Solitary chicken - need advice

[LittleOwl]

Hello everyone

 

I posted here a few months ago as we had got a cube and wanted to rescue ex-bats....after months of being on waiting lists and not being able to find any we decided to go and buy some chooks on Sunday, and already love them! I will of course post pictures later today or tomorrow!!

 

However, something that needs to be dealt with now...it's too soon to allow them to free range yet so they are happily frolicking in their 3m run. However, it has rained solidly since we brought them home and despite having a cover over most of the run it is really muddy and waterlogged inside there. We are going to try to move the cube and run this afternoon when hubby gets home, but I'm guessing the same thing will happen again until this weather eases off. Shall I cover the floor with something to help it drain away? Bark chippings or something similar? I know it would cover the grass that they like to eat but I could give them extra green stuff instead. Any advice would be most appreciated by me and them!!

 

Thank you!!

[LittleOwl]

Sorry guys, this is the one bit of the forum I hadn't seen, and my post has been moved here...and lo and behold, I have found some of the answer in another post!! Sorry

 

However, is it ok to put bark on top of just grass, or soil, or must there be a base?

[The Dogmother]

It is OK to put your litter on top of just grass or soil, but I think you will find that bark gets damp and smelly pretty quickly. Most people seem to use Aubiose now.

[jomeena]

I was using bark until the heavy rain started, even though we turn it every day it got in a awful mess. Have just replaced it with rubber chippings, i know alot of people dont like this idea but its easy to hose down and the girls seem happy with it.

[dippy bird]

i have rubber chippings as well, and they seem to be better than bark chippings which we have already tried as the weather just trashed them.