Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[Leicester_H]

Number 2 run is on a wooden base and currently covered in plastic EXCEPT for the end with the door (so will always be a bit wet at that end)

Picture of run http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=43282&p=651809#p651809

The bark chippings are completely soaking and matted and horrible.

Don't understand why (Run #1 is fine) - may be prevailing wind direction forces more rain into uncovered end.

 

Anyway, I'm worried about health issues of constantly wet flooring material.

So what would be a better solution ? Wood chippings ? do these absorb chicken poo?

 

H

[The Dogmother]

Bark does tend to do that, I'd rake it all out, sprinkle the soil with a mix of garden lime and a powdered disinfectant like Stalosan or Biodry, then use Aubiose for your litter. If your run is covered, you'll find it much dryer and less smelly

 

You are right to be concerned; wet litter in their run can cause bacterial problems and they can also get foot/leg troubles.

[Leicester_H]

then use Aubiose for your litter.

Won't this blow around ?

If your run is covered

It is, except for the end - so some rain will always get in - won't Aubiose do the same thing ?

 

Thanks, H

[The Dogmother]

It doesn't blow around in mine - the run is covered with a clear tarp.

 

It doesn't get wet and sticky like Bark or woodchip. Try some and see.

[Plum]

If it's completely covered you'll not get the air circulating either so may be worth leaving a side uncovered. What I do is look at the weather forecast in particular the wind direction and leave that side covered even if it's the door end. The trouble is you get a lot of condensation as well. If the run gets wet and smelly with droppings etc., then ammonia can form and that can cause respiratory problems.

 

Love your trolley

[Jools]

Aubiose is much easier to manage in a small area whereas woodchip works well in a large run. It will get blown around at first, but then the chickens will chuck it around much more than the wind can!

 

I love your mobile structure, it's inspired! However, I imagine that part of the wet problem is because the base is wood, because that will become saturated and will take forever to dry, so you'll be putting whatever you use onto a wet base. I think it wood is worse for that than earth or concrete because they both dry more easily (depending on what your soil type is of course).

 

I think if I were in your shoes, I'd give the aubiose a try and be prepared to change it more often when it gets too wet. Because it goes a long way and composts better than other substrates, it's easy to change more often when it gets too wet and soiled. That in itself keeps the smells and bugs down. Perhaps you could try using a bit less but changing it more often?

[Leicester_H]

Thanks all - I'm going to try Aubiose and see how it goes.

H

 

EDITED - 2 Girls now have Aubiose in run.

Edited December 15, 2009 by Guest

[Leicester_H]

I love your mobile structure, it's inspired!

Thanks - now we have TWO eglus and runs on the patio, its really useful to be able to move them easily. They can be tucked into corners and then wheeled out to allow access to dropping tray etc.

H