Solitary chicken - need advice

[egbert]

Hi all,

 

I am currently preparing a small area of our (very small) garden for the arrival of an Eglu on 17th September. It's such a long time away, but unfortunately Omlet will not be in the area until that date.

 

Our garden has been terraced as we are on a hill and is split down the middle by a path with steps. I had originally planned to keep the Eglu on the lawn, which is the larger side of the garden, with two chickens and move it weekly. When I was told that I would have to move it daily to keep the lawn in tact, I decided that it would be a better option to site it permanently on the smaller side of the garden.

 

To do this, I have just had to remove a pebble pool that I had only put in two months ago, but now we have decided to keep chickens it had to go! I have also had to remove many plants from the borders to make room.

 

I want to make sure that I get things right from the word go and with such little space available, I have marked out an area with the footprint of the Eglu and standard run. I plan to use wood chip (don't yet know where I am going to get this from - Southampton based) and would like to contain it so it doesn't get spread all around the garden! I am thinking of using metal lawn edging to go directly around the skirting of the run to help to contain the wood chip, but I am concerned that this could show a fox an easy route through - what do people think? This way I can then re-use some of the pebbles that I have had to take up over the remaining area of that side of the garden, without them mixing with the wood chip. Unfortunately, the area that I have available is not large enough, or the correct shape to use the Linkoboard pack.

 

Photos will follow!

[chick wiggle]

I think you have definately made the right decision about a permanent site for it. We tried the moving it around the garden think and it really doesnt work, the garden is a mess now.

Auboise or easibed, available from most horsey, animal stores is the best thing for flooring as long as the run is covered so it doesnt get wet. The easiest thing to use is a shower curtain or a couple sheets of clear corrugated plastic.

The run is fox proof but i would probably surround it with concrete slabs just to be on the safe side.

 

Oh and by the way WELCOME! Chickens are fab and very addictive.. be prepared to become obsessed like the rest of us

[laurmurf]

hi and welcome!

 

putting together a permanent siting sounds like a good idea in your garden. It is also a very good idea to use edging of some sort to keep the run material in the run itself (as much as you can... there will be spillage!). Don't fret about showing a fox the way to your chooks - if he's around he'll know about them there's nothing you can do about that bit. You can keep them safe in the run though, which a fox can't get into.

 

I would suggest you consider using something other than wood bark as it's not at all absorbent - horse bedding of some sort is what most of us have found to be best - it's very absorbent, often has materials in it to keep smells down, doesn't need to be replaced as often as the poos are absorbed. There're other posts about this: aubious, nedzbedz, rapasorb are all brands/types mentioned.

 

You've thought of lots of things already - have a read at some of the FAQs for more info.

[egbert]

Thanks for your thoughts so far .......

 

I had certainly planned on using horse bedding of some description in a covered run (IKEA shower curtain!), but on top of the wood chip. The area itself is clay soil and on the edge of a hill, so is often damp and I was hoping that the wood chip would provide a barrier between the damp soil and the horse bedding?

 

As far as slabbing the surrounding area is concerned, I would really rather avoid this if at all possible - when I attach a couple of photos, you will see why.

[egbert]

Here are some pictures of the garden and the area that I have set aside for the chickens. The white pipe shows the centre line of where the Eglu will be and the canes the outermost edges of the skirt. The remaining metal edging I am hoping to reposition and re-use.

 

Any further suggestions regarding my idea of metal edging right up the the skirt and fox safety gratefully received!

 

 

 

 

 

[egbert]

OK, impatience has got the better of me - I'm going to collect everything tomorrow!

 

I have thought more overnight and it might be a better idea to put the metal edging on the inside of the Eglu in an attempt to contain the bedding. That way I can cover the edge of the skirt with pebbles and hide it from a potential fox. What do people think?

 

It rained overnight and puddles have appeared on the clay soil where the run is going to be . I now plan on spiking the area with a fork and laying down some grit sand, before covering the whole area with a layer of top soil. Horse bedding of some description will then be placed on top of that. Does this sound like a good plan?

[Christian]

Hello egbert

 

Your plans looks great Have you bought the metal edging yet? Omlet sell a small bird pack for quails, which contains plastic strips that fit inside the run to keep all the bedding in (and chicks etc in the run). It comes complete with holes in the strips and cable ties. Might be worth a look?

 

http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Search%20Results&sub=Small%20Bird%20Set&product_id=2430&sort=popularity&start=0

 

You wouldn't need the chick base though.

 

Aubiose is brilliant for the run as long as you can keep it dry. I use a sheet of perspex corrugated plastic over the runs hold down with bungee cords.

 

Good luck!

[Couperwife]

wow, your garden is lovely

 

I think that is a great place for the chooks

 

at the impatience - we ALL know exactly how you feel

 

cathy

x

[egbert]

Christian - the small bird pack looks good, but I might have an advantage with the metal edging (that I already have) in that if there is a sudden downpour, it should divert the water away from the run. That's the plan anyway!

 

Cathy - I am trying to keep myself busy and most likely will not sleep at all tonight! The garden did look much better before I removed all the plants!

 

My main issue now is committing myself with the placement of the metal edging before the eglu arrives. I just hope I've got my measurements right.

[laurmurf]

i would second Christian's suggestion about the clear plastic corrogated covering - i got a couple of sheets from B&Q and with a little overlap, they bungee-cord quite well and come down the sides of the run well. Nice dry bedding!

 

looking good egbert!

[egbert]

I have steamed ahead and forked over the area for drainage - it really is horrible clay soil. I have also put down a layer of grit, followed by a layer of top soil.

 

I am about to put the metal edging in to contain the Aubiose and keep the surrounding pebbles out.

 

Re. the corrugated plastic, would this be much better than the plastic shower curtains that I was planning on using as these would not show as much under the winter shade?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Your garden looks great and that area for the eglu is perfect . If you have any sort of wind in your garden, you'd be better off with corrugated plastic sheets - they are really sturdy and won't blow away .

[egbert]

It's great to hear that some of you think that our garden is suitable for chickens - it gives me a little more confidence!

 

I have stopped for the day now and decided to put the metal edging in once I have the Eglu back here; that way there will be less room for error.

 

We have been out and bought four shower curtains from IKEA and i will use these for the time being. If I have any problems, I will get the corrugated plastic.

 

Just waiting now ........