Omlet Eglu Auto Door and Light

[no1smiles2000]

hi everyone,

 

I am really struggling with my girls & am thinking i may have to give them up.

 

We moved there run & put gravel thinking this would help but they have still turned it into a bog of poo it smells etc.

 

I dont have time to clean out every day because of work so i clean out once a week the house etc but am struggling with the run, i cant get in there because its low & its just not nice

 

what solutions do you have?

 

other option i have is to keep them @ my parents where there is more space & the run can be moved etc but i feel like a failure having to give them up

 

i want to move to have more space for them etc but hubby doesnt want too so i dont know what to do

 

have thought about a walk in run but not sure i can justify the cost as we already got the cube etc

 

Just feeling down & dont know what to do

[Cooks]

you mention you have put them on gravel? I would say change this to Aubiose which is a horse bedding found in any good Equestrian suppliers, this will make the poop dissapear .

 

IS your cube run covered? if not then I would suggest you cover it with a clear, shower curtain, clear taupautlin, clear corrugated plastic etc this will greatly help you.

 

Many omleters use this method with great sucess, things will get easier for you then.. promise

[tom123]

Sorry to hear that you are struggling

 

As Cookie said, try covering the roof and sides of the run with a clear tarpaulin from *Tarpaflex*. If the run is on slabs or concrete then put some aubiouse or similar down. This needs raking every couple of days and then changing every 3-6 weeks (depends on size of run and how many chooks). If the run is on soil or grass, try putting woodchip (NOT bark) down, keep this fresh by raking it every couple of days and change it every 5-6 weeks.

 

How many girls do you have and what sized run??

 

Hope that helps

Tom

[Old Speckled Hen]

That's the trouble with gravel. You can't clean it so it smells.

Cookie is right. Change to bedding of some sort, Auboise,hemcore,woodchip,Easibed there are all sorts out there. Aubiose and the English equivalent ... Hemcore are very absorbent and compost well. I have put my run on paving slabs which can get a hose down a few times a year. Sprinkle some Stalosan disinfectant powder on top every time you change the bedding and it will smell sweeter longer. You must make sure the run is covered too. Best of luck.

[chelsea]

Sorry to hear you are struggling. Winter is always hard I think, what with the wet dreary weather.

 

I agree with the other comments, if you switch to Aubiose or hemcore and cover your run you will see a world of difference. The poos get coated in the bedding and you will not notice the smell. I don't clean out my girls every day either, when I get time I do a 5 minute poo pick and pick out the obvious clumps of poo just to keep on top of things.

[Redwing]

I have been referring to the wet weather (somehwhat dramatically) as 'survival weather' ie we just need to push through it regardless

 

My coops dont look pretty, the insides are dry with clean bedding but are not hosed out so dirty in some cases and runs are messy in some cases, we have woodchip in most of our runs but with the weather so wet things get damp even if covered unless the sides are shrouded

 

I use the woodchip as I say and every now and again chuck in a couple of buckets of Aubiose to soak up the dampness and this works well enough to keep the hens healthy and happy

 

Dont use Aubiose in an uncovered run though

 

The weather will improve and things will be a lot better so dont give up!

 

For now cover the run, get rid of the gravel, put some chunky woodchip down and break out the buckets of Aubiose or if you have a well sheltered run or use tarps on the sides use Aubiose on its own

[no1smiles2000]

ok thanks everyone,

 

we have weed membrane under the gravel.

 

Where can i by ambroise? is it expensive?

 

We do have the run covered.

 

Do you think i might be better with a walk in run for ease? how much do these cost? i have a area 2.5 x 2m next to my shed where i could pannel against the shed to create a pen? but i feel mean keeping them in all the time.

 

I just find being able to get in to rake difficult, especially when its raining/cold/dark.

 

I will get a bigger tarpaulin

 

I have a with a run extension which they are in all the time, i let them out when i can but hubby prefers them inside so they dont rec the garden, plus we now have a little doggie who would like to eat them!haha

 

thanks, i dont feel quite so bad now

 

[docsquid]

Yes, definitely a tarpaulin that covers the run. I have a cube with a one metre extension, and a 3.5 x 2.0m tarpaflex tarpaulin goes right the way over the top of the run, and down the sides, and overlaps the door end a bit too. Keeps it lovely and dry.

 

Inside I have Hemcore (like aubiose), and this smells of citronella, coats the poo, stops everything smelling, dries out the poo and keeps everything nice. I haven't changed it for six weeks or so, and it is still OK, although I will change it soon, but that is largely because I want some chicken poo compost for my raised beds!

 

I also use Hemcore in the poo trays and nest box. When it is removed from the run it makes excellent compost!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree with all the above . I use Easibed or Hemcore, Stalosan F powdered disinfectant and garden lime for the soil in my run and have no problems with sogginess or smells . I only change it every couple of months. I also use Tarpaflex glass clear tarpaulins on the sides of my run.

 

I got my walk in run from Tony at Aviaries4u and it is exactly the dimensions of the space you have and up against a wall too . Check out the link in my signature. He's very obliging and will give you quotes for various options.

[no1smiles2000]

ok thanks for that, if yours is the smae size do you mind me asking how much it was?

