lisaroo2 Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Hi All I've just been looking out at the girls in this miserable weather and the floor of their run really needs something doing with it. We've been putting hard wood chips down (from B&Q) but we can't get hold of them anymore as its winter and they dont sell them. We can't cover the run from the rain and really don't know what to do. We don't really want to use gravel as it would look rally un natural in the type of garden that we have. Any suggestions? The area to cover is about 8x12ftsq. I could get wood bark cheaply enough but have heard that this could cause the girls problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 I'd go for Aubiose, with a cover over the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippy bird Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Hia, we have recently put down rubber chippings as like you, we don't have a roof on our WIR (yet), I have to say, it's sooooo much better! We put sand down on the mud(used to be bark chippings), then weed supressor (material type thingy),then the rubber chippings.The girls feet are now lovely and clean(apart from when they free range in our mud bath of a graden) and seem really happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 I use cushion bed which is soft woodchips similar to easibed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolateeclaire Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 My WIR is 8ft by 16ft and I have covered the roof and part of the sides with sheets of corrigated plastic from B & Q. The longest size is 8ft so all I had to do was raise one side of the run with some extra bits of wood so that the plastic sheets slopes and the rain runs off. I then enclosed 3 of the sides at one end so that area is completely dry and it is lovely to see them dust bathing there even in all this rain. My knowledge of DIY is very small but I managed this without too much trouble (did lose a couple of the sheets in last weeks gales, but have hammered in lots mores tacks now!!!) Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted November 22, 2009 Share Posted November 22, 2009 I've just got rid of the bark chips I had ... too wet, they seem to soak up the rain. But I rang a local tree surgeon and asked if ever he had a job in the area, could I have the shreddings .... 48 hours later, I paid £5 for a tipper truck load ... it's perfect. (Should have said ... my run isn't covered for all sorts of practical reasons, but the woodchip is working really well. It's about 4ins deep and I poo pick if I can see any, it's well camouflaged!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisaroo2 Posted November 22, 2009 Author Share Posted November 22, 2009 Hi beulah So you've just got wood chippings on the floor of your run? I presume its ok to just put them down on top of the soil (mud in this weather!)? What about the girls feet the bits aren't too sharp are they? I can't cover ours for practical reasons, there's a big tree over head and I don't want the girls to miss out on the natural light by covering completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 It's been down a week and all seems fine. It's about 4ins deep ... with bare patches in places and piles in others where they dig through it, scratching about!! Yes, it's on top of the soil - which was fairly compacted when we built the run and they haven't dug it over much at all. Fortunately, it's quite sandy soil so drains well, although one corner of the run is towards the only damp bit of ground in the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 A deep layer of woodchip on soil is perfect and on free draining soil, it's even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted November 23, 2009 Share Posted November 23, 2009 Hi, I use tree surgeon chips as well & the ladies seem to like it. Smells good too. Have to be careful if there is lots of holly etc bit on the whole it's been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisaroo2 Posted November 24, 2009 Author Share Posted November 24, 2009 Hi All Thanks for that! Hard woodchips it is then. Will have a look in the local garden centres at the weekend. Gotta sort something out or they'll be needing canoe's with this rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gelbel Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I noticed that, over the weekend, my local B&Q had an offer on chippings. Could not tell you what it was though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisaroo2 Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Hi Gelbel Took your advice and popped into my local B&Q today. 100litre bags, 3 for £12! (large wood bark) We bought 6 and have managed to do the girls run. We're hoping to pop back next week for another 6 so that we've got them in to top up the run when we need to. Happy hens thanks to this forum and you helpful Omleteers out there!! Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Got fed up with mud etc, so used slabs,(foxes don't have pneumatic drills yet) then EasiBed on top. Our run is covered, and it's SOOOOO easy to pick out the poops. Girls kick it to the back of the run, then I rack it back, so it doesn't have to long to build up infections or spores. It's lasted about 2 months now, and still smells ok. As the rain and winds got up, covered 3 sides with perspex, but still plenty of air flow. Stacey XX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
