Feeding advice for bantams (one broody, one moulting)

[welovemarmite]

We are planning on getting our first chickens at some point. As we are not sure how safe they will be from wildlife we are going to build a big run for them, We measured it today and hope to put something in thats about 6ft by 11ft and then put the cube inside.

 

Unfortunately the land isn't level and so there is lots of work to do first. Hubbie thinking about digging out one and and putting railway sleepers in to make a level bed, putting soil in the middle and then sitting the run just inside the railway sleepers. Hopefully that will also make it fox and polecat proof as well.

 

Looking forward to it but so much hard work to do first!!!

 

[Cooks]

ooh good luck a WIR is a great thing to have IMO

 

When mine was first built by my hubby we had it surrounded my sleepers aswell, however we found that the rain pelted down hit the sleeper and splashed intothe run making the bedding wet.... I got rid of them. The WIR has now been laid on a concrete base, it's heaven!

[welovemarmite]

Thanks for that - just consulted hubby. He is going to put a skirt round the bottom of the pen and this should stop that problem and also stop them kicking the bedding out. It won't be really high, just enough. THen we can still see the chickens!!

 

Been looking at colour charts for the pen.........

[Cooks]

we had that skirt as well... just determined rain I guess

 

Good luck with it, remember we love to see pictures

[Staffordmum]

Congratulations - we're still loving our new WIR (9'x12' heaven!) - just secured a tarpaulin roof to it.

 

We laid slabs for it to stand on and filled the area with rubber chippings. It's a "work in progress" since they are now awash with mud

 

We didn't consider a membrane to be practical or fair on the girls - tho' now beginning to think otherwise ...

 

The levelling of the ground is the worst part - the results are amazing and you will LOVE it am sure

 

Kind rgds,

 

Pat & Steve

[welovemarmite]

Oh this is so exciting - even more so in that hubbie is doing the work and not me . THis could be a long work in progress......

 

We are just going to tread down the earth in the middle a little. Have been told the membrane isn't needed as the chickens will get rid of the weeds. We are then going to put the bedding straight onto the earth.

 

 

We have two free weekends in August where we are planning to get most of the work done. Wonder if I can rope in my nephew to earn some pocket money???

[ubereglu]

We have two free weekends in August where we are planning to get most of the work done. Wonder if I can rope in my nephew to earn some pocket money???

 

I'd help if I knew where you were and you weren't too far!

[welovemarmite]

Just noticed that my location doesn't show- going to see if i can work that out......

 

I am in Oxfordshire! Bit far!

[ubereglu]

That's a shame!