 

if i buy a walkin run what else do i need to consider? cost wise

 

How much auboise will i need as this is quite pricey.

 

Sorry dont mean to be stingy its just if i take them to mums i will still see them most days, they can have the run of the field & we wouldnt need to worry about all this extra expense?

[Chicken Licken]

A bale of hemcore is under £10 and I reckon about half a bale will fill the area you have for your cube run. Ikea do a clear shower curtain for under a £1 that is perfect for the job. You should the be able to rake out the poo once a week and the ground will be dry and not smell. I guess gravel (like bark chippings) just get slimey. I used to use hemcore but have not swapped to easibed (cheaper and in stock!!) inside the run.

A walk in run is a MUCH more pricey investment!! I don't have one and manage with omlet netting and the eglu and run. This separates dogs and chickens very well.

[ScissorChix]

i would def consider the Stalosan F as this helps with odours, bokashi to firm the poos making them easier to collect/pickup.

[no1smiles2000]

what is bokashi?

 

where can i get Stalosan F

 

is easibed the same as hemcore?

[Cooks]

This is where it gets confusing for you with all the different beddings being recommended which is why I just suggested the aubiose, as that is a great starting point. I felt once you had sorted out your bedding you could always play with different sorts available at your leisure. It will be about £9 ish and is a huge bale so depending on how thick you put it down should last you a good two clean outs I would think.

 

Brokashi is available from wiggly wigglers (I think thats what its called) and you just add a bit to their pellets, you can if you choose buy pellets with this already mixed in from this place too but that is yet another option.

 

Stalosan f is this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8KG-STALOSAN-F-DISINFECTANT-POULTRY-CHICKENS-HORSES_W0QQitemZ290333067215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Pet_Supplies_Poultry?hash=item43993307cf

can be bought from various places.

 

Let us know how you get on.

[no1smiles2000]

great thanks everyone

 

do i need to put slabs with the auboise? or can i clean off the gravel & then lay it ontop of the weed suppressing membrane?

[Egluntyne]

I would go for the slabs byself. It mkes it easier to shovel the spent Aubiose off if there ia a hard flat surface below.

[Slim]

Winter is always hard due to the fact people work and dark nights. My chooks have free range all day amd my garden is a mess I have no idea how you all cope woith runs!!

[Cooks]

I agree I think you would only end up tearing the membrane if you tried to chean out on that, but remember to cover the run as the bedding cannot get wet, thats your vital thing and that will cut down your mess and whiffs.

 

with slabs your also able to jetwash them down every once in a while so everything keep clean, if you dont have a jet was a few buckets of water over them with a stiff broom would help. do that on a warm day though so they dry before replacing the bedding

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You won't get much change out of £400 for a run once you've added all the extras like roofing and guttering.

 

If I were you, I'd try the bedding on slabs first and see how you get on. You may find that's all it takes to make it all manageable .

[no1smiles2000]

ok thanks everyone, i'll hopefully (weather permitting) have a productive day sat

[no1smiles2000]

also gonna take some piccies for ideas i'd love a walk in run & as hubby doesnt want to move i think i might treat my hens

 

my friend might help me build one as he's also offered to help me build some wardrobes as he loves DIY

[legend21]

I have a cube and run with the ikea shower curtains to act as a cover and stop rain and wind, I put the stalosan F onto the earth and then put my auboise on top of it and the earth has stayed dry since last May, as said once a week I take the top layer of aubiose off and put new aubiose in, once every 6 weeks I lift the lot and the ground underneath is nice and dry, it will work well for you

[Tutti Frutti]

my friend might help me build one as he's also offered to help me build some wardrobes as he loves DIY

 

Good idea! Mr Frutti made mine 3.4m x 2.1m and 1.8m tall - hard work for a couple of weekends and a few evenings but saved us a fortune. The basic costs were £150:

 

£67 for pre-treated wood (47 x 47mm for frame, 25 x 50mm for support struts, Wickes)

£42 on weldmesh (ebay, but I'd buy tougher stuff if I was to do it again)

£20 for chain-link fencing for the bottom half along the front (extra reinforcement to protect against foxes, also Wickes - the other 3 sides are against fences and shed)

under £5 for a few Ikea "Nackten" shower curtains (79p each)

£8 for a tarp for the roof (B&Q) - temporary until the weather sorts itself out and we can fit corrugated plastic!

 

Round it up to £200 to allow for monster screws, latch, bolts etc (ScrewFix). All in, we've actually spent just under £250, including everything from slabs to feeders and chains to push lights to dust baths to glass PVC along the front (Dunhelm Mill, £2.50/m) so the girls get a nice view

 

My tip would be - if you want a PVC corrugated roof, don't skimp or bodge it as it'll just leak and you'll end up replacing it...! Make sure there's plenty of overlap between the sheets - and fit guttering before you put the run in place! So that's probably another £50+

 

PS have you seen the "hindsight" thread?

[no1smiles2000]

wow great thanks

 

I am really tempted to have ago at building one myself.

 

i will take photos to show you the area.

 

its against the shed & fence so do you think i could use the fence as a side?

[Cooks]

I wouldn't use the fence as a side unless you are planning to still cover it with wire as foxes can rip open wood