Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[the_stroppy_cow]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that gravel is ok for the floor of the chicken run? I'm still waiting for our chooks, Himself has yet to put the final finishing touches to our run, we have no lawn but have set aside an area that was previously covered by some decking. There is some immaculate pea sized gravel currently down and I was wondering if this would cause issues with cleaning. Can I wash the gravel down with the hose and some mild disinfectant?

[mags]

I use hemcore for my run - clear it out every 6 weeks or so , not sure about gravel

It would be washable - some people use rubber pellets and wash them down

I am sure someone will be able to help you

 

Mags

[jackieb]

Aubiose on the floor of my new run, it's great for poo picking and they seem to love scratching about in it. I don't know how it will be if we have a downpour but I think I will have to cover the front of the run anyway if that happens.

 

[teri]

i've recently chucked a load of wood chip down because of the amount of rain we have had. the girls can still scratch around in it so are more than happy. i'm not sure if they could scratch as effectivley in gravel? how deep is it?

whatever you decide to use it is a good idea to provide a dust bath for your gils. i've made one out of wood with dirt and sand in it which is in constant use. i think this is important if you are going to use gravel.

[teri]

Aubiose on the floor of my new run, it's great for poo picking and they seem to love scratching about in it. I don't know how it will be if we have a downpour but I think I will have to cover the front of the run anyway if that happens.

 

 

i love your walk in run. i hope you dont mind but i'm going to pinch your roosting platform for mine. i keep adding bits to try and keep my girls happy. i had been looking for a good sized branch for them but this looks like a much better idea!

[chick wiggle]

Yep, sorry jackie, I'm pinching that idea too. It looks great

[eggregiousness]

I have read somewhere that sharp sand is good? Sounds logical to me - free-draining, scratchable....

[teri]

I have read somewhere that sharp sand is good? Sounds logical to me - free-draining, scratchable....

 

i tried it in the dust bath...it turned my white girls orange!!!!!

i now use childrens play sand and they are white again.

[eggregiousness]

Oh dear - the rusty chicken look - not good

[K-F-C]

Mine are on rubber chippings over weed membrane, which I have punctured in places to help drainage... it has been down almost two weeks... it needed a good hose down yesterday! I do try and pick out the larger bits of poop!

 

 

My garden is graveled, with quite large gravel, they seem to have no problem scratching about in this... I imagine it is keeping their nails and beaks trimmed too!

 

I'll go and let the girls out and get a couple of pics of them scratching in the gravel... should have them up in an hour or so!

[K-F-C]

Here's CiCi having a good scratch about!

 

They are all at it here... except MiMi, who is having a mooch about the water feature!

 

FiFi showing off!

 

Even MiMi with her little feet manages to sctach about in the big gravel... not sure about the gnome though!

 

Can you guess where I'm sat most of the time?

[cockadoodle1]

I have granite chippings in the area around the run where they free range. The little blighters scratch this up to get to the soil underneath.It doesn't seem to do them any harm. P.S Have got granite everywhere now.

[the_stroppy_cow]

Thanks guys...certainly food for thought. I'm going to give it a go as it is and see how we get on. Have a dust bowl ready and will learn from the rusty chicken episode!

Need to get those chooks then I can stop worrying and start learning!!

Great photos, jealous of your run jackie, thanks all again!