 These look interesting - I am be being stupid here but do I simply hose them and brush them to clean? Yes I just hose them down and rake them flat again. Jennyhenny How long has yours been down for Jenny? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennyhenny Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 These look interesting - I am be being stupid here but do I simply hose them and brush them to clean? Yes I just hose them down and rake them flat again. Jennyhenny How long has yours been down for Jenny? Not long five weeks this weekend Jennyhenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Sorry to report that mine has become a muddy mess. Never mind, my WIR is being started in a week, and I'll have a concrete floor and auboise on that. Even though OH is livid that I won't be using the chippings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-F-C Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I think I have only seen postings from people that have had rubber chippings down for a few weeks or couple of months. Is there anyone who has had them down for 6 months to a year or so? Just wondering what they go like over time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB09 Posted June 13, 2009 Author Share Posted June 13, 2009 Thanks for the input everyone, Jenny; thanks for the pics, I really like your set up! looks very posh! That was my worry, will they stand the test of time? Does anyone have wood chip on a concrete base? I have got on very well with wood chip apart from the fact it was on grass, when the grass went and over time and throught the wet weather got very muddy. Saying that I still had the first lot down for about 4 months with only ever raking it over; no poo picking it just all seemed to disappear! Does anyone have any tips for poo picking an eglu run? I have tried climbing through the small run door but am just too big! JB x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I have two poultry houses. One is on rubber chippings which I've had a few months. I hose them down every now and then. They are on soil so they drain well. They are bantams and there poos aren't as big as my big girls, so they aren't as messy. I also sprinkle stalden on them. When my big girls are freranging they go and sit on the chippings to sunbath. My large chickens are on a concrete base which I love. I have been using garden shreadings on it as I have my own shreader. I shovel it out every now and then and put it in the borders, and start again. I wouldn't put rubber chips on something that can't drain because they need to be hosed down. But if they can they are great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
