Solitary chicken - need advice

[Cagney]

Our Cube arrives next month so I need to do some preparatory work on the site. Grateful for advice/assistance on the following:

 

a. What size of side-boarded area is needed to house a Cube with a 1M extension such that access can still be gained via the large rear door?

 

b. Thoughts on the best filling: hardwood chips, bark, hemp, gravel, slabs or a combination. Pictures of existing owners' set ups would be great.

 

c. Should the run edges be pegged down for safety?

 

Many thanks in advance.

[Lewis]

Thats the actual size of the cube.

 

I'd say use slabs and then you could put some Auboise on top of it

[Redwing]

The cube with 1m extension is 3m long, you will need at least a metre access from behind to get the poo trays out though this measurement need not be part of the base you just need the access. The front door of the run will need to be able to swing out with no obstructions but I am not sure how wide the door is

 

You also need to be able to access both sides of the cube

 

I have varying bedding down in my runs, Aubiose is good but the run must be covered for this, hardwood chips are good I get mine from B&Q - the softwood ones wouldnt last as long but are an option. I have runs with woodchip and Aubiose in and have mixed woodchip & Aubiose and woodchip and woodshavings in two others, one run has plain grass but that is very smelly so will be covered today!

 

Any run that is covered will stay much drier and smell less

 

My first Eglu was placed on the ground and pegged down, then boards were placed against the side and the whole run filled with woodchip

 

Here is a pic of my purple Eglu with the same arrangement

 

[Cagney]

Thanks: this is all very helpful. I have seen reference elsewhere to a slab surround ( a bit like a plinth for a greenhouse frame) with a gravel inset and a topping of woodchip etc. Any thoughts? What do people do about a dust tray if the chicks are likely to spend most of their time in the Cube run?