Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[speckledbec]

Hello, I became the proud owner of 3 fantastic ex-batts on Sunday and they are learning very quickly how to become normal chickens! At the moment they are still confined to the eglu and standard run but my husband has now said he would prefer not to have them free ranging often in case they destroy the garden for our children (it's not very big and is half patio, half grass (well, mostly clover really) - nothing fancy). We will probably get the run converter and extension as I can't bear for them to be cramped at all but I was wondering what to put underneath? Are wood chippings best? How often do they need changing? Covering the run totally is probably not an option and a WIR definitely isn't. Also, should I put in a dustbath of some description for them?

 

Also, the problem of poo picking, raking out and cleaning is bothering me (especially with the extension), what is the best way to do this? Will I need to crawl into the run or is there a better way?

 

Thanks very much!

 

Gladys Brenda Ethel

[Olly]

Hello speckledbec, welcome to the forum and congratulations on taking on your ex-batts!

 

You can have the run just on earth, or you can use woodchip but I really recommend aubiose or hemcore, which you've probably read about on here. You do need to cover most of the run (a clear tarpaulin or shower curtain is ideal) to keep it dry, but you'll find it soaks up poo and any mud. Then every few weeks - depending on how much time your hens spend in the run, and how fussy you are! - you can rake it out, put it in your composter or spread it on the garden, and replace it.

 

You can either lift the Eglu and run to one side, or use a long rake from the door. Personally I don't poo pick, life's too short and with aubiose I've never felt the need - but for those who do, I believe a rake is preferable to crawling!

 

A dustbath is good if there's room, and a big cat-litter tray or a washing-up bowl will do for this.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome, Speckledbec . I agree with Olly, horsey bedding is the best (I use Easibed which is great). When I had a run with a converter I only ever picked up the huge poos that were in arm's reach of the door. I can honestly say I never saw any poo building up in the run, they just scratch about and it dries up and disappears .

 

I did what Olly suggests, moving the whole eglu and run to the side for a good dig over, removal of the top layer then a new layer of bedding. You might want to consider putting Stalosan F down and also garden lime when you do this. Stalosan is a disinfectant and garden lime counterbalances the acid caused by the poo.

 

I put 2 sheets of corrugated plastic over my run, held on with bungees. You do really need to keep horse bedding dry or it gets soggy very quickly with the rain.

[speckledbec]

Thank you for your replies and advice! I am really enjoying them so far

 

I had read plenty about the horse bedding on here and I may give that a try although I think I might try the woodchip to begin with as I'm not keen on covering the entire run over. The girls will be spending a fair time in the run unfortunately as I am in and out all day on school runs and things and would be too worried about escapees or casualties, to be honest they are just on earth at the moment and most of their poos are done in the eglu. Raking definitely sounds better than crawling in (will invest in one).

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I don't have wood chips but I seem to recall tales of it smelling when it gets wet, so I think covering the run is going to have to happen no matter what you use....and I can confirm that crawling in the run isn't much fun, I keep a pair of waterproof trouser for just such an occasion . Getting through the door is the hardest part it has to be said!!

 

Going back to covering the run, it doesn't have to be plastic sheeting, a cheap & cheerful tarpaulin or shower curtain would be perfectly adequate...just be sure it is securely attached so it doesn't freak the chooks out if it flaps in the wind

 

Good luck with your new girls, they are a joy, but as you say the more space they have when confined the better, it reduces the amount of bullying which can go on as the pecking order is sorted & rearranged. Our eglu girls have a cat litter tray of compost/sand/dry soil/diatom which they love to throw around the run.....if I have to put them in after freeranging a small amount of corn thrown into the dust bath has them safely ensconsed and entertained for ages in one fell swoop!

 

 

Sha x

[Gelbel]

if I have to put them in after freeranging a small amount of corn thrown into the dust bath has them safely ensconsed and entertained for ages in one fell swoop!

 

 

Sha x

Fantastic idea! I felt cruel last night - spaghetti gets my girlies in, in Usaine Bolt time - but I had none cooked last night so I used a length of shredded paper.

 

I am a bit tight fisted with my corn as they will fight over it but in the dust box seems a good idea.

[greeneyesgreedy]

[quote]I put 2 sheets of corrugated plastic over my run, held on with bungees. You do really need to keep horse bedding dry or it gets soggy very quickly with the rain.

 

what's a bungee ANT? SOunds great, but clarify for dopey-me. x

[Gelbel]

[quote]I put 2 sheets of corrugated plastic over my run, held on with bungees. You do really need to keep horse bedding dry or it gets soggy very quickly with the rain.

 

what's a bungee ANT? SOunds great, but clarify for dopey-me. x

That thick elastic stuff (and sort of covered with a nylon thread/binding) with big solid hooks on each end.

[Guest]

Hi

 

Have had mine since May and half of run is covered and stays lovely and dry, the end that is open gets wet and does smell chickeny when it rains! However I have only removed one small bag of wet chips. I use Wickes wood chips(3 big bags £12).

I dont poo pick but every evening spend 5 mins with a broom and sweep it all back to the edges as they do dig(part concrete base). If you are on soil I suppose when you have time just rake it over.

 

But I do agree with the comments re covering run as now I try to push the chips to the dry end when I know its going to rain.

 

Got to say I have never poo picked(& dont fancy trying to pick some of the splodge that comes out)..it does just disappear in, I will probably before winter give the whole thing a good change out.

 

Horse bedding I use in the nest area etc either is good ...good luck sounds like they are going to have a ball

 

indie

[Olly]

I've used an Ikea shower curtain held on with bulldog clips, ever since I got the first Eglu - they do tend to rip after a bit, but at 99p that's not a problem.

 

ather than spending a fortune on corn, invest in a big bag of wild bird seed - can't recall the name, but you'll find it in most garden/DIY places. It has sunflower seeds and various bits in, and a large handful at the end of every day gets them back in the run and keeps them busy pecking around for ages.